Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you guarantee the products will work?

The Septic Seep formula has been successfully used to treat drainfields since 1953 and Mega-Bio is a powerful industrial-grade product. Because of the wide range of factors that can contribute to septic system failure, we do not guarantee our products will work for your situation, but based on our ongoing customer survey we think we are 80% successful in restoring failed drainfields.

There are a number of products that offer money back guarantees if the customer is not satisfied. The truth is that offering this kind of guarantee forces a marketer to raise the sale price of his products in order to cover the inevitable claims for refunds. This means that the purchase price is not based on providing the highest quality product, but the cost of the product plus the guarantee. It follows then if more refunds must be made more of the sale price is dedicated to the guarantee than the quality of the product. Some products advertise "never pump your tank again". This claim is the leading cause of customer complaints about septic tank additives made to various consumer agencies including the BBB. It is advisable to check the Better Business Bureau record of any company offering a money back guarantee on their products, or making misleading or too good to be true sounding claims about their products before doing business with them.

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2. How long will it take to receive the products?

Orders are usually shipped the next day, but may take up to 72 hours. Shipments to the East Coast take 5 working days, the West coast approximately 2 working days. Locations in between 3-4 working days. Orders in the Continental US and Canada are shipped by UPS Ground service.

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3. How long will it take for me to see results?

We have had reports of standing water starting to drain after adding Septic Seep to the distribution box, but it may take up to 2 weeks for the full effect of an application of Septic Seep and Mega-Bio to take place. If you have not seen results in this amount of time either you did not apply a sufficient amount of the product, or your soil condition is beyond the scope of what the products can remedy.

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4. How much Septic Seep do I need?

Normal working system maintenance - 1 gallon every 6 months will help maintain your drainfield.

Sluggish systems - 3 gallons of Septic Seep. 1 gallon for the first dose, then 1 gallon a week for 2 weeks.

Failing drainfields - 4 gallons of Septic Seep & Mega-Bio. If your septic system's drainfield or leach field has stopped accepting water, Septic Seep may be able to rejuvenate the soil. If the soil is contaminated with sludge follow the application with a dose of Mega-Bio to digest grease, soap, paper and hair in the drainfield.

See APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

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5. How does Septic Seep work?

The main ingredient in Septic Seep is calcium polysulfide. Through a chemical reaction in the soil it helps to reverse the bonded soil condition known as hardpan. The second important ingredient is a surfactant that helps the liquid Septic Seep penetrate the waterproof barrier that forms around the drainfield enabling it to reach the problem areas in the soil. (see biomat)

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6. Can Septic Seep be used in soil other than clay?

We have found that Septic Seep works well in many types of soil containing fine particles, which can bind together similar to clay. Mega-Bio can be used in any type of soil.

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7. How can I tell if I have clay soil?

Clay soils are made up of tiny particles that cling together and subsequently cling well to water. To help determine how much of your soil is clay you can simply take a handful of your soil and try to squeeze it together. Once squeezed, release your fingers and see if the soil is still in a ball. The more clay it has, the more solid and less-brittle it will appear. Although it is not unique to any one place, you can usually find an abundance of clay soil in the southeast portions of the U.S.

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8. How long should I wait after I apply Septic Seep before applying Mega-Bio?

Wait at least 48 hours before applying the Mega-Bio™ powdered bacteria formula to the drainfield to allow the soil PH to stabilize.

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9. If I flush Mega-Bio down a toilet will it still benefit my drainfield?

Yes, but It will take longer to reach your drainfield because it will react with the contents of the septic tank before moving out to the drainfield.

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10. I noticed some rock-like things in a jug of Septic Seep I had sitting on a shelf . What are these? Is the contents still good?

The product has a tendency to crystallize when stored for extended periods, as noted on the package label. Break up the clots, mix with water and flush it down the toilet. It will fully dissolve in your septic tank and make its way out to the drain field where it will treat the soil.

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11. What are the active ingredients in Septic Seep?

26% Calciumpolysulfide and 10% Triton X-100 a surfactant that allows the liquid Septic Seep to penetrate the soil.

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12. Can I run the product through a pump tank?

Yes, add Septic Seep to the pump tank. Add enough fresh water to cause the pump to cycle. This will deliver a large amount of product to the field as a shock treatment. Add enough fresh water to the pump tank to cause it to cycle a second time. This will drive the product deeper into the field as well as clear the chemical residue from the pump mechanism.

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13. How do I know soil is failing in my drainfield?

Pumpers often observe water falling back into septic tanks from the field as the level is pumped down. This is an important sign of soil failure. It is obvious that the problem does not originate in the tank, but in the drainfield. Puddles of water appearing on the surface of the drain field are a good indication that the soil is flooded and the drain field is failing.

It is not always easy to diagnose the cause of backups. Slowly draining sinks and toilets, gurgling sounds in the plumbing, plumbing backups, sewage odors in the house, or tests showing the presence of bacteria in well water are signs of drainfield failure.

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14. Will Septic Seep work in a seepage pit or cesspool?

Use 3 gallons of Septic Seep for the first treatment, then use 1 gallon a week for 3 weeks, per pit. Apply either through house drains or a convenient opening in the pit.

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15. How can we order Septic Seep without a credit card?

Use the secure order form on our web site. Select "Check or Money Order" from the payment options pulldown menu. You can print an order form and mail it with your check or money order.

Payable to: West Wind Marketing, Inc., 11553 Hidden HIlls Road, Carmel Valley, CA 93924

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16. We recently had several days of very wet weather. My drainfield now has standing water on it. Will Septic Seep help the soil absorb the water?

During periods of very wet weather the soil may become saturated. Septic Seep cannot make the soil absorb more water under these circumstances. If you live in an area with a high water table, you may have problems that are beyond the scope of soil failure.

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17. Can Septic Seep be applied above ground?

Septic Seep can be applied above ground, but we have found it to be most effective if it can be introduced somewhere in the septic system. Surface application will not allow the active ingredients to contact the soil in the problem areas, usually around and below lateral drainage pipes.

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18. Can I use Septic Seep on soil that has had the Terralift treatment?

We have several customers who are Terralift operators. They use Septic Seep to reverse clay bonded soils after a Terra Lift operation to provide both physical and chemical separation of the drainage soil by restoring air necessary for cleanup and ongoing treatment of wastewater.

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19. Have you changed the strength of the product?

The product has not changed. Septic Seep was invented in 1953 and the previous instructions were written sometime in that era. Septic Seep begins to works in solution with a concentration as low as 1 part per 1,000. Most modern septic tanks are between 1,000 and 1,500 gallons. To achieve the minimum solution in this size tank requires at least one gallon.

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20. What is the difference between Septic Seep and other cheaper products that contain similar ingredients?

Septic Seep is a blend of chemicals designed to penetrate and open the pores of septic drain field soil. The key phrase is blend of chemicals. While it is true that calcium polysulfide is one of the active ingredients that Septic Seep shares with other products on the market, the chemical alone cannot perform efficiently without the addition of a surfactant. The surfactant is the part of the formula that allows Septic Seep to penetrate the biomat. Without the surfactant the soil opening component, calcium polysulfide, may not penetrate the soil to a sufficient level to restore the absorption qualities of the drain field. The processes used to create Septic Seep are complicated and very specialzed making it more expensive to produce than products containing only calcium polysulfide and inert ingredients (water). This specialized formula is the reason Septic Seep has remained on the market, unchanged, since 1953. Like the saying goes "often imitated, never duplicated" you get what you pay for.