Google Infiltrator and read up on it. It's made for short runs, (typically 1/3 to 1/2 of a normal leach field). Sounds like it may be just the thing for your limited space.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Have a sink and toilet in my shop with it's own septic something. I didn't say system because the previous owner put it in without getting a permit and I have no idea what it consists of. He said it was a tank/leach field but couldn't remember where the tank was located. Am planning on renting a trackhoe this spring and doing some discovery digging but in the mean time wondering if those with experience might be able to give me some insight on what may be going on.
Anytime we get a hard rain the system plugs up and 3 or 4 days have to pass before it will flush again. I can conclude that something is filling up with ground water and not allowing the toilet to flush. What I would like to know is what kind of poor design would exhibit this problem so I may get some idea of what will need to be done to fix it.
Thanks )</font>=======
Do you know where the septic tank is for the house?
Why not simply run a line from the garage to the line going from the house to that tank.
As AFFORDABLE said , no properly designed and installed septic system sholud malfunction in rainny weather. would not be suprised if you find nothing but a small tank with an outlet pipe.
hiya frank -
I know in Buffalo you don't get the rains like we do here in Houston. There are places (like this gulf basin) that have serious drainage issues and when we get those tropical rains, it's quite possible to have standing water in the yard for a week after. I'm 22 miles from the coast and my elevation is 14 feet above sea level..... not a lot of fall for drainage anywhere in the area. FLAT. Consequently - even a properly installed septic can back up because of saturation. New tech now has some better solutions - but systems that were put in before ....... Our tropical rains here could be compared to your lake effect snow --- unusual for anyplace else to say the least. I've seen rainfall rates 3 - 4 inches ...... per hour so depending on the lands contours .... if it's low - there could be issues requiring unusual solutions that didn't exist when put in.....however in this case - I got a hunch the previous owner cheaped out and didn't "do it right the first time" ... I've been dealing with that mindset from my previous owner in my house in town ... a real PITA - ... Bob -- good luck with it - sounds like you'll need to do a total redo -- this time the right way -
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( hiya frank -
I know in Buffalo you don't get the rains like we do here in Houston. There are places (like this gulf basin) that have serious drainage issues and when we get those tropical rains, it's quite possible to have standing water in the yard for a week after. I'm 22 miles from the coast and my elevation is 14 feet above sea level..... not a lot of fall for drainage anywhere in the area. FLAT. Consequently - even a properly installed septic can back up because of saturation. New tech now has some better solutions - but systems that were put in before ....... Our tropical rains here could be compared to your lake effect snow --- unusual for anyplace else to say the least. I've seen rainfall rates 3 - 4 inches ...... per hour so depending on the lands contours .... if it's low - there could be issues requiring unusual solutions that didn't exist when put in.....however in this case - I got a hunch the previous owner cheaped out and didn't "do it right the first time" ... I've been dealing with that mindset from my previous owner in my house in town ... a real PITA - ... Bob -- good luck with it - sounds like you'll need to do a total redo -- this time the right way - )</font>
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If the house works ok there can't be A problem with the tank or the field.
If things are working in the house the problem is the line going out of the garage.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Have a sink and toilet in my shop with it's own septic something. I didn't say system because the previous owner put it in without getting a permit and I have no idea what it consists of. He said it was a tank/leach field but couldn't remember where the tank was located. Am planning on renting a trackhoe this spring and doing some discovery digging but in the mean time wondering if those with experience might be able to give me some insight on what may be going on.
Anytime we get a hard rain the system plugs up and 3 or 4 days have to pass before it will flush again. I can conclude that something is filling up with ground water and not allowing the toilet to flush. What I would like to know is what kind of poor design would exhibit this problem so I may get some idea of what will need to be done to fix it.
Thanks )</font>
=============
Areyou having the same problem with the house?
If not then the problem isn't with the tank or leach bed.
The problem is with the drain from the garage.
Fix it by running th drain line to the house drain line.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( hiya frank -
I know in Buffalo you don't get the rains like we do here in Houston. There are places (like this gulf basin) that have serious drainage issues and when we get those tropical rains, it's quite possible to have standing water in the yard for a week after. I'm 22 miles from the coast and my elevation is 14 feet above sea level..... not a lot of fall for drainage anywhere in the area. FLAT. Consequently - even a properly installed septic can back up because of saturation. New tech now has some better solutions - but systems that were put in before ....... Our tropical rains here could be compared to your lake effect snow --- unusual for anyplace else to say the least. I've seen rainfall rates 3 - 4 inches ...... per hour so depending on the lands contours .... if it's low - there could be issues requiring unusual solutions that didn't exist when put in.....however in this case - I got a hunch the previous owner cheaped out and didn't "do it right the first time" ... I've been dealing with that mindset from my previous owner in my house in town ... a real PITA - ... Bob -- good luck with it - sounds like you'll need to do a total redo -- this time the right way - )</font>
................ .. ....
( hiya frank -
1* even a properly installed septic can back up because of saturation.
2*I got a hunch the previous owner cheaped out and didn't "do it right the first time" ...
3*- sounds like you'll need to do a total redo -- this time the right way - )
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1*Don't think that's his problem cause if it was he'd be having the same issue with the house.
2*If he didn't do it right why is the house working OK?
I think he may have over spent and screwed up the garage drain.
2*Don't believe a redo is necessary just a correction on the garage drain.
The house system works great and was done right. A permit was purchased, installed by a contractor and I know where everything is. The shop on the other hand has a separate system done without a permit by an idiot. It's about 600 feet from the shop to the house so tying into the house system is kinda out.
Ground water is a problem, if we get a good rain it takes 3 or 4 days for the standing water in the yard to go away. A sure sign the water table is pretty high is the crawdad mounds that keep sprouting up in places around the property. The church next door (just built last year) has a system that sprays the septic run-off over the top of the ground. I like that but can't justify the cost for my silly little shop. Anyone have any ideas on how to do this cheaply?
Ran into the previous owner this morning at an auction and picked his brain a bit. Said he did put in a 250 gal concrete tank but only ran about 40 feet of leach line. This explains the problem with it not working when it rains. Also said he wouldn't have a problem with me extending the leach field onto his property.
The plan now is to wait until it warms up and put in 150 feet or so of additional leach line. From reading the other septic topics on this forum am pretty sure I can do the additional leach lines without any trouble.
