how to seal it? (crockery to ABS pipe)

[prof fate]

My old house had a crockery type septic tank.

The previous owner about 30 years ago had the leech bed replaced and they used ABS pipe. They removed the crockery tile and shoved the 4" abs into the septic tank outlet, no gasket or anything. Decades later I get run off from the area of the tank - clear, but smelly. I dig it up and find no gasket..how it worked for 30 years I have no clue.

I got a rubber gasket and fixed it. Or so I thought.

The year I found the effluent was a very wet spring. This year is an all time record wet one - so not sure how that plays into this.

So...dug it up and it's leaking at the rubber gasket to crock joint.

I'm thinking of stuffing it fill or roof cement...i've had great luck sealing up with it, and it can go on a wet surface. Will it bond to the rubber gasket? I've no idea...

Some fixes I've read use cement...I can do that too..will it work? I've no idea either.

Something else?

 

[mbohuntr]

I suspect your leach field is failing.. the efluent should never get that high..
Also.
Do not call a gov't inspecter.. you will likely be forced to put in a raised bed at 12-25 thousand.. see if you can get a trustworthy local guy to repair it.. you are allowed to repair existing systems here, and the newbys call the inspector, and get hosed...

 

[Ford850]

I'd try bentonite on the outside around the pipe's exit from the tank. It's a fine granular product used to seal pond leaks. It comes dry in bags but once it gets wet it gets sticky, gummy, and swells to seal an area. I get it here from well a well driller. Dump a liberal amount around your pipe seal and backfill with soil.

 

[Streetcar]

Fernco fitting can match two different types of pipe

 

[prof fate]

that's what i put in there 2-3 years ago. it's leaking.

 

[prof fate]

I'd try bentonite on the outside around the pipe's exit from the tank. It's a fine granular product used to seal pond leaks. It comes dry in bags but once it gets wet it gets sticky, gummy, and swells to seal an area. I get it here from well a well driller. Dump a liberal amount around your pipe seal and backfill with soil.

google brought up this right quick..won't need tons but it provides the math needed for the size of 'repair' for it to be successful. Seems cheap and easy enough to try. and there's no real pressure on this pipe as it's at the top of the septic tank.

 

[3Ts]

They removed the crockery tile and shoved the 4" abs into the septic tank outlet, no gasket or anything.

What it sounds like you're looking for is something that will seal the gap between the tank and pipe by expanding when it gets wet. How much of a gap is there between the pipe and the tank? If not much, then maybe an "O ring" although finding a 4" ring may be difficult. In my younger days I ran lead & oakum joints in cast iron pipe. Maybe something like that to seal it? Obviously not lead backing, but maybe cement. Have you tried hydraulic cement? It's supposed to expand as it cures.

Oakum

 

[Budweiser John]

Hydraulic cement will cure your problem.
It is available at masonry supply houses and big box stores. It comes in a sealed can and you mix it with water and apply around the pipe where it enters the tank
CAUATION, mix only what you can place in 5 minutes or less and wear industrial rubber gloves because as it cures it gets hot. VERY HOT.
The stuff expands as it sets up and works great. A common brand is “Water Plug” by Thourseal.

B. John

 

[Ford850]

google brought up this right quick..won't need tons but it provides the math needed for the size of 'repair' for it to be successful. Seems cheap and easy enough to try. and there's no real pressure on this pipe as it's at the top of the septic tank.

I would think a single bag would be plenty. It's usually packaged in bags like quickrete / sakrete etc.