What's with a Septic System?

Are you a home buyer and new to on-site septic systems? Are you asking yourself:  How do I take care of a septic system?  What do I do? What do I NOT do? What might go wrong?

My current house was my first experience with an on site septic system. I’d always just lived in a city where sewers were the norm. Trust me, I was asking these questions!

There is a lot of information out there, thanks to the Internet. Recently, a company called FloHawks Plumbing & Septic came and spoke to my office about septic systems in general and gave some great information about care and maintenance, as well as what to do when selling your home and the new rules in Thurston County.

Did you know that 5.7 million residents in Washington State are on septic systems? 80% are in Western Washington and 50% are in the counties of Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston. So chances are, if you are buying a home here in Thurston County, you very well may have a septic system instead of sewer.

FloHawks describe a septic tank as:  a large, underground, watertight container. All of the wastewater from your toilet, bath, kitchen and laundry flows into the tank. Heavy solids settle to the bottom where bacteria reduce them to sludge and gasses. Lighter solids such as grease rise to the top and form a scum layer. Solids that do not decompose remain in the tank. If the solids are not removed by periodic pumping (every 3-5 years) they will accumulate and eventually overflow into the drain field, which can cause extensive damage.

As a Broker, I always recommend my Buyers consider being present when the septic tank of the home they are purchasing is being inspected and pumped. Typically the company providing the service will explain the process and answer questions which can be very educational.

A FEW tips provided by Flohawks. The “DO’s”:  Inspect your system once each year – through generally septic tanks need to be pumped every three to five years; practice water conservation; call a Certified Septic Technical for help when there are problems. The “DON’Ts”:  No vehicles or heavy traffic over the drainfield; use grass over the drainfield, not impermeable materials; don’t use drain cleaners, floor cleaners, paint solvents and other bacteria destroying liquids; don’t use a garbage disposal – it adds more solids and grease; and most importantly, “NEVER enter any septic tank”. I’m including this because it’s on FloHawk’s brochure, but it makes me grin to think that we really need to spell – this – out….

For a full list of “DO’s” and “DON’Ts”, and other great information, check out FloHawks Plumbing & Septic Tips

Bottom line:  There is nothing to be afraid of. Just arm yourself with as much information as possible, consult a professional and don't use Charmin toilet tissue (my own observation!)

New Rules: Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Starting April 1, 2012 there is a new requirement for homeowners and sellers regarding the installation of carbon monoxide alarms.  There are two instances that trigger the necessity of the installation:  1) a homeowner undertakes a significant interior remodeling requiring a building permit; or 2) the home owner sells the property. In the case of the homeowner selling the property, the carbon monoxide alarm must be installed prior to closing. The alarms are required to be installed even if the residence does not include any fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage.

The location of these alarms, when required, is outside of each sleeping area, in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and there must be at least one monitor on each floor of the home. So that means if all the bedrooms are on the upper floor, there still needs to be an alarm installed on the first floor.

Carbon monoxide alarms may be battery operated and may also be dual alarms that include both smoke detection and carbon monoxide detection.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, carbon monoxide killed over 1,000 Washington residents between 1995 and 2005.  An example of household sources of carbon monoxide include malfunctioning furnaces, water heaters, ovens, stoves, gas dryers, improperly vented free standing heaters, clogged chimneys and generators. Carbon monoxide can pass through garage walls. It might be a good idea to furnish your own home with carbon monoxide monitors, regardless of whether they are legally required or not.

For more information about carbon monoxide poisoning, prevention and what to do in case of emergency, check out http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/IAQ/CO_Fact_Sheet.htm.

Which Remodel Project to Tackle First?

Have you been contemplating some remodeling project for your house, but are not sure what will give you the most bang for your buck? I think most of us know that when it comes time to sell your home, buyers are the most picky about the kitchen and bathrooms.  But what other projects will add value to your home? And how do they compare to each other?

This year's Remodeling 2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com) helps break it down for you.  REALTOR Magazine and the National Association of Realtors® e-mailed survey links to more than 150,000 of its member sales agents, brokers, and appraisers, who provided estimates of resale value. The report compares the average cost for 35 popular remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale. All areas of the Country are included, with separate reports for Pacific, as well as cities like Seattle. It's not specifically Olympia focused, but it gives you some good comparisons.

Generally, projects include major and minor remodels, mid-range and upscale, and highlights projects such as bathroom remodels and/or additions, garage addition, roofing, siding and window replacement.

If you would like a copy of the report, I can email you a .pdf version or go to www.costvsvalue.com to download it and get more information.

Pesky Carpet Stains

Do you have carpet? Do you have light colored carpet? AND do you have pets? They often don’t go well together. My main issue is really with the cat more than the dog. My dog has had so few accidents, they aren’t worth mentioning. Well, except that time she ate two large chocolate truffles, but I’m thinking I don't want to mention it.

You see, my cat has fairly long fur and she does what most cats do:  cleans and licks her fur quite often. Then the fur collects in her stomach only to reappear along with her food somewhere on the carpeted area of my home (never, of course, on the wood or tile floor). I believe the food manufacturers must also have financial interests in carpet stain removal products. Why, you ask?  Because of the food coloring they obviously put in the pet food that stains the carpet. Why else? Wouldn’t the ingredients of pet food turn out brown anyway? Is there a certain shade of brown that must be accomplished before a cat will eat this stuff?

Okay, so to the point of this story. Carpet stain remover FOLEX to the rescue. It’s easy to find at the grocery store and not particularly expensive. I’ve used it for years and it works pretty well. The key is you have to be patient! Stains, particularly the ones I’m dealing with a lot, do not come up with one spray. You really have to work at it. You also need to be gentle with the carpet so you don’t damage the fibers.

The Steps:

1.     Remove any solids with a paper towel.

2.     Spray a layer of cleaner over the stain.

3.     Using a clean cotton cloth (I use old washcloths or old hand towels cut in half) and blot up the liquid.

4.     Spray the stain again and gently rub with fingertips in different directions. Blot up liquid with cleaning cloth.

5.     Repeat Step 4 until stain is gone. You may need two or more dry cleaning cloths, depending on the size of the stain.

My experience has been that the sooner you find and tackle the stain, the easier it will come out. However, I’ve gotten out stains that have sat overnight or longer using this method. Be patient and keep repeating Step 4. This method may work well with other cleaners as well.

I love my pets and I REALLY love FOLEX!

Don't Get "Grinched"

Apparently, there are some people who will just walk up to someone’s front porch and steal their packages. I guess nothing should surprise me anymore, but I still have to shake my head and wonder about people. On a news story the other day, it was reported some homeowner’s had even caught the thieves on their security cameras. They just walk right up, take a quick look around, grab the box or boxes, and go! 

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/grinch-christmas-ups-fedex-packages-stolen-135622058.html 

This isn’t a new trend, just popular right now because of all the cyber shopping going on and people like you and me sending gifts to family members.  About five years ago, my husband and I were living in Portland and my sister-in-law was coming for the holidays along with other family members. She decided to ship her gifts ahead of time so she didn’t have to lug them on a plane in her luggage. Well, they were verified as being delivered, but we never saw them. Apparently, some Grinch grabbed the box from our front porch while we were at work. My poor sister-in-law felt bad, we felt bad. From then on, we had all deliveries go to our work places.

My theory is that particular neighborhood was a prime target. The houses were close together and front yards very small which made the view to the front porch very visible from the street. I figured someone could easily drive by lots of houses in a short amount of time and see if packages were sitting by the front door all from the comfort of a warm car.

Don’t be lured into thinking you can ask UPS or Fed Ex to put your boxes behind a bush or an envelope under the doormat (which they will do) so it’s not visible and therefore safe. Many of these Grinches drive behind the delivery trucks to see exactly which houses they are going to, then walk right up to the doors to snatch the goods.

Ask a neighbor to help out, have packages delivered to your work or pick up at a delivery center. Also, I understand FedEx offers nighttime delivery or a designated delivery day or delivery by appointment. Don't let the Grinch steal your Christmas!

No Thanksgiving Disasters, please....

I was just thinking about all the holiday dinners that I’ve cooked for family and realizing there have been very few kitchen disasters. Well, other than when I decided to carve the ham (with a sharp, pointy knife) while it was still in the foil pan and gooey, sticky ham juice went everywhere, but we won’t bring that up.

Maybe I’m just a worry-wart, but I’ve been gathering tips that might help avoid disaster!

For the cook:  Still frozen turkey:  If you’ve waited too long to defrost your turkey (who hasn’t done this?), the cold bath in the sink trick always works, but still takes time. For a 10-12 lb. turkey, it takes about 4-6 hours; for 12-16 pounds allow 6-8 hours. If you are then running really short on time, you can always cut up the bird like you would a chicken and roast the parts.  Lumpy gravy:  I’m not sure I’ve made gravy that wasn’t lumpy. Get out the mesh strainer and strain the gravy into a new pan and get over it.

From the plumber:  Be nice to your garbage disposal!  Don’t dump grease, large amounts of food or especially stringy foods like celery and rhubarb.  You could end up with a clogged sink. Pour grease into a disposable container; run hot water over greasy food dishes and continue to run a bit afterward to wash all the grease down the drain. Be sure also to run water while using the disposal. Keep area around sink clear so that utensils or large food pieces don’t drop into disposal.

From the Fire Department:  Don’t deep fat fry your turkey. 'Nuff said.

Not necessarily disaster subject, but for the “green” in you:  Use your china!  Avoid using paper, plastic and Styrofoam, most of which will wind up in the landfill. And by using cloth napkins, your table will look even more beautiful without all the paper wasted.  And finally, compost any leftover food. If you don’t have access to composting, ask friends, family or neighbors. Food does not break down as you would presume in a landfill because there is not enough oxygen present for it to decompose naturally.

For our dogs:  They have been smelling food cooking all day and you are driving them crazy. They are on high alert for falling food, treats passed under the table….anything! Here are some foods to avoid:  Turkey bones – like chicken bones they are brittle when cooked and can splinter in your pet’s stomach. High fat foods like Turkey skin, cheeses and sausages; a sudden high level of the in the GI system can lead to a painful condition known as pancreatitis. Other toxic foods that you might see at holiday time are:  macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, nutmeg, sage and sugar free products containing xylitol.

I have a lot to be thankful for and I’m sure you do too. I like this quote from Brother David Steindl-Rast (a Benedictine monk):  Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise… then you will discover the fullness of your life.

Money Saving Tip for Dog Owners

As some of you may, or may not, know I am the coordinator for the Olympia Dachshund Meetup Group. Now, before you laugh to yourself and picture a bunch of little wiener dogs running around a park and chasing each other in circles...well, go ahead. Why would I do such a thing? Well, because I own a dachshund and I thought it would be interesting to see how many would like to spend an afternoon once a month meeting other Dachshund owners. As it turns out, quite a few people wanted to do this. My Meetup website actually has 145+ members now. We always get at least a dozen or so dogs (along with their peoples) every month and some months as many as 25!

So what in the world does this have to do with Diaper Disposal Bags? And saving money?

Our Meetup group raised money for a dedication brick at the new Hawks Prairie Off-leash dog park and we had $15 left over. We decided to buy and donate doggie bags for the stations in the park. A member suggested buying these Diaper Disposal Bags from the Dollar Store, which have 75 bags per box. That’s 1,175 bags! The “Doggie” Disposal Bags (which look suspiciously similar to the “Diaper” ones) only have 50 per box. I guess that proves the theory that pets ARE more expensive than kids.

Okay, so a long way to go for this tip:  if you are a dog owner and you buy plastic poop bags, do yourself a favor and go to the Dollar Store and get the “Diaper” bags instead of the “Doggie” bags. They look the same and smell nicer. I swear, your dog will never know the difference.