Septic Help!!!

[teejk]

Mine is old circa 1978 and is a single camber 1200 gallon concrete...

Some around here are very old and made of redwood...

Kinda depends on soil and "gravity" I think...the concept is older than you or me...it's not brain science/rocket surgery (might have those mixed up). We have a lot of new factors on how they work but respected the concept has not change (and I don't buy the anti bacterial hand soaps thing because a single taco night will over come that).

 

[Billrog]

CR172 glad that was an easy fix. The only bacteria needed in a tank comes from our own gut any thing else added may cause you more grief with your field creating a slurry rather than a clear layer in your tank that the T picks up and distributes it to your field. As for today's systems they are strictly designed around the particular soil in the area you live as well as terrain. This and no. of bedrooms in the home will determine the size of tank and field required in permeable soil. Soils with more restraints may require a treatment plan , pressure distribution system, sand mound this explanation is simplified but gives a bit of insight. Inlet and out let T's are an essential part of a system for it to work properly.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

in the not too distant days, we would just add more lateral line, of course with all the ridiculous codes now they make that hard to do

 

[woody]

this is great discussion and since the op has his problem solved I need ideas on how to find a septic tank. I just purchased a spot of land that use to have doublewide on it but it has not been there for about fifteen years and there is no pipes sticking up out of the ground. I remember where the house was and I found the local water line and meter, but have not found the septic tank or lines. anybody got ideas how to locate the tank. I have asked all the neighbors and tried the contact the old owner but no one knows.

 

[bcp]

I found one by using a smooth 1/4 inch rod about 4 feet long. I tapped it into the ground about every 3 feet until I found something solid, then moved about a foot at a time to see if it was a continuous surface. I pulled it with Vise-Grips.

Bruce

PS: Looks like there are ready-made versions.

Septic tank probes

 

[lennyzx11]

I found one by using a smooth 1/4 inch rod about 4 feet long. I tapped it into the ground about every 3 feet until I found something solid, then moved about a foot at a time to see if it was a continuous surface. I pulled it with Vise-Grips.

Bruce

PS: Looks like there are ready-made versions.

Septic tank probes

That's the way I have seen it done also. When I had to dig mine open a few years ago, I used a metal detector which picked up the metal lids/hatches on it.

 

[Billrog]

Being a double wide the tank should be close to the surface so a probe or metal detector should be about a good away as any as mentioned.

 

[CR172]

All the septic folks we've had out, 3 in 8 years, just use a piece of rebar with a T handle welded on. We don't use Charmin or other 'boutique' TP. Cheap thin 2 ply from Costco. I'm starting to wonder if the input baffle was somehow damaged during a cleaning or rooting......

 

[Billrog]

CR172 that is very common to happen. I've seen where plumbers knocked them off and told the owners they weren't necessary. Most older tanks have and inspection port at each end of the tank where you can check the T. T paper breaks down fairly fast but Kleenex and paper towel are a problem as are wipes & feminine products. If the crust in the tank gets to thick it can come over the top of the T and cause grief as well.

 

[teejk]

All the septic folks we've had out, 3 in 8 years, just use a piece of rebar with a T handle welded on. We don't use Charmin or other 'boutique' TP. Cheap thin 2 ply from Costco. I'm starting to wonder if the input baffle was somehow damaged during a cleaning or rooting......

I think the recent problem is with those "extra strength" TP's. They don't break down (by design) and my wife heard that they should be avoided on a septic system (after a few "incidents" in our new house). Since ditching them we have had no problems.