The joys of septic tanks

[gojira]

What I learned from this: never store my backhoe.

Seriously, sorry for your issues you are having. My house is 2 years old with no trees near the septic system (and I think far enough from the drain field,) so hopefully I will never see that kind of problem.

 

[zzvyb6]

So THAT"S how the Great Sequoias go to be so big ! I'm surprized that the SJWs aren't in you face, you privileged tree killer...

 

[RoyKing]

Didn't you take biology you know there is more tree under ground than on top. They will find your drain field from a long ways off. I'd say more than 50 feet. So unless you keep your yard empty of shade trees in time they will find you. I've seen old rose bushes clog a field. Adding cu is so easy and cheap why not. 5 minutes

I would say that pvc pipe didn't get glued right and had a small leak that's all they need to get in. They will just crush clay pipes.

 

[dragoneggs]

At least in my neck of the woods, itç—´ very unusual not to have risers on your tank so that no digging is required. Like these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IEC9QU6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jlhKCbJQJWZ2J

Second, do you not have an external clean out port?? Looks like this in the picture. Usually on the side of the house? I壇 try every water jet and/or snake I could find before tearing up a patio. View attachment 596529

Well a little digging and prep for jackhammering, we found a clean out. The bad news the clean out is downstream of the clog and under the patio. So to get at it... some demo still necessary. The pipe layout is shown by the yellow and red markers.

.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I might have him do that this time depending on the $$$. This is going to be an expensive repair and I will have have to repair the patio which is exposed aggregate which I haven't done before. Job probably too small to get someone that knows what they are doing so I might have to get creative with the patch depending on how much of the slab needs to be jack hammered.

Mark, definitely get those risers in, you can do that your self. Get a saw and saw cut the section you are removing or you may be replacing more than you planned. The jack hammering may release tensions that can cause cracking way out from the hole.

Ron

 

[guitarman]

Mark, definitely get those risers in, you can do that your self. Get a saw and saw cut the section you are removing or you may be replacing more than you planned. The jack hammering may release tensions that can cause cracking way out from the hole.

Ron

Instead of a jack hammer have someone with a concrete saw cut out where needed then put pavers in cutout

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Mark, from your video taping; are the roots just a bunch of root hairs or is there actually a hard root growing in there? I would send a fish tape down the line and determine where to dig on the surface. Investigate there first. May just need to replace a short section of pipe.

If you have gasketed or bell & spigot joints, definitely do something to remove or reroute the offending main root from the sequoia. Welded or solvent welded joints should be a root barrier. Fernco couplings would be suspect, often they do not get tight enough. Hair roots can get through very small openings; as they grow they can destroy pipe walls. Your BH may get some some more quality time.

I am in PA right now or I would come over and commiserate with you and a six pack. I will be back next week though. I want to see your rear remote set up anyway.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

Instead of a jack hammer have someone with a concrete saw cut out where needed then put pavers in cutout

Thought of that but too late...

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay. Another discovery. Found the root. Ran along the foundation wall. Penetrated the connection from black ABS to the PVC pipe connected with a rubber sleeve.



House built in 1986. I’m not the original owner so I seem to learn something about it’s construction whenever I get into a project. Note the sharp turn the drain takes after exiting the house and turns to the septic tank.

 

[dragoneggs]

We are going to try to make a glued connection.

Also going to put in a couple risers as I am getting tired of digging up the septic access points for pumping and clean out. Isn’t so much the digging but having to get it looking nice and adding gravel to pretty it up.