Septic woes

[kpinnc 16,198]

I've lived at my current address for 7 and a half years. Never had any issues with my system whatsoever. 

 

About 3AM my wife flushed a toilet, and water backed up into the bath tub. Then my kid's toilet began leaking above and below the floor around the wax seal. Last night it was about 12 degrees, so of course my wife thought something had frozen, but I had already closed off the crawl space and it was 50 degrees under the house. 

 

As it turns out, 3 women in the same house generate alot of toilet paper waste. Who knew? 

 

My septic line had plugged solid right at the tank itself, so we had to dig down to the tank and have it pumped. The soil here is solid red clay and rocks, and some doofus had set the tank lid 2 feet down. Supposed to be 6 inches per building code. 

 

Added two 18 inch diameter risers for the future, so no more digging ever. Just remove the cap and pump it out. Not to mention they allow for an inspection port as needed. 

 

Needless to say, a very crappy  and expensive day. Oh well, should be less worrisome in the future. 

 

 

 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by kpinnc

[WHX?? 53,343]

No sympathy here KP... tree roots were my issue till the saw came out. 

7 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

3 women in the same house

Oh you poor sob... I only got one and took stock in a TP company. 

In WI we are required to have them inspected and pumped by a pro every three years. 

Did you use the nifty green plastic extensions with the domed lid? ? Jungle sells them and quite proud of them. One of these days I need to pull the trigger when I get over the price. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IEC9QU6/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Edited 19 hours ago by WHX??

[kpinnc 16,198]

6 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Oh you poor sob... I only got one and took stock in a TP company. 

In WI we are required to have them inspected and pumped by a pro every three years. 

 

I took a picture of the solids side of the tank, but I think it's a little gross for here. 

 

The TP was 4 feet deep in this 1000 gallon tank! It was easy to see the difference between "septic safe" paper and other types. Septic safe breaks down, many other common name brands do not. And no, we have never used any wipes or similar in our system. 

 

I'm not a fan of broad stroke regulations- but I can certainly understand the 3 year requirement. It's recommended every 5 years here, but occupancy creates wild fluctuations with that. 

Edited 19 hours ago by kpinnc

[kpinnc 16,198]

18 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Did you use the nifty green plastic extensions with the domed lid? ? Jungle sells them and quite proud of them. One of these days I need to pull the trigger when I get over the price. 

 

The septic company sells them. They are very heavy duty as far as I can see. They come already set up in the reinforced concrete covers so they drop right into the square access holes of the tank. 

 

The outsides of mine are smooth, with the ribs inside so a little different than the jungle site- but basically the same. 

 

Yeah, about $130 each installed. But the way my arms and back feel right now? Worth every penny... 

No more digging!  

Edited 18 hours ago by kpinnc

[Handy Don 15,196]

10 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

so we had to dig down to the tank

Be thankful you knew where to dig!

When my Dad built our house in the late 50’s he put a detailed map of the septic system in a well-labeled envelope attached to a cupboard door in the garage. During the final walkthrough he pointed it out (I was there). Years after we’d moved away, the new owner called angry and in a panic. Big backup and “where the **** is the septic tank?” The contractors are digging up all over the yard and they can’t find it.

Through questioning, the new owner finally admitted he had “cleaned up” the garage and discarded the envelope not realizing its importance. 

My Dad gave them what he could remember and after a few hours, they did find the tank. 

[kpinnc 16,198]

1 minute ago, Handy Don said:

Be thankful you knew where to dig!

 

I had a general idea. The grass dies early August there in a perfect square. Still had to dig around a bit since all the grass is brown right now. I was very happy to finally hit concrete! 

[Andy N. 2,604]

I have our 500 gallon tank pumped every 2 years by the same guy.  They had a business card staple to a beam at the entrance to the crawl space when we bought the house. The first time we called, he walked right up the tank with his poker and hit the lid right on. I was amazed that he was that good. Then he told us that his dad had actually installed the system when the house was built in ‘79 and they’ve been servicing it ever since. Best $200 I spend every 2 years in my opinion. 

[WHX?? 53,343]

Since my lid is only 6" down the heat from the tank keeps the snow melted off. Digging it up every three keeps it in my memory but

15 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

arms and back feel right now

yeah I need to get it above grade! 

[lynnmor 8,258]

After having a tank pumped I always add RidX to get the bugs working again.  Keep bleach use to a minimum so the bacteria aren’t harmed.

[rmaynard 16,694]

8 hours ago, WHX?? said:

In WI we are required to have them inspected and pumped by a pro every three years. 

 

Wow, that's nuts. I have lived in the same house here in Maryland for 47 years. I have a standard concrete septic tank. In that time I have only had the tank pumped once, and that was for a root from an oak tree that partially block the exit of the tank. My father installed a steel septic tank in 1959. He never had it pumped, and did not have to replace it until 1999 when it rusted out and caved under the weight of his tractor. My point is that if a septic tank is treated properly (only human waste, standard toilet tissue, no anti-bacteria hand soap, laundry water with septic-safe detergent, and only kitchen waste that is digestible), you should never need to have it pumped. I add one container of Rid-X (bacteria) every 6 months to aid in the digestion of solids. 

 

I know that I may get some kickback on these comments, but as they say "the proof is in the pudding".

[Racinbob 12,428]

1 hour ago, rmaynard said:

. He never had it pumped, and did not have to replace it until 1999 when it rusted out and caved under the weight of his tractor.

 

Did he say "OH.............................crap!" as he was going down? 

[JoeM 9,318]

5 hours ago, lynnmor said:

Keep bleach use to a minimum so the bacteria aren’t harmed.

This is a biggie. When we first moved in I had to calm my wife down on commode cleaning. 

 

We lost a drain field to a maple tree, the tree is gone but I put copper-sulfide in the leach field once a year. I use the calendar on the phone for re treatment reminders. 

 

Sewage came through 3 or so years ago. Stopped just beyond one house to my left and seven to the right. 10 homes here can't tap in. They said it would require another pump unit. I think it was piss poor engineering. 

 

[WHX?? 53,343]

1 hour ago, rmaynard said:

some kickback on these comments,

Not really Bob ... I been crapping in mine for 40 years now and the first 30 years never did anything except removing roots. Then they came out with the mandatory inspection thing. Probably a good thing as the first time I had it pumped he discovered the concrete baffle had dropped down to the bottom. I asked him how much he would charge to go down and fix it. $100 he says. He showed me how to fix it and down I went. I was mush more frugal back then ... and younger.... 

 

10 hours ago, kpinnc said:

took a picture of the solids side of the tank, but I think it's a little gross for here. 

Ok no solids ... 

Edited 9 hours ago by WHX??

[953 nut 63,025]

Our house in Florida had three beautiful mature palm trees in the front yard that the previous owner had planted. Unfortunately he had planted them directly over the drain field and their roots were attracted to the nutrient rich moist soil around and under the pipes. Needless to say this created a problem.  The rooter remover guy ran his whirling knife device down the pipe and cleared the blockage. They installed a port where I could add the Copper Sulfate a couple times a year, problem solved.  

[Blue Chips 401]

2 hours ago, rmaynard said:

My point is that if a septic tank is treated properly (only human waste, standard toilet tissue, no anti-bacteria hand soap, laundry water with septic-safe detergent, and only kitchen waste that is digestible), you should never need to have it pumped. I add one container of Rid-X (bacteria) every 6 months to aid in the digestion of solids. 

I know that I may get some kickback on these comments, but as they say "the proof is in the pudding".

 

I think that's good advice, although I don't think I'd say "never" needs pumping, as it's normal to have small quantities of non-digestible material in the waste stream, such as dirt or synthetic fibers from washing clothes, etc., that will gradually build up in the tank, and some of the lighter material may start to block the effluent filter. We have our septic tank pumped and the effluent filter cleaned (or swapped for a clean one) perhaps every four years, give or take, just for good measure, and every time the guy comes out with his septic system sucker, he always comments on how 'clean' (his words) the system is and that it really doesn't "need pumping yet," although there's always some glop on the filter, and I like to keep that clear. After pumping, I always throw in some Rid-X or similar bacterial product just to get the bacterial action going as quickly as possible, whether it needs it or not.

 

I should add that if one relies upon a garbage disposal unit to get rid of kitchen scraps, that can require more frequent septic pumping, as a lot of food scraps break down very slowly. It may help to use a septic-type disposal that grinds food into smaller particles to aid digestion, but it's still better to compost kitchen scraps rather than rely on a disposal unit.

 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Blue Chips

[tunahead72 2,588]

Good timing on this topic gentlemen.  As it turns out, I came home from a trip to Virginia last night specifically so I could uncover our septic tank today before my guys come bright and early tomorrow morning to pump it out.  It's a regular service, every 3 (or so) years, mandated by the township (which I don't like), but seems to work well for our particular system.  And Mother Nature was (un)kind enough to leave 4" of snow here while I was gone, so that should be fun... I've already taken a couple of Advils, thankfully there's more where that came from.

 

I've been through an emergency septic pumping, it wasn't pretty, and it certainly was aggravating.  If I ever let it get that bad again, please, one of you guys just shoot me, or throw me in.

 

I've been using Roebic products for decades, with good results.

 

[953 nut 63,025]

19 minutes ago, Blue Chips said:

if one relies upon a garbage disposal unit to get rid of kitchen scraps, that can require more frequent septic pumping,

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,271]

I grew up in a house with a Septic system(with 6 females in the house), a well, fuel oil for heat , a long driveway on a hill and above ground power lines next to the woods with summer storms and snow storms.    Don't miss it a bit!!!  I love living in a subdivided neighborhood with all the utilities underground piped into my house.....Just saying 

[WHX?? 53,343]

Gettin to be a popular thread KP ... me thinks you opened a can of s*#t ... 

 

The thing that saves me I think is my laundry doesn't go into the septic. It discharges into the black corrugated drain pipe that goes all the way down a hill. Gutters go into the same. Most likely against code but they didn't save us no buffalo. Just putting the dirt and water back where it came from. 

[SylvanLakeWH 29,831]

11 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Most likely against code

 

And yet makes complete sense... 

[Blue Chips 401]

28 minutes ago, Terry M said:

I grew up in a house with a Septic system, a well, fuel oil for heat , a long driveway on a hill and above ground power lines next to the woods with summer storms and snow storms.

 

That is a pretty close description of our current house. 

 

I wouldn't mind having some underground utilities, though.

[Lane Ranger 11,676]

 

 

So my parents moved into a  house that had five rooms ( a former garage they moved 300 feet from my mother's parent's place to a 1 3/4 acre lot in 1950.

 

This was in Lake County, Indiana  with high water table and very sandy soils.

 

The septic was mostly a holding tank and a few short fingers.  In 1956 the course was expanded and a new larger septic system was installed with tank, cesspool and four or five 50 foot finger.

 

The tank and cess pool were regularly cleaned and maintained aver fifty or more years.

 

But in 2017 the fingers were begging to fail from the biomaterial buildup that prevents the septic system fingers from efficiently processing the waste.

 

The state and county regulations for a new system would require a Mound System be constructed at a cost of about $15,000.

 

That was prohibitive for my mother and the acreage to build it was limited.

 

So we did some research.   We watched a number of YouTube videos on various alternative systems and corrective treatments, etc.

 

Finally, we came to learn about Aero-Stream , a process and company that sells systems that totally alter the way your septic operates.

 

The link below describes the system.

 

I have no connection with Aero-Stream other than a customer.

 

 

You can buy various sizes of this system in kits at Lowes.

 

From the Company website:

 

There is a way to deal with septic tank problems before a costly sewage backup occurs and without excavating your yard. “Aerobic Bio-Remediation and Controlled Septic Tank Aeration™ (https://www.aero-stream.com/septic-sewage/),” developed and patented by Aero-Stream® LLC, applies the same technology used in municipal wastewater treatment plants with only minimal changes to your septic system. The process quickly reduces biomat buildup while also providing environmental benefits that include a significant reduction in E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria. Aero-Stream equipment has been installed around the world in nearly every septic system configuration and soil type, maintaining a remarkable success rate.

 

Our New Eco-Nest™ NSF/ANSI 40 certified products (https://www.aero-stream.com/nsf-ansi-40-product-specifications-pricing/) are based on our patented processes and components. The Aero-Stream® Eco-Nest™ aerobic treatments systems utilize our patented Bio-Brush. Unlike other systems based on the inverted imhoff cone and suspended growth bacteria, our patented process utilizes an extremely large surface area for attached growth bacteria. The bacteria clings to the Bio-Brush fibers constantly cleaning the waste water. The attached growth bacteria are much less susceptible to organic and hydraulic shock loads providing a significantly more stable process.

 

 

I just want to say that this this system of aerobic bacteria operation vs anaerobic bacteria systems is much more efficient.

We installed the system with a riser in 2018 and have yet to clean out waster in the septic tank as it does not have the level of waste requiring that removal.   Aero-Stream was developed in Wisconsin (all good)  but it is based upon the same process municipal wastewater treatment plants use and this have been studied and determined to be sound engineering by several major engineering universities.

 

The other major thing happened is the biomaterial, hard shell layer in the septic system fingers broke down with the addition of air flow and the alteration the system.  Yes we have a small aeration pump with tubing going from (in our case a garage) through plastic tubing to the septic tank 24/7.  If I had not seen how this failing system was transformed in about three to four months from almost uncorking to back operating efficiently I would not believe it.    So maybe this post will help some of you.  At least check out the Aero-Stream system YouTube videos.

The limited

cost of changing is worthy of trying it ou!

 

 

https://www.aero-stream.com/product/remediator/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23269205493&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Oq-96V1KUImWEz_QGWohsQaoKU&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxonKBhC1ARIsAIHq_lu5N63IhbzjU9y8_wkhtYHqhPv8D3dwxFRaakms-IjOFWi3GMEOA5AaArlAEALw_wcB

 

[Handy Don 15,196]

And further to the tangent toward municipal waste treatment, be sure not to miss Le musée des Égouts (The Sewer Museum) and also get the underground tour next time you visit Paris. 

p.s. there was much less odor than I expected!

[kpinnc 16,198]

8 hours ago, rmaynard said:

know that I may get some kickback on these comments, but as they say "the proof is in the pudding".

 

Not at all. The key is as you basically said, the rules are different for septic systems. Septic safe paper is a big one. We always use it, but the PO did not. I was surprised how much white paper was in mine, as septic safe turns dark and breaks down as any other solid. 

 

I've talked with two different septic systems techs, and both had different views. One said a properly working system never needs cleaning, the other said every 5 years. I think the newer ones like mine definitely should be cleaned because it has a large filter at the leech port. When it clogs up, your leech field gets cut off. That alone warrants at least checking, which the open riser allows for. 

 

If my wife and I lived alone, it might not be difficult to be sure what gets flushed. 3 kids in the house is another story. I think if one flushed a sock they wouldn't say a word... 

[Handy Don 15,196]

1 minute ago, kpinnc said:

I think if one flushed a sock they wouldn't say a word...

If that were me, I’d make sure to hide the evidence and flush the other sock.