I need some help from a plumber

[MarkV]

Freds, if the expense, rather than the damage to the landscaping replacing the field is the issue. Keep in mind that when/if the city puts sewer in they will charge a hook up fee. A friends area had sewers installed and the county charged a $2500 hook up fee if you did it in the first 6 months, after that it cost $3800 to hook in. Of course that didn't include what the plumber charges to bring the line from the house. Most in my friends area stayed on their septic systems.

MarkV

 

[kidr]

I heard of a system that uses hi pressure to renew drain fields.Don't know much about it,but it might be cheaper alternative if you want to to look into it.

 

[Freds]

I heard of a system that uses hi pressure to renew drain fields.Don't know much about it,but it might be cheaper alternative if you want to to look into it.

I wonder where I can find someone to do this? I'll have to hit the yellow pages when I get into the office.
Like I said earlier though, I wouldn't bet money that the previous owners installed a correct leach field that I could renew. That's really why I've been shying away from trying to get the old field working properly again.

MarkV. I've already been told, NOT tying into the new sewer will not be an option. The areas around here are one by one getting sewer service and being forced to tie into it, even if they have a perfectly good working septic system. I see articles in the paper all the time about a neighborhood trying to fight it and losing.

And I know I'd have to get a permit for a new leach field, then of course there's the soil tests and all... simply tying into the existing system the business uses I could do without drawing too much notice.

It''s less hectic today, so I'll have to get things figured out.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[The Dougster]

Yup... a few years ago when my little city installed sewer lines, hooking up or not hooking up was not an option... If the line was run to your property, you would hook up... Why else go to the expense of installing a sewer system?

A properly designed and operating septic system keeps the solids inside the tank and only allows the liquids into the leach fields... now, can the leach field become saturated? Darn tootin! I don't have an alligator in this swamp but I'd check for collapsed pipes near the septic tank.....

 

[Freds]

Well at least the liquids aren't up by the lid anymore. They are below the .... (not sure of the terminology here).... the pipe that the cover rests on, which appears to be almost 2' long before the tank expands to it's diameter. The liquids are about 4" below that pipe. So my guess is I'm good to run the dishwasher and give the toilet a flush, provided it doesn't stay running (lol). And that shows that the leach field is at least accepting liquids, just not at the rate the running toilet was giving it.

I think what I'm going to do is getting the sewage holding tank, the pump, and run it like the plumber was going to into my other sewer line. I didn't want to go to this extreme, but by all accounts I might not be getting that sewer line for a while and at least I won't need to worry about this anymore.
Looks like the backhoe is going to get a little more use.

 

[Freds]

I called another septic/plumber just to see about cleaning out the existing field. He said he's been doing this for 30 years and does not reccomend going that route in my area, as he sees the ground failing more than anything. We have a lot of clay here. And getting it "jetted" would cost 1,700 bucks. Yowza.
He also brought up another interesting point, he said that you are not allowed to run one building's septic into another building's septic, even on a temporary basis in anticipation of the new sewer line... Intersting. Two master plumbers who both do work in my area with two ways of doing things.

 

[MikeD74T]

I called another septic/plumber just to see about cleaning out the existing field.... Intersting. Two master plumbers who both do work in my area with two ways of doing things.

Don't know about PA but around here few plumbers are septic designers or installers. You may be relying on the wrong people. MikeD74T

 

[plowking]

Another form of rejuvenation is called the terralift,it is a machine with a probe that blasts or hydrofracs the soil under field to loosen it to let field percolate,that can cost 3500.00. The price you are quoted for jetting can be high because they may put in chemicals after and a septic truck has to pump out the material the jetter loosens from in the lines. I have jetted fields,installed effluent filters in tanks and added vents to the leachlines to add oxygen to field to keep it from suffocating. If your tank is slowly receding ,if it gets to 12 inches below the opening in tank,that should be the normal height,the pipe to leachfield leaves the tank at approximately 12 inches from top. Some older tanks have cast iron elbows in place of cement baffles,I've had those plug up with rust. When your pumper pumps your tank,he should hear water running back in from field if it is flooded,if not it could have a problem getting to field. I use a telescopic mirror and flashlight to look in tank after it is pumped to check condition of tank,baffles. plowking

 

[Inspector507]

If it is a leach field problem, I will say that the Terra Lift has worked for me for 9 years. I know it may be time to try it again. They said it would last 5 years, so I'm on borrowed time I guess. They inject high pressure air with poly styrene beads into the soil at 3' and then again at 6' all around your leach lines. That breaks up the soil and allows for the liquid to seep out of the lines like it should. The poly styrene beads keeps it from filling back up quickly. Their website is here.

 

[Inspector507]

There is a Terralift dealer in Erie if that's close to you.