Septic repairs

Couple days ago the tub started draining slowly and then gurggled when flushing the toilet. So pulled the stool snaked the line, it drained better for a day. Yesterday no flushing, water level went down slowly. I dug up the tank, fulll of solid mass (was supposedly pumped 2 years ago, we bought the place last spring). Found the inspection cover for the pipe outlet into the tank and tried to snake from the tank up, no success. Now replacing the old cast pipe with 4" plastic. Had an inspection done before we bought the place, kind of ticks me off.

My personal opinion of home inspections... for any competent person they are as big a scam as extended warranties.

If you are an bumbling idiot, then they might be of some use.

When I bought my place I had that problem and when I started digging I found the septic tank and field was on the neighbours property.I had to put in a new tank and field.

The local health board reccomends pumping a septic tank once a year, not many people do it. I would open the D box to see if solids have entered the field lines then go from there. It could be a big job or just a cleaning.

Erik, as soon as you said 'cast iron', I believe I know what your problem is. As another fellow stated, it's the pipe to your distribution box. My tank was 35 years old and started doing the same thing; opened the cover and the sewage was flush with the lid. Dug up the distribution box and it was DRY. The cast iron pipe was solid with minerals and was letting nothibg through. I got the tank pumped out and then replaced the line to the distribution box with PVC, putting a tee one inside of the tank so solids wouldn't get out into the leach field. This has been over ten years ago and no more problems. Also, your tank shouldn't need pumped out no more than every five years-this is from the guy that does the pumping.

Lamar I don't pump tanks for a living but have been around repair and installation a while. Also had septic onsite design and installation completed completed for Minnesota cetification. It's possible you know Eric and his situation better then I but IMHO tank size and amount of solids in effluent is going to dictate pumping frequentcy. In my own case 5 years would have failed my system. I installed a 1500 Gallon combo tank in in 2003. Pumped it in 2005. Lived alone all that time and I had only filled 30% of solid volume. Got married in 2005, She had 3, we had 2 more together and by 2008 had full 70% capacity. Pumped again spring 2011 and 70% full but solids getting over baffle. Tank sizing met code at all times during this. I have $5500 in one mound and $6300 in the second (added to meet code in 2005). There is NO way I'm going 5 years with 11+ grand in a system to save the 150 every three years. Needless to say all situations are different.

I agree, but short of digging up a tank yourself on a property your not sure your going to purchase there is no gurantee. Not to big of a deal, just an inconvience that was not expected at this point, just the wife and I have used the system for 10 months since the supposed inspection.

i put in septic systems for 35 yrs. and if there is one thing i can tell you it's pump the tank every 3 yrs. throw in some yeast to get the juices started again and if you have trouble it will be the leach feild, but it's not pumping the septic tank that will usually fill your leach field up

Do a google search for "Jimmy Ferris Spur Texas" and hear how one guy cleaned his septic tank. I could post the video but I promised I wouldn't post it here.

Up herein Wisconsin big brother tells you when you
have to have your system pumped, fines you if you
don't and will eventually have you removed from the premises if you don't comply. Ain't big government
wonderful? I wonder how much money septic pumpers
give to politicians to insure this continues.

My folks built a home and moved in in 1962. It had a new septic system with a 1000 gal tank and drain field. We were a family of 5 and lived there till each of us kids moved away. Dad sold the place about 10 years ago, and that tank had never been pumped, and we never had any problems with the system. With that experience, I question the real need for pumping on a regular basis.
Tim in OR

To me it seems that pumping only removes the slurry and liquid and does not get out the solids, unless they have some way to agitate it. When that slurry goes, so does all your good bacteria! Sooner or later you just have to pull the lid and dig it out.

Been at this place for 10 years and have not pumped once yet! I check solids level every other year. System was new in the early 60's! I did replace the line between the house and the tank about 2 years ago as it was a menagerie of clay and cast iron and was fractured where it came out of the foundation.

I think too much flushing screws them up.

I don't have a clue what other states mandate but I know here in MN Manhole opening needs to be within 1' of surface. When cleaned the pumper is supposed to pump out through the manhole. The pump truck pulls out 80-90% of volume and then reverse flow back in to agitate sludge layer and break up skum layer hanging at tank top. If done properly all sludge is removed. I personally don't know an installer that adds any bacterial starter to a tank. Pumping doesn't harm the tank bacteria level either. From your first No.2 flush in a new system enough bacteria has been introduced to start decompostion. It's bleaches and strong cleaners that do the most harm. As to not pumping systems for years if ever, I would certainly think that coarse granular soils with a high perk rate would be very forgiving in the amount of solids they would accept and still pass effluent. Like the car that runs 50,000 miles without an oil change, there are exceptions to every rule. If your fortunante enough to live in a non-nanny state you can guard your investment as little or as much as you like.

Around here most times if you sell a home with a septic system, it
gets written in the purchase agreement that the owner pumps the
tank before closing. Makes sense, why buy somebody else's xrap.

Red! You have been missed over on the dark side. Folks have been wander'n how you are do'n. Come on back some time you get a chance!

And yes I thought of you as soon as I started read'n this thread!!!!

Hope all is well!

Dave

Some of the trucks around here are simple and only remove liquids. I inquired very specifically about this back when we bought the place. Seemed like a waste of money if all they do is remove the liquid. Sounds like MN has much tighter requirements of the service group.

We do not put cleaners or drain openers or other chemicals in, only toilet paper and waste. As for dirt we are on black clay, about the lowest perk rate you could come up with, yet I have had no trouble.

When I replaced that line two years ago I had the lid off and checked the solids level an the system in general. All working fine.

I have had mine pumped several times since '79 when I built the house. When finished the tanks are empty; personally verified, different companies each time.

On bacteria, I just throw a few packs of baking yeast in the toilet mixed in a pot of hot water periodically. Keeps it nice and happy.

Mark

If getting into the system. I've dealt with two problematic black
water systems that have been trouble free. Since routing the
laundry, water softener , dishwasher, shower and sink drains
to thier own grey water drain.

We had a slow drainage problem as well, one year after we purchased the house. I dug up the tank and come to find out the previous owner had been dumping grease down the drain and there was literally a 8" thick cake floating in top of the tank. As the tank filled up this grease cake floated up and plugged off the incoming line. Had the guys come out with the truck and they used metal spuds to break it up and suck up the mess. This particular company also used a water hose to get the solids into a state where the truck would suck them up while scraping down the sides. I checked around the tank with a flashlight before I closed it up and it looked pretty clean, not that I would want to go in there. They recommended getting it pumped every 2-3 years, 'course they could have been drumming up business too. Either way I was happy with the job they did, for under $300 as well.

As far as building inspectors, the only ones that may even be worth bothering with are ones that hold a current builders license. Two inspectors around here that I know of, one ran his own construction business and is very thorough. The other, well it would almost be better throwing your money in the street from what I have heard.