Septic Help!!!

[teejk]

Let me be clear and say, nothing is overflowing, well...... I have had to loosen/remove the cap on the cleanout enough to let the fluid drain out into the flower bed. Otherwise, showers would be backed up and so on. We only flush the toilets if need be, #2. We have been following the mantra "if its yellow, let it mellow. if its brown, it goes down" for quite awhile now since the first incident roughly a year ago. I can open both clean out caps and both are filled with "water". One cap goes to the house while the other goes to the septic.

You say not "over-flowing"...you should add "yet". Your house is not that old. How many lids do you have on your tank? Modern systems will have 3..."stuff" goes into the first chamber from your house. That has a baffle on it...I learned the hard way that "extra strength" toilet paper used to excess by kids that don't understand plumbing will clog that baffle quickly. To test open that lid and check that baffle. You might find a big wad. Now not so sure about Texas but around here I wouldn't call a plumber...I call the septic pumper...a good one will know your system just based on the pumping.

 

[ultrarunner]

Grey Water systems are not forbidden everywhere...

 

[kenmac]

I'd call a plumber first to throw a hail Mary that you have a clog in the line. Drainfields should last MUCH longer than this.

Don't know where you are, but just plumbers aren't septic tank people.. I'm a master plumber, but I don't do septic..
Just call around and get prices on replacing the drain field lines)... Here, they have to be inspected ,and approved by the health dept after they are installed , or replaced

 

[ultrarunner]

I'd say almost all plumbers here stay away from them... even the roto-rooter types for cleaning.

I't's become specialized.

 

[PILOON]

I have a DIY system that conforms to code and it was pumped for the first time after 22 years. Was perfect.
(Pumper said it was like about equal to a 3-4 year old system.)

We all are on septic here and I was a local 'go to guy'.
A lot of things affect a septic field, some of which are:
Bleaches, (Javex etc) as well as those toilet tank capsules that the ladies like to use.
All great all that stuff kills bacteria, but bacteria is what makes a septic system work.
Even some dish washer detergents should never be used.
Food hashers (garborators) should not be used.
We learned that one should not induce more water than necessary hence showers vs baths, low flush vs old traditional toilets. (most of us installed trailer toilets).
Let me guess, the wife and three teens take 20 min showers twice a day?

Snake cameras that connect to your laptop can be had on EBay for as low as $30.00 or so, and that up to 30 meter range. Might be an option to locate any plugs or defects. Might be an option.
Tree roots are a frequent problem as are errant toys, diapers and J cloths.
House guests often unwittingly dispose of items that are a big NO-NO in septic systems.
We learned that 'designer TP' is a no no as the inked part will not dissolve easily. Single ply is what the experts suggest for septic systems.

If you can DIY a cure you'd be many $$ ahead as once a contractor enters the picture permits and inspections could get costly.

My 2 cents!

 

[gghb]

When I retired a couple of years ago I was a licenced septic installer and designer in Washington state. The first thing I looked for when checking out a failure was for running toilets and dripping faucets. A small drip in the shower or sink can add up to a lot of water, a running toilet can be up to several hundred gal/day which will flood any system.[ check by putting food coloring in tank than tape the bathroom door closed for about 4 hrs than ck for color in bowl fix flush valve than ck the rest of the toilets the same way CHECK THEM CAREFULLY] if good than check for downspout water getting to septic tank area where it can sink in[run hose down downspout really flood area so you can see where the water really goes.

PM and I can lead you through a complete diagnoisis

Greg

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm constantly battling things that have no business going down the drain... number one offender at rentals is baby wipes and "Flushable" cleaning pads...

Incredible that stuff that folks put down the toilet.

One of my friends retired to a place where the soil doesn't perk well... they were told the previous owners had lots of trouble... my friends lived there 22 years and zero trouble... they were extreme as in only biodegradable soaps... no germ killing chemicals, took out the garbage disposal and zero toilet paper... next to the toilet was a little paper bag for toilet paper and each night it went into the wood stove...

The septic guy for the county was amazed and every 5 years they got a pass grade... all their neighbors were going to mound systems with pumps.

 

[lennyzx11]

Our place was built in 2001. I bought it in 2008 and promptly started building the front yard up level from the steep slope it was originally where the septic was one wheelbarrow at a time. (This was pre tractor days!)
My wife chewed me out one night for throwing a frog in the toilet which she found one late night unexpected during a late night bathroom run.
Then the drains started backing up and running real slow.
I thought the septic was full. So I unburied where the tank was by shovel and metal detector looking for the pump out lid/hatch.
Of course it took a big **** hole to find it and I unearthed the drain line from the house where it went into the tank. There the line was bent down at an unnatural angle and there was an opening on the top of the joint. Roots had got in and nearly clogged it up there. I also pointed it out to dear wife who finally believed me that I had NOT put a cold frog on her hiney that one cold night long ago.
You oughta been there for that first reach in there to start pulling those roots out though. It took a minute to make that first grab I gotta say. Tryed to get dear wife to do it since she had falsely accused me of something but she only said that was for all the times she hadn't caught me out and told me get busy. And strip out in the yard and hose off before I was allowed back in the house!

 

[kenmac]

I work around a lot of septic people.. Most systems here that give problems ,are the systems that were installed yrs ago , when they used clay pipe sections , and concrete pipe sections for the field lines..
Over the yrs, this clay, and cement will deteriorate ,and collapse.. When the tank fills,, there is no place for the water to go.. Time for new lines ...... This https://www.plumbersstock.com/adsar...chamber.html?gclid=COitgeGDusoCFc0lgQodvfgPjw is the type material they are using for field lines here now

 

[Alien]

Our ground started to stink a couple of years ago and I had a thought. We had a brand new unused chemical toilet in the shed with a bottle of chemical supplied with it.
I poured a dose down the loo and within a couple of days it had all cleared up. The ground stays dry now even after good rain. Might be worth a go...

 

[Larry Caldwell]

determine the true problem before introducing any additives!

have the laterals been inspected for obstructions? is the distribution box also flooded?

try and examine the laterals for roots or biomat (essentially impermeable sludge that keeps the ground below the laterals from absorbing water)

laterals can be jetted clean of sludge and treated with hydrogen peroxide (industrial; >30%) going forward to help keep them clean

make sure that all of your laterals are being used evenly. if the d-box has shifted over time, one lateral might be taking all the load. "speed levelers" can quickly/easily fix that.

we had a similar experience a few months after moving into our house. it was root clogs in the laterals. i cut down EVERY tree near our septic field and now add Root-X 1-2 times a year to tank and d-box. no more problems.

My thought exactly. Most people don't even know they have distribution boxes. Digging them out and pulling the lid will tell you a lot about the condition of the drainfield.

You can control roots by just adding Boraxo or 20 Mule Team Borax to your washing machine. Borax kills roots.

BTW, my septic drain field was installed in 1972. The old steel tank rusted out so we replaced it with a concrete tank. In the process we dug out the line to the first distribution box, and it had no residue at all. The drain field is probably good for another 50 years.

 

[txdon]

Just a note, not all septic tanks line have a distribution box, I have just one line that takes off down a sandy hill.

 

[John White]

I am a septic pumper. I see many causes of septic problems. Its amazing to see two $50,000 cars in the drive way when I show up and a house that cost 1/2 mil to build and they never give their septic system any thought until it wont flush. Then that gets every ones attention. They are city folks who move to the country, have always been on the sewer and will flush any thing down the commode. Recently I fished out three wheel borrow loads plus what I sucked up in my truck tank of depends. I don't see much if any bacteria action in septic tanks any more. All the soaps, drain cleaners, mouth washes, and even medications kill it. People ask me if they can put in Rid-x. I tell them to just put $10 in a cookie jar and call me in two or three year. Most of the things you should check for have already been covered here. Here are a few more. You would be surprised at how many of the newer tanks I pump that were 2 piece tanks and when they sit the top half on the bottom half the contractor did not apply the ribbon of sealant properly or allowed dirt to fall on it. In wet weather I have seen water run back in almost as fast as I pump it out. Or water enters around the inlet and out let pipe (not sealed properly). If you don't have a D box, you might consider installing one if it is not too deep. When I installed my tank it had a baffle right near the out let and there was not enough room to put a T with a filter (I have pumped some also where that was all it needed, was the filter to be cleaned, some look like a chimneny brush, some are plastic discs with a rod through the center) In my D box I took a 4" piece of PVC schedule 40 about the length of the D box, I come in about 2" from each end and cut down about 1/4 of the pipe dia and cut it out like a trough> I glued a cap on one end then cut slits with a fine blade hack saw about every 3/8", cut slits about 1/2 the dia (from bottom side) of the pipe. On the other end I glued a 4" sleeve on the trough so it will slip on the inlet pipe to the D box. It can be easily slide off to be off and hosed off. You would be surprised how much this will catch that would otherwise float into your drain field and plug the soil up.

 

[mark02tj]

Interesting post, John White!!

Since you don't recommend RidEx, is there anything that you can put in the tank to increase the biological activity?

And, what about the Borax mentioned above to keep the roots clear?

 

[kcflhrc]

I think if you ask 3 different septic companies about what to add to the tank you will get 3 different answers, that's been my experience anyway. Seems they don't talk much. I use the ZEP Brand treatment from Home Depot. Does it work, who knows, but it makes me feel better.

 

[HeLa]

In my D box I took a 4" piece of PVC schedule 40 about the length of the D box, I come in about 2" from each end and cut down about 1/4 of the pipe dia and cut it out like a trough> I glued a cap on one end then cut slits with a fine blade hack saw about every 3/8", cut slits about 1/2 the dia (from bottom side) of the pipe. On the other end I glued a 4" sleeve on the trough so it will slip on the inlet pipe to the D box. It can be easily slide off to be off and hosed off. You would be surprised how much this will catch that would otherwise float into your drain field and plug the soil up.

Thanks for sharing - this sounds like a great idea!

How often do you find it necessary to clean the unit? Our d-box requires digging a decent hole in a very visible part of the lawn. Having it open at the top is very smart since that allows effluent to flow even if the "filter" clogs.

 

[bcp]

A county septic specialist here said to forget about the septic additives, and that the best thing you can put in the tank comes from your body.

Bruce

 

[Billrog]

Bruce is correct.

 

[CR172]

I have contacted the folks that pumped it out last year and was told we have a problem elsewhere. I have no idea where the D-box is or if we have one. I am going to snake the line between the house and the tank and see what gives. I have also inquired about "additives" to help and I have always heard to NEVER use RidX. In searching for possible answers I came across several sites that have high $$$ additives that claim to work. And then there are those that say to poor beer down the drain. That's a waste of a perfectly good beverage...... Maybe I can use the Budweiser that someone left......