Septic questions

[homedad]

Call the installer. It sounds like a failed field.

 

[farmer2009]

Also if leaching field wasn't installed level. You can get an over flow at box. The pressure sounds like it is working. Is he in a wet area? My ground doesn't drain well and during winter or after lots of rain gets really wet around drain field. Takes time to dry it all out.

 

[gwdixon]

Sounds like a saturated leach field to me. Leach fields work by evaporation rather than the water sinking into the ground as some think. The ground along each leach line should be damp, not just the ends. Try digging some test holes...12" should be enough.

At the least, the installation company should offer to pump the tank and let you start over.

If the family washes a lot or has an older washing machine that uses a lot of water there can be immediate water problems. If possible, you can attach the washer drain line to a hose and water plants or simply spread the water on top of the soil.

There are other things you can do if all else fails but the one that was necessary at my place is completely illegal so unless you can't find another solution it won't be shared.

 

[buickanddeere]

Septic system here never worked right here until running a grey water drain from the water softener and washing machine. Plus we ran a French drain in the yard to catch and divert surface water runoff.

 

[LD1]

First and foremost I would get ahold of the contractor by any means. He needs to fix the issue.

Second, I dont know the code in your area and therefore dont know the type of system installed, so I can only comment on what is in my area.

No one has mentioned this yet, but septics in my area have a sand filter BEFORE the leech field. And the entrance to the sand filter is what is called the distribution box. It has 1 inlet coming from the tank, and two outlets, cause you have two sand filters. One of them normally has just an elbow on it pointing up, which forces the water/waste into the other filter. Twice a year (when clocks change) it is reccomended to switch filter beds.

These two filter beds converge back together and drain into one leech field/trench. Which should also have a permiter drain around it (tile laid in stone) and connected to a known good tile to prevent rainwater/runoff from saturating the leech field. There is also an inspection cover over the "exit of the sandfilter"/"entrance of the leech field".

So, for further clarification, does this sound like the type of system he has? And are you sure it is backing up in the distribution box?? or is it backing up at the entrance to the leech? A typical system here will have 3 or 4 "covers". Either one or two for the tank, then the distribution box, then the entrance to the leech.

If it is indeed backing up at the distribution box, perhaps try swapping to the other sand filter (move the elbow or plug to the other pipe).

If it is backing up at the leach field AFTER the sand filter, then either there is a collapsed/broken tile in the leech field, or it is saturated. Did they install a perimeter drain?

The pressure build up could be nothing. Could just be the grade, and having water pressure uphill of the cover creating small amount of pressure. You didnt indicate just how much pressure there was?

The type of system I just described doesnt have a vent either. Other than the vent at the house. The tank is not airtight. (concrete with concrete lid).

 

[Dr Dave]

New systems here require a vent at the end of each drain feild run, a pre drainfeild filter, 2 stage tank, with 2 access covers and an intake and exit inspection cover. Also old systems just be upgrade at the time of property sale.

Dave

 

[tractorshopper]

Need to add yeast once a month to help promote the bacterial growth. They also make a product called Rid-X, but yeast is much cheaper and my septic guy says it actually works better.

 

[PRF]

Installed a new system here 25 years ago and never added anything, seems there's plenty of bacteria in what comes out of people... I have it pumped every other year so the leach fields don't get much, if any, solids out to them.. Never heard of vents for leach fields in these parts either for what its worth..

 

[Midniteoyl]

Installed a new system here 25 years ago and never added anything, seems there's plenty of bacteria in what comes out of people... I have it pumped every other year so the leach fields don't get much, if any, solids out to them.. Never heard of vents for leach fields in these parts either for what its worth..

Your vent is prolly the same as your house vent/sewage stack as mine is.. On my duplex, there is a separate vent for each system right where the sewage line leaves the building. My BIL has his at the entrance to the tank. In any case, there must be a vent

 

[PRF]

Your vent is prolly the same as your house vent/sewage stack as mine is.. On my duplex, there is a separate vent for each system right where the sewage line leaves the building. My BIL has his at the entrance to the tank. In any case, there must be a vent

Oh, ok sure, there's a vent stack in the roof..