Frequently Asked Questions

A compact aeration and bacteria unit goes inside your existing tank, through the access opening. An air pump outside feeds a diffuser, and bacteria on the growth media digest the solids in the tank. The treated water carries those bacteria into the drain field, where they break down the biomat. That is the short version of how the aeration and bacteria unit works.

A restored field starts taking water again, but the system still needs care. The bacteria have to be fed and the equipment has to be checked. Year one includes three visits, then the system moves to two service visits a year. Once it is stable, that drops to one visit a year with a bacteria treatment.

Most installs are finished in a day. The unit goes in through the tank access opening, so the drain field is not dug up. The only digging is a shallow line for the air pipe from the pump to the tank. We call NC 811 to locate utilities before that line goes in.

Pumping needs drop sharply because solids are digested instead of stored. State rule 15A NCAC 18E .1303 still calls for pumping when scum plus sludge pass one third of liquid depth. We measure those depths on every service visit and tell you when the tank is due. Septic Samurai does not pump tanks, so we point you to a pumper.

We open the tank and check the liquid level, the scum and sludge depths, the baffles and the outlet. We look for an effluent filter and for riser access at ground level. Then we check the drain field for wet spots, soft ground and odor. This is a diagnostic visit, not a real-estate inspection, which in North Carolina needs a state-certified inspector.

We are based in Statesville and work about 50 miles out. That covers the Lake Norman towns: Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Denver, Sherrills Ford and Troutman. It reaches Salisbury, Lexington, Thomasville and High Rock Lake, Hickory and Lake Hickory, Lake Tillery and north Charlotte, Concord on the Cabarrus County side, Mocksville on the Davie County side, and Clemmons on the Forsyth County side. Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Catawba, Lincoln, Cabarrus, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth and Alexander counties are in range.

Wipes, paper towels and feminine products do not break down, so keep them out of the toilet. Cooking fats and grease harden in the tank and push solids toward the field. Go easy on bleach and harsh drain cleaners, since they kill the bacteria doing the work. Spread laundry out instead of running every load in one day.

Some problems are mechanical, not biological. Crushed drain lines, a structurally failed tank or a field sitting in groundwater will not respond to bacteria. We tell you that after the evaluation and point you to a contractor who does that work. Septic Samurai does not replace tanks, install new systems or put in new drain fields.