It's a dirty business and somebody's gotta do it. At least once every three years in the city of Ham Lake. . I'm talking septic pumping and inspection here. Getting your septic pumped and inspected is a requirement of most Twin Cities metro municipalities. State and county codes are not specific on the subject of on-site or individual sewage disposal systems (ISDS or septic systems, leaving it up to each Minnesota city to adopted their own rules for inspection.
We have had Olson's Sewer Service of Forest Lake, Minnesota, maintain and inspect our septic system since we moved to our Ham Lake acreage. Their slogan, "Keeping Your Sewer in the Pink" and hot pink trucks are seen all over Forest Lake, Columbus, Wyoming and Ham Lake. When the pink reminder postcard arrives in the mail, we schedule our inspection right away.
Olson's slogan while catchy is tame compared to others as septic professionals really have a sense of humor about the role they play in the community. Here is a list of some favorites that have been seen on sewage and plumbing trucks all over the US:
• Yesterday's Meals on Whee
ls
• We're #1 in the #2 business.
• You Dump It, We Pump It
• After the first whiff, call Cliff.
• A good flush beats a full house
• We do Pump 'N Right
• We'll take crap from anybody.
• Satisfaction guaranteed or your merchandise cheerfully returned.
• Your poop is our bread and butter!
• Your brown is our green.
If you have a septic system on your property, check with city hall for specific time frames. While once every three years is required in Ham Lake, it is once every two years in Lino Lakes. Most cities require that the tank, drain field and baffles of the system be checked at the same time. The licensed contractor will provide a completed permit to the city to document the inspection.
This is not an optional inspection. If you choose not to inspect your system, most cities will hire a contractor for you and assess the charges on your property taxes.
If you are relocating to Minnesota, are looking for Homes for Sale in the north and east Twin Cities metro area and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. Acreage homes are my specialty! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2007 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
Dedication to customer service has made Teri Eckholm/Keller Williams Premier the Realtor® of choice for families in Blaine, Forest Lake, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and Wyoming areas. Licensed in MN.
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These are all cute slogans... It is a reminder how well a tag line can work for your business. Personally I like the #1 #2 slogan. Thanks for a good one this morning.
Donna--It is important to have a sense of humor in any business. Septic installation and pumping is not glamorous but necessary and a cute slogan keeps them in mind at your time of need. Thanks for the comments. :)
Teri,
My goodness, I can't believe some of these business slogans. Wonder what their mission statements look like? (LOL).
Lynda--I have met several of the people who operate these businesses and they really have to have a sense of humor about it. It is not the perfect job for everyone. The slogan's make them memorable and give you a laugh when you are following the truck down the road! :)
Ha! Love these Teri. And I bet their customers do too.
I loved your adding the slogans (humor) to your information on septic tanks. That added some spice to a dirty topic...haha.
Steve--When you are in traffic and need a laugh, these slogans like these make your day. :)
Sally--I am so glad you "got" why I did this...Septic information is very important but a bit boring. The slogans make the topic more interesting. :)
Sally - As a country property Realtor and property owner I can certainly appreiate the humour in some of the slogans
Kathy--I too am agent that sells acreage homes where there are septics as well as homes on city water/sewer. The slogans are memorable and funny...And the information on how often homeowners need to pump their system is also important.
I never pay that much attention to the company slogans... Tend to keep my distance from the trucks. Also didn't realize they were so strict about inspection enforcement, I'll have to check into the rural towns around here.
Too funny Teri! Keep the jokes coming. It's good to keep a sence of humor throughout my crazy day!
Hi Teri, I think it is nice that they require this be done every so often. Sounds like Ham Lake is on top of things! I love some of those slogans. It makes the dirty work a little more humorous. :)
We have a company here called Honeydippers, and that is what they do! The portapotty companies tend to get cute with their names too. We have Royal Flush and Rocky Mountain Cabanas here.
Good post Teri. I find that septics sometimes scare people away, but if they are maintained properly, they will work well for years.
Too funny...here is my anti spam graphic for this post!
cherapu
Teri - those slogans are the only thing funny about this necessary service - we have fewer septic tanks here but when you do it's always a concern. Glad you're in the pinK!
We have no regulation on when a tank is to be pumped and inspected. However from your previous posts it appears that your systems have an additional filter system on them.
However, as a buyer's agent I always ask for a pump and inspect as a contingency in a contract. I love the slogans and have forwarded this post to our local septic guy - they will get a laugh out of it.
Dan--Septic enforcement is strict where homes are closer together and near lakeshore. Cities who had lax rules on septic pumping/inspection have had many contaminated lakes and neighboring wells. It can affect and entire areas property values. I have a major phobia with semi-trailers so understand staying away from trucks but from time to time funny slogans can be noted.
Ann--It was a funny way to spice up a not-so-funny topic!
Stephanie--Required septic pumping and inspection prevents contamination of lakes, wetlands and wells. We have our system checked before the reminder notices but this year we waited...Ham Lake makes certain that you do not forget!
Joanne--Had to say the graphic out loud to get the joke...It's early but that is ironic! :) If I had known to be afraid when I bought my home, I probably would have. Maintenance and proper usage on a septic system is key to their longevity.
Cyndee--Wherever there is a septic system it is important to have it checked prior to purchase. They are only as good as the homeowner maintained them and are very expensive to replace.
Thesa--I think there are three different types of septic systems used in Minnesota. Few communities have a required point of sale inspection but I always recommend that buyers ask for them to understand what they are purchasing. It is more important for on the listing side for the seller to have a compliance check prior to the sale as the buyer has 2 years after purchase to seek remedies from the seller on a septic system...6 years on wells. Best to have everything checked prior to the sale.
I have only had one buyer to request a septic inspection. The inspection was good so they had a clean system to start their new homeownership with.
Vicki--I find that buyers do not always know to ask for the inspection. I explain to any buyer considering purchasing an acreage home on well and septic to make their offer contingent on the septic inspection and well test as they are expensive repairs if something fails.
Teri,
We don't have that kind of enforcement requirement here. The last buyers I had who bought a home with a septic system had it inspected - the system checked out with no problems. I like how you spiced it up with a bit of humor!
I just had to have a septic pumped out yesterday...it took 3 guys about an hour and 20 minutes to knock it out. That's one UGLY job I would never want to do! They got GUTS I'll give em that. Love it when they refer to their truck as the HONEY WAGON!!! :-)
-Keith
RE/MAX Olympic, Manassas VA
www.MyRealtorKeith.com
Well I must say if you have a funny slogan- better chance of the public to remember you for future business!
Thanks for sharing this with us- I needed the chuckle tonight!
Love the slogans! As a septic system owner I need a little humor when it's time to deal with pumping!!!
Teri, very clever and humorous slogans. You certainly showed your own brand of potty humor in this post. Thanks for the laughs! ; )
Susie--Septic maintenance is an important and dull subject. Adding in humor is a way to make it more interesting.
Rita--Thanks! Most areas in the city do not have septic systems but get into the rural and acreage properties and they are the norm. It is important to understand a septic system at the time of purchase so that you can properly maintain it.
Keith--Oh my goodness...3 people for one system!! That must have been quite a job for the Honey Wagon! :) There is never more than one to maintain our system. Thanks for the comments!
Maureen--Very hard to forget some of these slogans that is for certain!
Chris--Thanks for commenting...I think the humor is appreciated more by those with a private sewer system in their backyard than by those who are on city sewer.
Yolanda--Not my humor...I didn't create the slogans, just sharing to spice up an important but dull subject. :)
once again, you write an excellent post, and I love the slogans. How funny is that? Too bad real estate agents can't get away with risky slogans like this! :)
This funniest post I read since joing AR. I can't stop laughing. :)
Hey Teri,
Yeah, I guess what took those guys so long was the fact that the tank had not been pumped out in such a long time...I mean like several years (more than 5). One guy was using this really long stick and had it in the hole...he kept stirring it up like it was his coffee. hehe. I guess what tends to happen over time is that the solids become really thick and rich at the bottom. And that's the only way they can get the vacuum on the truck to suck it all up is to make it into a sweet little puree. The other two fellas where doing other stuff...one had a hose hooked up to the faucet and he was spraying water into the belly of the beast. The other dude was just standing there like someone with a drug induced high. I'm sure their PARENTS are all very proud! Very proud indeed! :-)
-Keith
RE/MAX Olympic, Manassas VA
www.MyRealtorKeith.com
Jennifer--It would be too risky to have a humorous slogan for most agents, I agree.
Malika--Glad I could provide a chuckle or two! :)
Keith--Way too descriptive!!!