Just a reminder for those with septic systems

[FTG-05]

You can get a pretty good idea simply by observing your inside waste plumbing. I don't think I've seen one that didn't leave the house at a straight line to the tank (no sense getting a "hang-up" before it gets to the tank). Length from the house...if you have a clean-out in the house (or maybe even a floor drain close to the exit which I guess satisfies code) a garden hose or drain snake or even a piece of stiff wire can be run through the pipe to tell you the length to the tank (protect your floors of course and maybe wear gloves). From there you should have a good idea of location. Get a sharp stick or something and start probing in that area. You have no idea how deep it is so it may take awhile.

On a slab, no known cleanouts.

 

[dmccarty]

On a slab, no known cleanouts.

While you are at the health department ask if they know if the codes require a clean out between the house and septic tank. Also ask if they know how long that has been in code if it is in the code.

You might be able to guess the location of the tank by looking at the location of the sinks, toilets, tubs, drains, etc, in the house and guestimating where the main house drain would be best located.

Our house is on a slab and we have a clean out between the house and tank. If I had not put the clean out in a box, said clean out would be buried. :shocked: But since I filled in around the septic tank I did not bury the clean out. :thumbsup:

Snow over my tank or septic field does NOT melt any faster than near by ground. My guess is that our freeze line is only about 4-6 inches and the tank is 18-24 inches below grade. Not sure why the field does not melt first.

Later,
Dan

 

[teejk]

While you are at the health department ask if they know if the codes require a clean out between the house and septic tank. Also ask if they know how long that has been in code if it is in the code.

You might be able to guess the location of the tank by looking at the location of the sinks, toilets, tubs, drains, etc, in the house and guestimating where the main house drain would be best located.

Our house is on a slab and we have a clean out between the house and tank. If I had not put the clean out in a box, said clean out would be buried. :shocked: But since I filled in around the septic tank I did not bury the clean out. :thumbsup:

Snow over my tank or septic field does NOT melt any faster than near by ground. My guess is that our freeze line is only about 4-6 inches and the tank is 18-24 inches below grade. Not sure why the field does not melt first.

Later,
Dan

DO NOT raise any questions about codes that might incriminate you! Some of these bureaucrats will jump on it and make you correct it. As for the snow-melt, it all depends on the depth of the tank. If shallow, the area above it will melt faster. I think newer codes now require risers to bring the lid close to grade but I owned a house that didn't have one (I hated getting it pumped...very deep hole). Of course I'm talking about northern climates...not so sure about Tennessee.

 

[JRobyn]

FTG, many drain cleaner companys now have radio beacons that they feed down a drain line and "read" with a detector above the surface. They are quite accurate regarding both line location and depth. Probably wouldn't cost more than $100.

 

[kevin37b]

Find the pipe coming out of the house and go 10 ft and probe .

 

[breadtrk]

I guess when my grandpa built this place he did a good job, even with a 2nd house connected in the 70's we have never had a pump out here. Never had any backups either. To be honest, I'm the sole survivor and have no clue where the tank is, only vaguely remember where they dug and piped into the pipe that was already in the ground for the new house.

Should I care?

 

[Zerk]

I.

Should I care?

Tough one. If it never acts up, you won't need to. If it does, the cleaner probably knows tricks. Though it is nice to have a plan before poop backs up.

Might be some metal, in it and metal dectector might help. Driving rod down works with old concrete ones, some day when you are really bored.

 

[teejk]

I guess when my grandpa built this place he did a good job, even with a 2nd house connected in the 70's we have never had a pump out here. Never had any backups either. To be honest, I'm the sole survivor and have no clue where the tank is, only vaguely remember where they dug and piped into the pipe that was already in the ground for the new house.

Should I care?

Probably not a bad idea to at least check your tank. Bacteria will breakdown a lot of the solids but not all. Speaking from experience I can tell you that if there is a problem you want it outside and not inside. My first house had cast iron drain fields...that developed what they call "iron fungus" that slowly "chokes" the pipe. Our new house has pvc but we had "residents" that apparently used a roll of tp every time they "wiped". That was when we learned to never use Charmin "Super-strength"...it caught-up on the inlet baffle and the law of "path of least resistance" came into play.

 

[mapper]

He is working on changing it. But I am doubtful anything will change.

Did a quick look at my 2016 return last night, with Trumps new proposal I will take a beating if they eliminate itemized deductions. My largest deduction is medical insurance and medical costs, my deductions last year were a lot more than the $24k he is proposing. I bet most retired folks are going to be in the same boat. So will almost anybody with employer paid medical insurance, they are going to count that as income.
The rich will get a lot richer and the rest of us will get to pay more so they can.

 

[Zerk]

All I got is mortgage a charity. I use an HSA to cover medical expenses, which is before tax money, and my high deductible, since Obama. If you manage yur HSA you never would deduct.

For me, my HSA covers my deductible, and I got enough for my out of pocket.


I am all for simplyfing things. I like home mortgage. But it isn't fair to people not owning a house. I would like to see it sunsetted, and the deductions to everyone. Especially since someday I want to pay mine off.


So for me it would help alot.

I suspect some people have decided it won't help, if they dropped $5k in the mailbox, and a box of cigars. Plus I don't most people know more than lower us from the most expensive country in the world for coporate taxes.


Maybe they should go on Youtube and have Obama tell them how we are the highest corporate tax rate.

I hope it happens, could be a big boom time for young people. Buisness coming back, and baby boomers retiring.