vtsnowedin
Elite Member
It would be a pretty crappy glue job if you could knock a pvc T off with a tap from a snake.
Household Septic System
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It would be a pretty crappy glue job if you could knock a pvc T off with a tap from a snake.
txdon
Super Star Member
It would be a pretty crappy glue job if you could knock a pvc T off with a tap from a snake.
Or they just left the T off like on mine. I thought mine fell off (never had to use a snake) but when it was pumped out there was none to be found. It has been working good for 15 years without one.
vtsnowedin
Elite Member
If there is a cut off wall in the top half of the tank near the inlet end there is no need of a T. The flow desired is into the tank down and under the cutoff wall and below the grease/scum layer then eventually back down under the outlet end cut off wall and up and out to the leech field. What your trying to avoid is new water coming in running straight across the top of the grease layer and out into the leach field before the anaerobic bacteria have had time to digest the solids.
MossRoad
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Me neither until the septic tank guy told me about it. Our septic tanks are buried but our dry well isn't. I'm getting it cleaned out this year and will bury it this time.
You know, kids see a neat round circle in the yard and they jump on it! What kid wouldn't? I did plenty of times as a kid. I'm sure many of you did to. So, just something to think about.
Billrog
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Buy a descent riser and lid as well as a safety screen and you'll always have easy safe access to your tank for pumping.
OP
jlgurr
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View attachment Unearthed.pdf
Here's a sketch of what I have found. There is one corner uncovered as noted. So, any ideas on where to dig for the lid? Guessing it would be on the centerline of the 4' width, but wondering how far in from the 4' edge.
vtsnowedin
Elite Member
My tank has it 's big lid in the exact center. Try there first.
forgeblast
Elite Member
Mine was dead center, also the new riser lid was green. I still put a stone over it I didnt want to cut it with the lawnmower.
Mine has three lids. 1000 gal tank. Two about 18" dia at the inlet and outlet, plus a smaller (10" or so) in the outlet side. Both of the larger ones are on the tank centerline about 6" in from the outside edge of the tank. I have no idea why the small one is there.
- Jay
- Jay
hawkeye08
Elite Member
depends on the tank, but my understanding is for gravity flow systems, two chambers, two lids. For systems that pump to the leach field, three chambers, 3 lids. Yours sounds like a gravity flow, so two lids. I would figure in the middle of each half of the tank...
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Our two lidded tanks has two risers. One is concrete and I put a bit of dirt over the lid. There are some rocks I half buried around the lid as well as some flowering plants to help find the lid. The other rise is plastic and the top is about 6 inches above ground. Both of the rises have a lid and there is another lid that provided access to the tank. In other words, one has to removed two lids to access each chamber.
Here in NC, I think most of the conventional field septic tanks would have one or two chambers and lids.
Later,
Dan
Here in NC, I think most of the conventional field septic tanks would have one or two chambers and lids.
Later,
Dan
Dr_Zinj
Veteran Member
The top of my tank was between 2 and 3 feet down. The last time I had it pumped, I built a feildstone dry well down to one of the pump outs, and put a removable cover over it. However, due to the frost going down a couple feet each year, I really need to get either a large block of styrofoam to fit the hole, or a big garbage bag (or two) of fiberglass insulation to fill the hole with.
OP
jlgurr
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Found a 20" square lid(?) with not much more than a coat hanger wire in the center. The lid center is about 32" from the long edge of the tank and 6" from the short edge. I guess we can call the pumper now and hope for the best.
Thank you everyone for your help!
Billrog
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There is a very good chance your tank is 10' long & in that case you may have another lid 56" from the one you've found. Since it's the lid closest to the house that's where the solids will be if it's a 2 compartment tank. It sure the devil looks like hard digging. If it's full to capacity with solids would be very good to pump both sides to avoid contaminating your field and creating more problems.
plowking
Gold Member
You probably want to lightly tap the cover before you lift up on the hook, to make sure it is loose.I have had to install heavier hooks with a hammerdrill in covers the hook broke or was missing. Your sketch shows four lines leaving tank outlet with no dist. box, unless there is some type of manifold to connect four lines to one outlet from tank. I do my tank every year on my wife's birthday. I tell her it is her birthday present. plowking
aczlan
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Yep. We have a large rock on our cement risers, but I would much rather have them buried (the tank is only 12" down).
One thing my inlaws have a 12"x12" paver just below the surface over their covers. It is at the same level as the grass (so they get grass growing over it at the edges), so you know exactly where to dig to find the covers (they dont mind having a earth colored paver in the yard).
Aaron Z
One thing to really consider when modifying these things is the safety side. Not that the below is a safety thing but...
Parents charged after boy found dead in septic tank
Parents charged after boy found dead in septic tank
txdon
Super Star Member
They were also charged with child abuse on their other child - this might turn out to be a sad case of disposing of the body not an accident - pending autopsy.
Yes. When I first heard about it I thought, "oh **** someone had an old piece of plywood covering the hole". Nope, yesterday one of the investigators was telling me that it had a bolt on riser lid and all the bolts were in place. Some sick person did it on purpose. Always amazes me how people can do things like this.
OP
jlgurr
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Final Chapter - Thanks everyone. The tank is clean now and the lid is covered again with an inverted 5 gallon bucket and 4" dirt over that. It's location is well documented now so it should be much, much easier the next time.
For you guys who know septic systems, this tank had about 8-10" of thick, dry muck on the top, some water in the middle and about 2 feet of sediment on the bottom. The pumper said it may have never been pumped before and we would have had issues sooner rather than later. The sediment on the bottom was hard as bricks and had to be broken up then watered down to get it out. YUCK! Glad it's over and I am now a firm believer in getting them cleaned regularly. Thanks again! :cool2:
For you guys who know septic systems, this tank had about 8-10" of thick, dry muck on the top, some water in the middle and about 2 feet of sediment on the bottom. The pumper said it may have never been pumped before and we would have had issues sooner rather than later. The sediment on the bottom was hard as bricks and had to be broken up then watered down to get it out. YUCK! Glad it's over and I am now a firm believer in getting them cleaned regularly. Thanks again! :cool2:
