www-herringseptic-com-8p30ubzrl-v1

Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself!

Tue, 13 May 2025 16:00:04 GMT

You would be surprised how many calls Herring Sanitation gets from neighbors who are looking out for their neighbors. This 5 Star Google Review is the result of one of those calls. The review says it all and more.

“I highly recommend them, here's why. An elderly neighbor called me and said she had water pooling in her yard. I knew it was at the start of her septic fields. I dug up the distribution box and could see that water was not going out into the fields. This neighbor is older, widowed and on a fixed income. My goal was to find someone honest and fair. The first big name I called said they were too busy, they referred me to someone else who took 3 days to call me back. The next guy told me without looking, she needs new fields, it will be 15 to 20k. When I called Herring, the secretary listened to me, and said, let me see if Jason can stop by. Two hours later he came and right away he seemed to understand the situation, he said worst case would be new fields but that he would come back with a backhoe, a pump truck and a camera and try to revitalize the system so that this elderly person didn't have to come up with 15K. I was there when he came back and it was obvious that the fields were collapsed and beyond repair. He wound up redoing the fields, getting board of health approval and he just did an excellent job at a fair price. One last thing is that he uses the green sewer pipe which is much higher quality than the cheap white stuff that most other contractors use and for me as a retired trades guy, that says a lot about them doing quality work!” - John M., Hudson Valley, NY

When you recommend a company to someone, you are always hoping that nothing goes wrong. The last thing you want is people being upset with you. Well!!!! When you recommend Herring Sanitation there will be no worries. Rest assured Herring is honest and tries to save all their customers from costly repairs, if possible. Sometimes when there are no other choices, big repairs have to be performed. Herring can handle all types of situations, but we will never do more than necessary to handle the situation. And we will always handle it the right way. Whether it’s big or small, in our 50+ years, Herring has handled it all.

Check out the review John M. left on Google recently for a story like this. And here’s another one to share:

Just recently, Jason Herring helped a homeowner that was, coincidentally, a neighbor of his parents. They called because they were panicking! They were told they needed a new septic tank and fields and the job would be over $26,000. Jason said he would come over and take a look and headed there right away. The uncomfortable thing was the other company was on site already installing a new septic tank! Jason approached the contractor, already mid-tank install, and asked for an explanation. They had broken apart a concrete tank that was just 3 years old because it had a broken baffle and was installing a plastic tank in its place. The other company said the pipes looked brittle so they wanted to change out the entire system. Herring knows this is not necessary, and an easy way to pad a job for an unsuspecting home owner. Field lines are surrounded by gravel. Over time pipes can become brittle but these pipes were working perfectly and had no leaks or breaks. The other company was using this “brittle pipes” diagnosis to add $20,000 to the invoice, but luckily it was Jason Herring to the rescue! Unfortunately, the septic tank could have gotten by with just a new baffle, but it was too late for that. So, the homeowner has a brand new septic tank but their fields are left exactly as they are. Needless to say the new homeowner will always be calling Herring Sanitation if they have a septic problem.

So what did Jason Herring charge for his advice and opinion? Nothing. It was an honor to save someone from being duped. And that’s how Herring rolls.

Have a great Herring story or testimonial to share? We would love to hear it.

You can post it on our Facebook page or leave us a Google review here - https://g.page/r/CZdzlW1jVzcVEAI/review .

From the desk of,

Sharon B. Herring, CEO

Herring Does Portable Toilets

Wed, 07 May 2025 18:03:08 GMT

And always puts a smile on your face when we do.

Herring hasn’t always been in the portable toilet business. 25+ years ago we saw a need in the Hudson Valley and so Jimmy Herring bought a truck, strapped in a tank and platform and rented our first unit in 2003. Herring Sanitation has been offering portable toilets ever since. The equipment is newer, and the inventory is larger, but basically it’s the same shit different day.

Here are just a few units you may see out and around the Hudson Valley. You might be surprised about the diversity of reasons people rent a unity.

Construction sites might need them for a week and sometimes more than a year. Home owners rent one or two units for weddings, reunions, graduation parties, and other events where they don’t want people in and out of their house using up their septic tank space. Block parties and community events are our favorite customers because everyone is in a good mood when we drop off and only a little hung over when we pick up.)

Herring has had 2 day rentals and when the Gap fire happened, we had a multi stall unit there for over a year while they did the clean up.

A large local church in Poughkeepsie has rented our units regularly for many years for their annual multi-day. Those units need to be serviced multiple times while on site. In Newburgh, we provide units for an annual music festival. We service the units many times during the multi-day event because things can get pretty wild. It’s no Coachella, but our technicians have had their fair share of naked fan sightings. Always a fun time.

Our goal is to have the cleanest portable toilets in the Hudson Valley. While sometimes users make that a difficult promise to keep (what are you people doing out there at the base of Mt Beacon!?) we do our best. Herring’s technicians are out there every week inspecting, cleaning, and pumping the units. Don’t worry it’s not a “you rent it you empty it” type situation.

Here’s a quick rundown of what it looks like when you rent a portable toilet from Herring: We deliver the unit onsite at your desired location, as long as it’s within 20 ft of where our truck can access. It's clean and empty upon arrival. We put an additive in the tank and fill it with TP and it's set to go…and for you to go. If you have rented the unit for less than a week, we come back when your event is over and pick it up. That’s assuming you don’t need additional cleanings. We will make sure to get all that information when you call to reserve your unit(s). If your unit is on the site longer than a week, we will return on a weekly basis to clean it on the inside out.

If you ever thought about renting a portable toilet…or you never thought about it but now for some reason you find yourself needing to…you can check out the many options we have on our website - toilets, sinks, and a luxury restroom trailer for weddings and other events where you need something a bit fancier. A bit of advice: Tell us the truth about how many people you expect to use the unit while it’s rented. Otherwise, you could end up with a bit of a mess just because you tried to save a few bucks. ;-)

You are always welcome to call the Herring office at 845-226-5405 to get rates and availability from one of our friendly staff members.

And next time you drive by one of our many portable toilets in your town, give us a wave. We’re not in there or anything, but we’ll probably feel it next time we head out to pump.

Sharon B. Herring, CEO

Upsell! Upsell! Who Wants an Upsell?

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 15:59:09 GMT

Upsell! Upsell! Who Wants an Upsell?

You’ll probably say, “not me!” But what if I told you that when you get a really good pumping price you’re actually saying “me me me!” Low ball the Pumping price! Get on the customer’s property and then what? Up Sell!

That is NOT what Herring Sanitation does. Herring does not create problems or make issues out to be larger than they are. Since 1973 we have taken care of our neighbors and community by being honest business people. We pride ourselves on our reputation, after all - that is our name on the Truck!

What prompted this blog is that Jason Herring was sent out to a neighbor of his parents for an urgent call of ‘help me’.

The story goes that these people have used Herring Sanitation in the past but with a competitor advertising such a low pumping price they decided to save a few bucks on the simple pump job. When the pumping was taking place, the competitor convinced the property owner to replace their tank over a deteriorating baffle. The baffle could've been replaced with a plastic T baffle and instead had them pay to replace a perfectly fine concrete septic tank with an inferior plastic tank. Why would the competitor do this?

Most people don’t know the ins and outs of how septics work and can be easily convinced that issues are larger than they appear. In addition, they trust their septic expert to recommend the best equipment for the job…not the price or profit…the job.

You will never find Herring doing either of these things. We do our best to explain and show our customers how everything works. A well informed customer is our favorite kind.

So back to this install job. Herring’s office took the call from the neighbor and immediately put Jason on the phone. The caller was frantic because they were just told by the installer that their septic fields were bad and needed to be replaced. The neighbor pleaded with Jason to come over immediately and Jason agreed.

As Jason approached the property he spotted the original concrete septic tank up on the front lawn, jackhammered to pieces (likely at cost to the customer). Jason calls the property owner to make sure that Herring was welcome to enter the scene. As requested Jason goes and looks over the work being performed and goes into the home to report what he witnessed.

That was just the beginning of what Jason saw. In addition to the concrete tank in pieces, he saw the newly installed plastic tank installed in the same place as the removed concrete tank. The existing septic fields were working just fine as designed.

The contractors present had told the customer to replace the fields for 2 reasons:

One they weren't able to match the level of the plastic tank’s outlet pipe with the level of the newly installed tank.

Two the existing sewer and drain pipe was brittle.

While Jason was not affiliated with the company doing the work, he advised the property owner to have the contractor chase the existing outlet pipe back to where it had a lower elevation and hook it up there to reach the desired pitch on the pipe. This would save them the need for new equipment and fields.

This is where it got a little crazy. The property owner pleaded with Jason to please tell the installer how to proceed with the install. Out of respect, Herring has never interfered or bad mouthed a competitor. This situation never happened to Herring in 51 years of installations, but Jason did as requested. Jason approached the contractor respectfully and explained what was happening and why he was present. The installer told Jason that the SDR pipe was brittle and they were having a hard time finding the proper pitch and because of that they recommended replacing the entire septic system. He noted that the pipe in question was sewer and drain pipe, not SDR and explained to the installer that he could simply chase the pipe downhill to find the necessary pitch.

Jason didn’t charge the homeowner for his visit or advice. The property owner was already paying enough.

So the moral to this story is to be careful. Letting someone get on your property with a low ball price isn't always the best thing to do.

Their low price may just be an opportunity to UPSELL you later. And by then, you may be in for a lot more than you bargained for…or need.!

Call Herring for an honest assessment of your septic problems and a FAIR price for pumping. We are licensed, legal, and pay our employees a fair wage. And we never try to pad your job to pad our profits.

Herring has a Wide Poo-Print in the Hudson Valley Thanks to Our Portable Toilet Division

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 17:45:54 GMT

Rolling Out Portable Toilets in Hudson Valley for Over 27 Years

Portable Toilet Season at Herring Sanitation is upon us big time. It’s the season of working outside, partying outside, and celebrating outside. We get lots of calls for different types of circumstances, and it boils down to 3 types of customers:

1. Those that plan ahead and have it all ironed out with date and space and delivery.

2. Those that want it today no matter what we have planned because they forgot that they might need one.

3. Those that call and price out what they need and then promise to call back The important step is they FORGET to call back and schedule but then call to see where their toilet is?

It’s all good, we love them all. Herring’s goal is to meet everyone’s needs. We service Municipalities, Contractors, Homeowners who want the Contractors to be outdoors, Neighborhood Block Parties, Town Parks, Wedding Venues, Pool Yards, Every type of Family Party or Events.

Herring eases the use of your Septic System and helps keep the traffic outside. We have single units, handicapped accessible units, sinks and sanistands, and luxury restroom units. We have been told that our Luxury Unit is nicer than most peoples' bathrooms and we keep our portable units maintained and repaired so they are ready when you need them.

Our men do this during the freezing cold winter, when your shit is too frozen to pump. They start with the ones that had a tough season last year and make sure our whole fleet of portable sanitation is in tip top shape.

Herring is ready to take your calls whenever they come in and will make every effort to meet your needs whether you plan out your life or do a “OOPS I forgot.”

If you need a portable toilet, luxury trailer, or sanistand, call Herring at 845-226-5405 or visit the portable sanitation section of our website - https://www.herringseptic.com/portablesanitation .

Our Customer’s Biggest Complaint When It Snows

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:30:32 GMT

The writing is on the wall...

Trista Polo: Sharon, tell me about the challenge you're having with finding people's tanks in all this snow.

Sharon Herring, CEO Herring Sanitation & Septic Services, Inc.: People that are calling this time of year are calling because they're having a problem. They're backing up. They have a clog or they just need service right away. So almost everything this time of year is an emergency. When we go out the yard is snow covered and when we ask them where their tank is, they may say It's in a general area but they don’t know where the lid is. It’s under snow and the ground is frozen. So as you probe around, you can't really feel what you would feel in the summertime when the ground is not hard as a rock.

We can't find it magically. We need to use our tools to do that. That means we send out a special crew that brings the camera, with the locator, and we find it for them. They don't want to spend the money to do that. And I understand that. But that equipment is very costly. And the extra crew we have to send out costs us money too. So we try to pass it on as economically as possible for them. But it's not our fault that they're having an emergency and it's not our fault that it's snowing. So, all we can do is just be as kind as we possibly can. And make enough money to still pay our men and our overhead.

Trista Polo: What can the customer do to minimize or eliminate your need to find it?

Sharon Herring: Well, we had a commercial customer just yesterday. He runs a business. And he couldn't find his tank that was backing up. We brought our camera out there twice. Once we found a clog he stopped us so he could bring his machine in to fix it. He brought his machine in but they couldn't find the clog. So late in the afternoon our camera went back out a second time. Of course we discounted it for him, but Jimmy called him this morning and said, “Hey, listen. This is what you need to do. Triangulate your septic tank. Take a measurement from the center of the lid to one point on your building. Take a measurement at another point on the building. Our customer said, "Yes I did that. I just couldn't find where I put that f___ing paper."

So Jimmy said, "Well you know what? Take it and draw it on the wall in your garage next to your electric panel or next to your furnace. And this way, you always know where that drawing is and you'll be able to find it without a problem.” Our customer said, “That's a great idea. That's what I'm going to do!” Jimmy went on to tell him that we had a customer that did that with everything in his house. And then the guy passed away and his daughter went ahead and painted the wall. Of course when they needed the tank serviced they called Jimmy and he told the daughter that her dad had drawn the tank location on the wall. UH OH!

The Board of Health will be able to tell us what yard your tank is in and where it is roughly in the yard. But nothing is going to tell us where that lid is except that triangulation. We'll try to triangulate when we do a pump out and we give the measurements to the homeowner. But we have 25,000 customers and we can't keep track of everybody. We do the best that we can.

Trista Polo: If they were to shovel the snow off of the tank, would that make it easier for you to find it with your probes?

Sharon Herring: When you're out there doing seven of these a day and you're dragging hoses through the snow it certainly would be nice if they shoveled a path. But not everybody can shovel. Not everybody wants to.

Trista Polo: So it kind of comes down to cost of time and effort versus cost of the money. The more they can do to find the tank and lid, clear a path to it and give you an easier time to get access, the more economical it will be.

Sharon Herring: Right.

Trista Polo: What can somebody do in the spring, summer and fall to prevent these kinds of emergencies cropping up in the winter.

Sharon Herring: Well, if they have regular service, they shouldn't have to have their tank pumped in the winter. But nothing can prevent a child from throwing a GI Joe down the toilet. Or a healthcare worker that comes into the house. They shouldn't be flushing wet wipes down the toilet, but it happens.

And then you have a clog.

And then once it starts to back up, pretty soon, you can't use anything.

Trista Polo: So get pumped regularly and as we always say: Don't flush those wipes!

2024 - A Look Forward Means a Look Back

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:35:28 GMT

Where Does Our Vision for 2024 Come From?

Looking forward is always fun and tough. What will 2024 bring to Herring Sanitation? What can we create and make happen that will keep customers happy and our employees eager to work for us?

To look forward with clear vision, we have to look back; this can sometimes be the hardest part. Some of the things we consider are as follows-

What went right?

Herring has been training family members for years. This year three of them have bloomed into what their Grandparents never imagined. They each are smart and talented. Our customers love them.

What went wrong?

We have welcomed our employees to bring their dogs to work. Let me tell you the mud from the construction site makes its way into our office every day.

What can we do to improve?

Herring has purchased new equipment and can offer more services to our customers. A powerful bulldozer to handle moving materials and all kinds of grading issues. A Skid Steer with trenchers and forks and an attachment called a Rock Hound. The Hot Water Jetter is working great. But did we invest properly in the right equipment to keep Herring Sanitation equipped to best serve our customers? We tried and will continue to evaluate it.

Did Sharon learn her lesson yet as far as not making too much food for the Company Summer party and the Holiday Party?
I think we all know the answer to this one!

Most importantly, did we make a profit or just keep busy?

This question will help ensure that we stay in business and can pay our employees reliably.

Going forward into 2024 we are looking at budgets, equipment needs, employee training, and we have to look at pricing, too. Yeah, that’s always a difficult one. We want to keep things affordable for our customers, but we have to consider our profitability so we can be a sustainable business. Herring has different divisions (septic, portable toilet, etc.) so we look at each division and assess the profitability of them. They each must stand on their own.

The biggest impacts on our profitability and therefore our pricing are material and dumping costs. Materials have gone out of sight, but at least this past year the materials were available when we needed them. We are continuing to balance the costs of doing business with our commitment to keep septic services as affordable as we can for our customers.

The most exciting thing happening at Herring Sanitation is the warehouse we are building in Fishkill. This is 8 years in the making and will be important to our bottom line. Not only will it make our work flow more efficient, it will save us thousands in commercial space rent. Work progressed in 2023 and is progressing to a point where we're starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. We can’t wait to park our fleet in our new space.

From the desk of Sharon B. Herring, CEO

A First for One Of Our Own

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 16:11:57 GMT

Alex Ashburn Leads his First On Site Installation for Herring

It’s fall y’all! And like every year around this time, Herring is in full swing and working long days. As we are juggling multiple job sites, we need to make sure we have great people on site. Jason normally runs all of our jobs, but with the number of repairs and replacements we have had lately, he knew he needed to start to delegate.

This last week, for the first time, Jason left it up to Alex Ashburn to take on a septic installation on his own. Alex has been working alongside his grandfather and uncle for the past 7 years, learning the ropes at Herring, and gaining much knowledge. You need a lot of knowledge to run your own jobsite, and Jason knew he was ready.

Alex took everything he has learned over the last 7 years on job sites, at septic inspections, and in the office and put it all to good use. He had the ability to complete this installation perfectly, without any issues or problems. I asked Jason how he felt about Alex’s first completed job. He said he was proud to watch Alex put the knowledge he has been taught to work. Jason and everyone here at Herring is proud of Alex’s confidence. He had everything under control and there was no hesitation. Alex installed 250’ of Board of Health approved septic fields. He had the ability to dig a level trench for each line, embed it in gravel, cover it in fabric and then add the final touch, backfill. The crew respected Alex and they all worked as a team. As part of managing the job, it was Alex’s responsibility to run the machine. Often people think the person in the machine is better than the laborers, and can get away with skipping the harder work on the ground. But at Herring we know this is not the case. And Alex is no exception. He got out of the machine and helped his crew when needed. When Jason went to the site to do the final inspection, he was happy to see that there were minimal final touches that needed to be finished. That’s what I call teamwork! All in all, the customer was happy with the job and so was Jason. A job well done, Alex! I’m sure this is the first of many sites you will manage with the care and expertise our customers expect from Herring.

A big deck, a walkway and a septic tank walk into a bar….

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:14:39 GMT

Ok this isn’t a joke. It’s a question actually. What is more important: A lovely walkway? A big deck? Or a septic tank under that deck and walkway that is collapsing?

Herring had a job where we had to answer just this question. How do we take care of a collapsing tank that was under a big deck and lovely walkway? Here’s the story -

Herring promised to try to move the deck, but the homeowner thought he could cut it in half and help Herring’s team by moving it himself. He was hoping to reuse the deck or parts of it afterwards. Well! That didn’t work. The deck came down! It was old and really needed some love anyway so the homeowner and his buddy are taking care of that part.

The walkway was lovely but it had to be removed…well part of it did anyway. Herring removed as little as possible so that it would be easier to rebuild once the septic job was finished.

Now onto the real reason Herring Sanitation and their team was there - the collapsing septic tank. The Herring crew located the distribution box first to make sure we could relocate the Septic tank out from under the deck and walkway. We didn’t want them to have to deal with this conundrum ever again. Plus, with the tank relocated, there will be no more problems finding and pumping out this new tank.

It took a large sized Herring team to handle all the pieces. Some of our team did camera work to check the outlet line. We had some of the Herring crew check the outlet line.

The concrete truck that delivers and sets tanks was not capable of setting this tank. Sometimes access to the site is blocked by trees, landscape elevation heights or buildings that are blocking the path. Herring would usually switch to a plastic tank install but not for this application. The reason this was not an option was due to the depth and soil conditions. The outlet pipe from the house has to run directly to the tank and not uphill. You know the rule, right? Shit flows downhill.

Luckily for everyone, Herring Sanitation has a large excavator to assist in installations like these and can set concrete tanks…it just makes the job a little more exciting and more fun to watch.

In the end, the deck will be updated, the walkway will be replaced and the new 1000 gallon concrete tank was installed to service this home for years to come.

Any septic company can handle the easy jobs. Herring prides ourselves in being able to handle the easy jobs, the complex jobs, and most importantly the complex jobs that look easy at first.

Is Your Septic Tank a Danger Zone?

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:36:24 GMT

Read these warning signs before you go back out to your yard!

The weather sure has been weird, hasn’t it? Air quality warnings that we always thought only West Coasters have to deal with. Hotter temperatures then we have seen in what is being called the hottest year our planet has ever seen.

Now there is so much rain, we are seeing flash flooding so bad that one poor woman was swept away in the run off, may she rest in peace.

The weather has affected our septic systems too, creating even more potential for tragedy. The Herrings have pulled out dogs and deer from septic tanks in past years.

These kinds of issues happen because the ground is holding so much water that an aging tank in bad condition can’t support it and simply collapses under the weight of the waterlogged ground.

Herring has been thinking about lots of old memories, as we celebrate 50 years of septic work in the Hudson Valley. I remember a call we got from a customer claiming that her feuding neighbor stole her septic tank. But no! It had collapsed in this type of weather.

So this is a word of warning for those of you that let your dogs run around your yard…play with your children in the yard…mow your lawn - be careful and look for these warning signs to stay away from the spot in your yard where your septic is buried.

Your tank is old and your pumper has told you to replace it
There are sags in your yard
Sink holes or a hole where there was not one last week

So stay dry, cool and especially safe out there for the rest of the summer. And make sure to keep your septic maintained, to minimize the potential for dangerous conditions in your own backyard.

From the desk of Sharon B. Herring, CEO Herring Sanitation & Septic Services, Inc.

Spring Has Sprung, And So Have Some Septic Pipes

Fri, 26 May 2023 17:54:23 GMT

With the changing of the seasons comes the possibility of ground shifting problems, especially for homes with septic systems.

Spring has sprung, and so too have some homeowners’ pipes. With the warmer weather, many homeowners are eager to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. However, with the changing of the seasons comes the possibility of ground shifting problems, especially for homes with septic systems.

When the ground shifts, even slightly, it can disrupt this balance and cause problems such as backups, leaks, and even complete system failure. Also, pipes can become disconnected and cause blockages or leakage.

That's why it's crucial for homeowners to have their septic systems inspected regularly, especially before purchasing a new home or property. A thorough inspection can identify any existing issues and prevent costly repairs down the road.

Here’s an example of a job we did recently where this happened. These photos show the repair made to an outlet pipe that had been leaking but was undetected until the buyer performed a Septic Inspection.

The camera inserted in the system discovered the problem. Herring was hired to make the repair and the property owner begged Jason and Ashlyn Herring to make as little impact as possible to his beautiful yard. Alex Ashburn , one of the Herring’s grandsons, did an exceptional job keeping the yard neat.

When hiring a septic inspection professional, it's essential to choose a company with experience, expertise, and a reputation for excellent service. At Herring Sanitation, we've been providing top-quality septic inspections and services to homeowners throughout the Hudson Valley for 50 years.

Biggest takeaway

When buying a home or property, always perform a septic inspection.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you. Our team is always ready and happy to assist you with all of your septic needs.

After

Earth Day and Septic - Common Misconceptions

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 19:37:40 GMT

As Herring Sanitation approaches Earth Day 2023 we wanted to address some common misconceptions people have about septic companies, and address them.

Here are the top most common:

Septic companies do not care about the environment

Septic systems are bad for the environment

Septic companies dump waste in the environment

Septic companies use harmful chemicals to clean septic systems

Septic companies don't take conservation seriously

Septic systems contaminate groundwater

Septic companies are not regulated

So let’s get into it!

Septic companies do not care about the environment

Why would they think that Septic Companies don’t care about the environment? Where did this rumor start? I know that our main job deals with something most people over 12 consider to be gross, and vile. But somebody’s gotta do it. It doesn’t mean we need to be cast as the villain in the community’s story. If you need a villain, there has to be a better one than the poop pumpers.

Septic systems are bad for the environment

To make matters worse many people think that septic systems are bad for the environment. In fact the opposite is true. By setting up a system to deal with the waste from your home, we allow homeowners to use sanitary facilities that are managed and maintained. It wasn’t too long ago that people used outhouses in the Hudson Valley. Not only were they bad for your exposed tushy in the winter, they were likely to cause groundwater contamination.

Septic companies dump waste in the environment

They even believe septic companies dump waste in the environment. Fun fact: septic companies are licensed and monitored by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the local Departments of Health. And just in case you worry that these governmental agencies might miss something, you can be sure that concerned citizens who think they see something being done improperly will report it.

Septic companies use harmful chemicals to clean septic systems

Another falsehood is that septic companies use harmful chemicals to clean septic systems. I think the reason people might think this is that they have never been up close and personal when their septic guy is working on their system or pumping it out. We don’t blame you, believe me. But, Herring doesn’t need chemicals to work with septic because all we are doing is pumping out whatever you put there. So actually, if you’re worried about harmful chemicals, you should look in a mirror. ;-) The Herrings had a house fire years ago and the neighbors could be heard on a recording saying “ Oh God that house must be full of chemicals.” I don't think so.

Septic companies don't take conservation seriously

Herring’s owner and founder, Jimmy Herring, has overheard people saying this. We’re not sure what people mean when they say this but you can be sure we take conservation very seriously. In fact, you may have overheard Herring coaching their customers on how to be more conservative with water usage and additives.

Septic systems contaminate groundwater

The fear that Septic systems contaminate groundwater is real. Not, of course, if the septic system is installed properly and maintained as directed by their septic company. But, an overused and old, not properly serviced septic system does contaminate the groundwater. So make sure you are pumping the tank regularly and don’t put off maintenance and repairs when they come up.

Septic systems require a lot of water

Lastly, the talk of a Septic system requiring a lot of water is of course ridiculous. A septic system is meant to handle the water that comes from the home or the facility it services. It does not require water but treats it instead.

In closing, Herring Sanitation can be counted on to follow all regulations to keep our customers and our environment safe. If you know of any other concern not mentioned, comment below or give Sharon Herring a call to get the correct information at 845-226-5405.

Do you like [Oh I mean love] Rocks?

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 19:09:24 GMT

If you have rocks, Herring can turn it into rock gardens.

When a septic installer starts working in your yard, you are already a bit stressed out. How long will this take? Will they find anything else wrong while they are working on my system? When will we be able to flush again without clenching?

Herring has been in business for 50 years this year, so we have seen it all. The good news is it's not often we come across unusual findings when working on a septic system. But there are times when we do and I want to share our most recent one.

We arrived at a level property to replace an entire failing septic system and pretty early into the job, we hit rock buried inches below the surface. This is when the panic … and the questions … begin. What kind of rock is it? And how deep do these rocks go down? Are any of them filled with diamonds and gold? We are hoping so because the thing we are worried about most is how much we will have to charge the customer to deal with it.

Rock is really rough on our equipment and the lighter the equipment the higher the chance of needing a bigger machine. Herring Sanitation has four excavators of different sizes for just that reason. These machines are expensive to own and Herring needs to charge an appropriate price while trying to keep the customer’s cost down. Deeper jobs call for machines with longer booms. Tight working areas call for smaller machines. Herring has an especially large machine with a jackhammer on it for breaking rock.

Herring Sanitation hates to change a price once we quote the job. Lucky for us (and this homeowner), it worked out nicely.

When Jason first started to hit the rock, he immediately told the property owner that he was going to need to bring in a bigger machine, which would cost more. But since we were there and had the original machine with us, Jason continued to dig in with the original machine, and he found Jimmy Herring’s favorite rock. It wasn’t diamond or gold but it was the next best thing - manageable! There was no need for a bigger machine even though some of the rocks were the size of a large dining room table.

This original job was expensive for a homeowner who already had many projects facing him. We felt bad giving him more projects. But, he is an energetic property owner, and to Herring's relief, he is delighted.

As the Herring Team of Seven Dwarves mined these rocks they kept finding more and more. So Jimmy Herring was called in to make sense of things. The homeowner had plans for a fire pit, thanks to Jason. But when Jimmy came and was left to his own devices, he set a large interesting stone up on its side to create a focal point in a rock garden. When Jimmy created a terrace for one of the outbuildings, all were delighted. When the owner came home and saw it for the first time he knew Jimmy was his guy. Yes, Jimmy got a big tip.

Herring Sanitation put in a brand new septic system for this happy customer but everyone is excited at the prospect of what the property is going to look like when all the unearthed rock is repurposed.

Not everyone loves rocks but when you have a lot of rock on your property, you better learn to love them. In the case of this homeowner, he chose to love them. He will find the diamond in the rock with lots of new outdoor living spaces to enjoy for years to come. Life sometimes gives you rocks. When you work with Herring, we help you make rock gardens.

From the desk of Sharon B. Herring, CEO

An open letter to first time septic owners

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 13:28:16 GMT

If This is Your First Experience with Se ptic, Let Us Fill You In

Congratulations on your recent home purchase! As the largest septic company in the Hudson Valley area, Herring Septic would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and offer some helpful tips for maintaining your new septic system.

At our locally-owned company, we have been proudly serving the community for over 50 years. We know the ins and outs of septic systems, and we understand that for those who have never owned one before, it can seem daunting. Especially if you have recently moved from a metropolitan area like Queens or Manhattan where sewers are the norm.

That's why we want to provide you with some simple do's and don'ts to help you take care of your septic system properly.

Pump your septic tank every 2-3 years to avoid backups and costly repairs

- Board of Health

Do's:

Pump your septic tank every 2-3 years to avoid backups and costly repairs
Be mindful of what you flush down the toilet or put down the drain (avoid harsh chemicals, grease, and non-degradable items)
Conserve water by fixing leaks and using low-flow fixtures to prevent overloading your septic system

Don'ts:

Don't ignore warning signs of septic issues, such as slow drains or foul odors
Don't park or drive over your septic system as it can cause damage and lead to expensive repairs
Don't plant trees or bushes too close to your septic system, as their roots can invade and damage the pipes

We hope these tips help you get started with your new septic system. As a new homeowner, we understand that you have a lot on your plate, and that's why we want to take care of your septic system for you. We know times are getting tougher these days, so we'd like to give you $25 off your first pump, as a "Welcome to the Neighborhood" gift.

So, take advantage of our special offer and schedule your septic tank pumping with Herring Septic today. Our friendly and knowledgeable technicians will take care of everything, so you don't have to worry about a thing.

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what some of our happy customers had to say:

"This was the best service I ever received, and I would hire them 1000 times more. He came and fixed a problem the other company could not, and the other company was trying to rip me off. Herring came out, fixed the problem, and earned a new lifetime customer!!!"
"Great family-run business that put their customers first. I highly recommend them for all your septic needs."

For more information, visit our website at www.herringseptic.com or give us a call at 845-226-5405.

Thank you for considering Herring Septic, and we look forward to being your trusted septic system experts.

Best regards,

Sharon B. Herring, CEO

Herring Sanitation and Septic, Inc.

Correcting Things that Go Wrong - a Story Any Business Owner can Relate To

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:16:32 GMT

When you run your own business, you often take the problems of the day home with you. For me, it’s been a long two weeks of worrying!

Herring Sanitation started repairing an inlet line in a large commercial building, what we didn’t know was that the tank it led to was old and in bad shape. These things happen from time to time because most of the system is underground. Because we’re used to this, it’s normally no problem. Usually this kind of thing would mean a simple tank installation for Herring Sanitation, which we do routinely. But not this time.

Worry 1 came because this installation was very costly to Herring and the customer, due to equipment rental and supply chain costs and challenges. It was such a substantial cost to the customer, that they put the replacement of this tank out to bid immediately as it was a large change in the scope of the work of the original job. In the end, I’m proud to say that Herring won back our customer and got the tank replacement job.

As the property owner was making the decision, Jason Herring went into the motions of putting everything together as quickly as possible, even going as far as to line up the suppliers and rental equipment.The most important step he took proactively was getting the Board of Health approval.

A typical septic tank is between 1,000 and 1,500 gallons and weighs between 8,000 and 15,000 lbs, depending on the material. The tank for this job was 5,000 gallons, 10 feet deep, 15 long and weighed over 50,000 lbs.

So you can gather that this tank is on the very large, very heavy side of the spectrum. With thetank’s weight, it was too heavy for any of the many pieces of equipment that Herring owns to lift it and place it into its new home. That meant renting a large Excavator. Enter Worry 2.

Now that we had a way to install this monstrosity, we had to get the tank. But all of Herring Sanitation’s normal suppliers could not supply it and when we were finally able to locate a supplier, the cost was astronomical. Also the tank had to be prepaid for. That’s Worry number 3 and 4.

In addition to the new tank and specialized equipment, the asphalt where the tank was being installed had to be cut and prepped (and eventually replaced). Luckily, I know our team is well trained for this, so no new worries on this part.

In this brutal winter weather things get harder and go wrong really quickly, but I thought maybe my worrying and hoping would give us some good luck. The large tank was delivered to the site as we gathered the equipment and cleared Herring’s schedule. Enter Worry 5 - concern that there would be damage or vandalism to the tank in the meantime.

The Herring Team assembled but as we did, we discovered the tank was too heavy to be liftedby the machine we rented. This didn’t make me worry, though, because Jimmy Herring came to my rescue with his ingenuity. Jimmy said “Drop the heavy bucket and use just the ring to lift the tank.” Up up and away the tank went and was set into the very large hole that had been dug for it with the very large Komatsu 290 Excavator. I was sure my worries were over.

But just when all the guys were happy that things were good, Jason Herring’s inner perfectionist got involved. He thought things didn’t look perfect and when he tried to make a minor adjustment to the placement …. Well the very large expensive tank broke. OMG. Worries 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10!

What to do? It's our fault. Herring’s problem. So a new tank piece, a new invoice and a new Worry were served with my dinner that night. But the very next day the Herring’s full team was on site again to set the new tank and get the job done successfully. And successfully they did. With the teamwork and skill our Herring

team is known for, we finished the job and put all my Worries to bed.

The moral of the story is: When you own a business with employees, equipment, and clients, you should also find ways to manage your stress and self-care. Because if you let it, your business can put you right into an early grave.

So how do I handle stress? I stay active both physically and mentally. I love playing pickle ball and corn hole, I love racing sailboats and I surround myself with family and friends to give me plenty of the “best medicine” (love and laughter). Oh, and when none of that is enough, I will swear that God made wine for business owners!

Introducing Ashlyn Herring, Introducing New Skid Steer

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:14:59 GMT

Herring is excited to add a new member to our equipment team! Sharon went to an equipment auction and found out how useful a Skid Steer could be for Herring. It didn’t take long for her to convince Jimmy and Jason Herring to agree to buy one.

This skid steer has many different functions. Herring will mainly be using this piece of equipment to move gravel from our dump truck to our trenches for septic fields. When installing septic fields we often need more than one truckload worth of gravel (15 tons) so we are able to handle more steps in the job simultaneously, saving time and finishing the job with fewer steps. Ultimately, this means the job is done better and more quickly with a more consistent result.

Another function that our skid steer has the ability to do is give your yard that “final completion look”. This attachment rakes out the yard and collects those little rocks that pop up and seem to be never ending. Herring will be able to get the majority of these rocks off the surface while raking the property all in one!With the Skid Steer, our customers may find it to give a nicer final grade on their property once the job is complete. You, as the customer, might also enjoy this grading technique because the dirt won't be so compacted as an excavator would. This grading tool will make the dirt lose which gives the homeowner the ability to seed their lawn right away instead of having to pay a subcontractor to fix it up. Although an excavator gives a nice final look, Herring feels the Skid Steer just gives the messy job (that no one wants) a perfect finish.

Herring will be bringing the skid steer to the majority of our job sites. It will be a very handy piece of equipment for septic field installations. Herring will also be blocking all equipment auctions from Sharon’s computer until she can be trusted to control herself.

From the desk of Ashlyn Herring

Herring's First Blog of 2023

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:14:59 GMT

2023 is off to a positive start at Herring Sanitation and Septic!

It’s been a challenging time for all of us - increasing prices, tighter budgets and the workforce challenges haven’t let up.

Herring has been in business since 1973 and this is not the first time we have seen difficulties, and probably won’t be the last. We have learned what we need to do to stay profitable and competitive in tough markets and we know this year will prove a successful one for us as well. It's better - since it’s our 50th year in business!

We have a little good news to share, to kick off 2023 on a positive note.

A company that has a long history with Herring Sanitation has relocated to

Rockland County and when they moved they asked us if we would expand our service area to Rockland County so they could keep working with us.

Herring is always happy to have repeat business because that means we have happy customers. And we were honored to receive this request. Amy Herring, the head of our portable toilet division and our CFO, crunched the numbers and after she did all the tabulating and yelling and warning, she said YES!

We are beginning to expand our portable toilet service into Rockland county in 2023 and will be tweaking the Portable Toilet service area as we review our service routes during the first quarter of the year.

If you are in Rockland County and need portable toilet service, rental or luxury restroom rental, don’t hesitate to call us at 845-226-5405.

Ok, now back to planning our 50th birthday party. Stay tuned for details on that!