Diggng Sewer Pipe?

[kevin37b]

While you have tank exposed put risers over the ports and bring them up to grade and put lids back on .

 

[boatcapt]

Noo! Many, if not all old septic tanks are steel tanks. They are usually rusted to the point of collapse after 25-30 years. As said, spread out timbers that will span beyond the width of the tank. Do not run the machine over the fields either unless you are replacing the entire system.

 

[fried1765]

Noo! Many, if not all old septic tanks are steel tanks. They are usually rusted to the point of collapse after 25-30 years. As said, spread out timbers that will span beyond the width of the tank. Do not run the machine over the fields either unless you are replacing the entire system.

The OP describes the tank as being about 4" thick.
Quite obviously it is a 4" concrete tank.
That would be one hxll of a steel tank if it were 4" thick.

 

[LD1]

And not running g a light b series even over the field????

How do you guys mow your leach field?

My house was built in 1987. I know where my tanks are because I have risers. I have no issues running a 8000#+ mx Kubota over it.

Not entirely sure where leach field is, but I am pretty sure my 18000# backhoe has crossed it several times.

 

[Code54]

I have went over ours every week for the last 10 years with either a B or BX when mowing. I have crossed over it with a MX5100 well loaded with out issue several times.... Ours is about 3' deep in well compacted soil.

 

[boatcapt]

The OP describes the tank as being about 4" thick.
Quite obviously it is a 4" concrete tank.
That would be one hxll of a steel tank if it were 4" thick.

Thank you for correcting my hasty reply fried, there's always someone like you on these blogs.

 

[Indian MC]

Is it the pipe from the house to tank , or the field not draining ? You need to uncover the tank and the lids and see what is going on . How much paper is being used ? If it is the pipe from house to tank , easy fix . If not ,$$$$ . I am going to wager that thinwall PVC was used on the system and has settled or snapped off at inlet or outlet .BTW you need a new pumper guy !

This is basically what he said Kevin.
My system stopped flowing. I phoned for a pump. " He's been in the business installing tanks and pumping for 50 plus years. The 2nd or 3rd gen owner " When we pulled the caps off the tank, the level of sewerage was several inches below the sewer pipe outlet from the house. ( Way below the inlet Pipe )
He pumped the tank out and asked me to go in the house and run all the faucets and toilet.
Nothing came out of the pipe, still backing up.
He retrieved a Snake and ran it into the inlet pipe to the tank.
It kept getting snagged, hitting something.
He finally got it,, Everything flowed out in within several seconds.
His Snake was hitting against something. The snake had a roller ball on it and was still getting snagged up.
Funny,, He laughed. It's time to take that pretty waxed up new Kubota of yours out of the garage.
Dig out this 10' pipe coming from the house to the tank. Phone me back when you're done.
Something is going with that pipe coming from the house to the tank.
He said don't worry. I don't think it's split and leaking into the ground.
Most likely it has a Divot in it... Bent down, to the side etc.

 

[fried1765]

Thank you for correcting my hasty reply fried, there's always someone like you on these blogs.

It can actually be helpful, if one reads and understands the OP posting, before offering a response.

 

[repete]

I will not offer any tips on how much weight is too much weight on a concrete lid. My only memory is the duels of a fire engine look really stupid in a septic tank. Don't ask me how I know that...

 

[whitexc]

I have seen a skidsteer swallowed up by an old tank too.....

 

[AStanton]

You could always get a couple of 3/4" sheets of plywood and place them over the tank. This would distribute the load a lot better from the tires and stabilizers.

 

[HeLa]

we had some work done on our system a few years back. due to space constraints, the contractor had to run his mini-excavator (JD 26G; probably weighs 2x-3x what the B weighs) over sensitive areas of our system.

naturally the tracks distribute the load better than tires, but he also put down steel plating to distribute the load. said it's his common practice for additional precaution. i couldn't help but be a bit concerned but he was confident and does this kind of work all the time. everything turned out fine.

large steel plate might not be in your barn, but i'd probably put down some timbers (as another member mentioned) and plywood if i was doing much more than just passing over the area.

 

[D2Cat]

Indian MC, if you can locate the end of the septic tank closest to your house and dig right at the edge of the concrete (tank) you may very likely find your problem. Often a tank, or the line will settle and separate right at the tank. Many times the drains get slow but still work, then finally some paper, or a bit of more settling causes a stoppage.

Even if you had to dig by hand it's not that much work for that small area. May save you a lot of grief. The fix is easy, once you locate the problem.

I also would not put my tractor on the tank. I had a tank lid fall in. It had been in the ground for 30 years. Had decorative rock around it with some landscaping chips on the actual lid. It was concrete! It had never even had a push mower on it, since there was no grass!

I also used my backhoe to set on the side of another tank that failed because a guy hauling water got too close and clean the concrete out of it.

 

[lennyzx11]

Indian MC, if you can locate the end of the septic tank closest to your house and dig right at the edge of the concrete (tank) you may very likely find your problem. Often a tank, or the line will settle and separate right at the tank. Many times the drains get slow but still work, then finally some paper, or a bit of more settling causes a stoppage. <snip> it.

Exact thing happened to me.

 

[Indian MC]

Indian MC, if you can locate the end of the septic tank closest to your house and dig right at the edge of the concrete (tank) you may very likely find your problem. Often a tank, or the line will settle and separate right at the tank. Many times the drains get slow but still work, then finally some paper, or a bit of more settling causes a stoppage.

Even if you had to dig by hand it's not that much work for that small area. May save you a lot of grief. The fix is easy, once you locate the problem.

I also would not put my tractor on the tank. I had a tank lid fall in. It had been in the ground for 30 years. Had decorative rock around it with some landscaping chips on the actual lid. It was concrete! It had never even had a push mower on it, since there was no grass!

I also used my backhoe to set on the side of another tank that failed because a guy hauling water got too close and clean the concrete out of it.

Ok, sounds good... I'll play it safe. I'm not going to set the tractor square above the tank.

I'll start along the side at the inlet pipe to the tank.

It just sucks having the tractor tucked close to the side of the house.

Also,, in front of the Porch.

I'll only be able to dig diagonally and have to toss the material directly up against the porch.

If I don't toss it at the porch, tossing on top of the tank is the only other option.

On top of the Tank? I would have to ride above the tank to later remove it anyway.

The tank is 3' plus below surface to the top. The pipe must be close to 4' below surface.

I'm sure to make a mess.

Hey,,, It's one step above digging by hand!

 

[D2Cat]

You don't need to be on your tank to remove material you locate there when digging. You do have a backhoe, don't you? Just reach over and gently curl your bucket and put the material where you need it.

If you're fairly new and inexperienced keep the tractor engine idled down to give you better control. Don't try to dig with your machine all the way to the pipe you're looking for. Take off a foot of dirt (if you're sure it's greater then 3' down) then probe with a rod to try to feel the pipe. When your rod hits the pipe you will feel and probably hear a hollow sound. If at first you don't find the pipe take a bit more material off. Don't get in a hurry. Then probe again. When you're within a foot of the pipe finish locating it with a shovel. That will save you any grief caused by the flick of your hand!!

 

[hawkeye08]

You don't need to be on your tank to remove material you locate there when digging. You do have a backhoe, don't you? Just reach over and gently curl your bucket and put the material where you need it.

If you're fairly new and inexperienced keep the tractor engine idled down to give you better control. Don't try to dig with your machine all the way to the pipe you're looking for. Take off a foot of dirt (if you're sure it's greater then 3' down) then probe with a rod to try to feel the pipe. When your rod hits the pipe you will feel and probably hear a hollow sound. If at first you don't find the pipe take a bit more material off. Don't get in a hurry. Then probe again. When you're within a foot of the pipe finish locating it with a shovel. That will save you any grief caused by the flick of your hand!!

That there is some good advice..

 

[whitexc]

That there is some good advice..

I agree, 100%. Any of us doing construction/utility work do exactly this and maybe even more hand digging and probing depending on what you are looking for or digging up. If you are digging on a 24" 1200# coated natural gas line you are doing a lot of probing and shoveling as to not damage coating or worse, the pipe.

Good luck with the repair.

 

[kthompson]

I would think you are safe to lay the dug dirt on the septic tank. Would suggest you pay plywood where ever you will dump it to protect the grass when you move it.

Will say this, if those of us who said stay off or place something over it to spread out the load are wrong then we made the digging some harder for you. If those who said we are wrong prove to be wrong...will be a mess. Heard a contractor tell about a concrete tank here the lid deteriorate in about 5 years and fell in the tank. He was called asking on the warranty on the tank is how he knew about it. To me the reward verses the risk is just not worth it.

 

[BAP]

Your lucky if you have 3 feet of fill over your tank. 3 feet is deep for a septic tank, usually they only have about 12-16" of fill over them.