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Keeping you updated.

Acme Job Opportunity!!

on Saturday, 22 February 2020.

APPLY AT INDEED.COM AND SEARCH FOR JOB TITLE "OFFICE / ADMIN / PROJECT SPECIALIST"

Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Acme is a close-knit, family owned business. Our belief is that if we have to work – why not enjoy it and the people we work with. Let’s be the best at what we do, and be the best we can be to those around us.

Qualifications:

Advanced proficiency with organizational & time management skills, ability to multi-task, prioritize and keep up in a fast paced environment. Self-directed yet excels with team projects, critical thinker, detail oriented, excellent verbal and written communication skills. Comfortable with navigating the internet, Microsoft Word, emailing, Apple computers, blogging and typing 60 wpm. Experienced with Google Suite, QuickBooks, Power Point, and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) program is ideal. Must be upbeat, have a genuine desire to help others.

Responsibilities:

Work independently and collectively to assess customer goals, access resources and implement procedures to meet project deadlines and provide outstanding customer service, adhere to governing regulations, and meet deadlines. Additional office duties as needed.

Additional information:

Acme is a high producing company where team members collaborate on multiple projects. Our industry demands attention to detail and the ability to complete tasks while dealing with interruptions. We believe we make a difference in people’s lives by helping them purchase the right property that will help them achieve their dreams of building a home or navigate through a failing septic system. If you’re a quick learner, pride yourself in your work ethic, enjoy a fast-paced environment, have strong computer skills and you want to grow in knowledge and opportunity, this may be the job you’ve been looking for. Come join our team!

APPLY AT INDEED.COM AND SEARCH FOR JOB TITLE "OFFICE /ADMIN / PROJECT SPECIALIST"

Monitoring and Maintenance Inspection Site Readiness

on Wednesday, 20 November 2019.

Accessibility for Monitoring and Maintenance inspections is extremely important, as we are partnering with you to obtain the longest life possible for your On-site Sewer System (OSS). Your required inspections from the Kitsap Public Health District (KPHD) are paramount in achieving this. 

When we come out to complete your inspections, all components need to be accessible and unobstructed, as we will need to inspect your OSS and all of it's components as set forth by the KPHD.This includes all tanks, panels, inspection ports, and splitters (if applicable).

Please know that we are happy to work with all of our customers, including emailing copies of As-Builts/Records of Construction if you need help determining what components you have and where they are located. 

There are certain requirements determined by Labor & Industry (L&I) that prohibit Acme from performing certain tasks while on-site, due to the licenses we hold, therefore we are unable to make components accessible while we are on site. For more information, please call our office at 360-698-8488, or refer to the Inspection Site Readiness email that has been sent to all of our maintenance customers.  

Inclement Weather

on Sunday, 10 February 2019.

Our motto is "Gravity is our goal!", except in extreme conditions. Then it becomes "Safety is our goal!". Please know that we do not take the decision to reschedule appointments lightly.

However, when Rod comes out to a property for a feasibility appointment, he pulls his own tractor on a trailer behind his vehicle. This is great...until the road conditions become icy and hazardous. The additional weight of the tractor could cause serious issues on an already icy or snowy road. 

Therefore, we have contacted our customers to reschedule Rod's design appointments for the next couple of days, until the roads clear. Please be aware that if conditions remain hazardous for pulling a tractor, we may need to reschedule additional appointments. We appreciate your patience and understanding! 

 

Septic Tank Installation

on Friday, 02 November 2018.

We're frequently asked how tanks get installed. It's actually a great question, considering most 1000 gallon tanks are approximately 6 feet deep and weigh around 2,500 pounds. The answer? The tanks are loaded on to trucks, which are driven to the site, and then the tank is lifted off the truck and into the designated spot. D&D Hauling installed this tank in the Indianola area. For more information on D&D Hauling, and all of our preferred installers, please click here

Oscar Install

on Friday, 03 August 2018.

The OSCAR system is a relatively new type of septic system. This system utilizes a recirculation tank, which other systems do not use. This system was installed by D&D Hauling in the Indianola area. As you can see, Dennis and his crew did a great job. The homeowner reported "it looks great and I appreciate the hard work and expertise in getting it installed!". 

For more information on D&D Hauling, and all of our preferred installers, please click here

For more information on Oscar Systems, please click here

Excavator Vs. Backhoe

on Wednesday, 18 October 2017.

We're often asked what kind of equipment our designer uses to dig soil logs, and often ask if they'll need to have this equipment on site when we arrive for the feasibility appointment.

Acme has a small backhoe that we will bring to each feasibility appointment. Most people assume we use an excavator, however, a backhoe is more than sufficient for most properties. Brush and small trees are not an issue for the backhoe to maneuver around. However, some properties require bigger equipment to establish soil logs. In those instances, an excavator is hired and brought in. Below you can see both Acme's backhoe (green) and an excavator (yellow). If you have any questions regarding what type of equipment may be needed for your property, please let us know. 

 

  

Determining When Pump Outs Are Needed

on Friday, 01 September 2017.

We are frequently asked how often tanks need to be pumped out. Pumping out your tanks has more to do with effluent levels than it does time. When we come out for Monitoring and Maintenance inspections we measure the levels of both the scum and sludge in each compartment of the tanks, to determine if they are high enough to require pumping. Once the scum and sludge in your tanks reach a certain level, it's time to pump. When we sludge judge a system, it's very easy to see what the levels are, as you can tell by the photo below. As you might have guessed, the levels in this particular tank are well within the operational limits, and it does not need to be pumped at this time. 
Some things that can increase the need for more frequent pump outs are excessive toilet paper use (this does not break down once it goes into your system) or flushing items that can clog or remain in your tanks (kitty litter, baby wipes, etc). Acme is not a pump out company, but we regularly work with some great pump out companies; you can find their information here

sludge judge photo

Pump to Gravity System

on Monday, 12 June 2017.

This pump to gravity system was installed in Port Orchard, by one of our preferred installers.  A complete list of our preferred installers can be found here
 

Kat Trax Port Orchard

Septic Design Process

on Tuesday, 10 December 2019.

Whether it's a new design, a modification or a repair, we are often asked what the septic design process entails. 

One of our first steps is to schedule and complete the feasibility appointment, where our designer, Rod, will meet with you on site. At this appointment, Rod is able to determine what type of septic system design can be proposed to the Kitsap Public Health District (KPHD). Once the initial appointment has occurred, and you elect to move forward with your project, an email with all of the necessary items and steps will be sent to you.

Whether you are starting with undeveloped land, dealing with a failing septic system or simply trying to obtain a building permit, one thing that sets Acme apart is a link we include to an online interactive presentation which is sent to our customers. This presentation will walk you through the design process, from the initial feasibility to submitting the final Record of Construction (ROC) at the end of your design project. It includes photos, tips, required documents and other information needed from the customer in order to complete the design, as well as letting our customers know exactly what they can expect from us during this process. 

We have a multi-member team who are more than happy to answer questions and partner with our customers through this time. We fully understand that septic designs can present a wide range of emotions, from the excitement of building a dream home to the frustration of a failed system. Our goal is to partner with our customers throughout this process, making the design process as user-friendly as possible, while completing project goals in an effective and timely manner. 

If you have any questions, or wish to begin a septic design, please call our office at 360-698-8488 or click here to fill out our online intake form. Once we have received an intake form, we will contact you directly.  

Standard Pressure Panel

on Monday, 06 May 2019.

Our maintenance customers, especially those who are new to septic systems often ask about their control panels. Below is one of the more frequently used panels for a standard pressure system, but please know that your panel could look different, for a variety of reasons. 

Each standard pressure panel will have a button to silence alarms, a timer, an on/off switch and other electrical components. Unless you happen to be a licensed electrician, the silence button is probably the only component you will end up using (we will check the rest of the components at each inspection). 

We always recommend that home owners and renters locate the silence button on the panel now, so that when your alarm is going off at 2 am on a Saturday in the pouring down rain, you're not searching for it (typically, the silence button is on the side of the panel as pictured below, but not always). 

Utility Locate

on Monday, 01 October 2018.

When scheduling a feasibility appointment, our staff will ask about marking the property in white, for the utility locate. Before the first phone conversation with Acme, most of our customers are not aware that per Washington State Law, we must submit a utility locate request prior to any digging. 

Each contractor must submit their own request, so while we appreciate that customers offer to submit the locate request, we need to be the ones to call it in. Due to the fact that the locate companies require the area of excavation be marked in white, Acme requires that customers email photos of the white markings before we can submit the locate request. 

Customers often ask how the property should be marked. Most people choose to use white spray paint, however, white flags, white stakes or white ribbons are also acceptable. Please be sure that your locate markings are done in white, and not any other color, as each utility marks in a specific color. 

For more information on utility locates please click here

 

Seabeck Standard Pressure System

on Friday, 13 April 2018.

Ron Hemley's Septic Installations installed this three bedroom Standard Pressure system in the Seabeck area. Daryl and his crew did a great job! For more information on Ron Hemley's, and all of our installers, please click here

What Dictates The OSS Type For A Property?

on Wednesday, 27 September 2017.

One of the questions we are frequently asked is how the designer determines what kind of On-Site Sewer System (OSS) can go on a property. We always try to achieve a gravity system at the feasibility, however, that isn't always possible. When our designer goes to a feasibility appointment, he evaluates the type of soil and the depth of the soil. He'll also evaluate the slope on the property. Then, based on the current codes and regulations determined by the Kitsap Public Health District (KPHD), he'll come up with a design that can be proposed to the KPHD. 

Once a design is submitted, the KPHD inspector will go out and evaluate the soil logs, to make sure that what we have proposed can be achieved. If everything works out, then the design will be approved and installation can begin. For additional information on the septic design process, please click here. 

 

***Please note, all approvals, denials and additional requirements are at the discretion of the Kitsap Public Health District, and many factors are considered in this decision that may not be mentioned in this post.***  

Setbacks, Easements and Buffers

on Monday, 10 July 2017.

During a septic design, there are many things that need to be provided to Acme by the customer. A full list of the items we need is sent out in the initial design overview, which customers receive before their feasibility appointment with the designer. This list includes, but is not limited to, setbacks, easements and buffers. 

This information is important, as it can all impact the potential drain field area. For example, if you have a utilities easement running through your property, this easement is "off limits" for a septic system. Setbacks are a specific set of requirements to keep the drain field away from other components on a property. Setbacks to wells, property lines and buildings are some of the most common. While Acme is aware of general setbacks, there may be setbacks specific to your property that we need to be made aware of. Buffers are also important, as they can vary from as little as 15 feet to over 100 feet. 

We always ask our customers to provide us with this information, in writing. This information can typically be found at the Department of Community Development (DCD), or with the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI), if your property is on Bainbridge Island. Their contact information can be found here