Laundry Washing Machine Lint Filter & Septic Field

[arto98607]

We have about 40 year old septic field which is working fine, but laundry washing lint has been a concern for quite some time, however I did not want to install a septic outlet filter because accessing it outside say every 2 - 3 months is something I am trying to avoid!
Installing this type of 100 micron filter was an alternative I had been contemplating, but delaying mainly due to not really having a place where this setup could be hidden out of sight, but finally decided to de best I could figure out & install it.

It's installed in that spot so it could be screwed directly into a wall stud while it still clears the adjacent cabinet door - It could be elevated more if moved further to right, but trying to avoid that.

The bottom outlet pipe is pretty close to top of the washer so I decided to improvise & custom-make a 90 degree turn on it which is against the instructions - otherwise the drain hose would be rubbing against the machine top.


So far so good, after couple of loads of laundry.

I will post updates later.


Lint filter with a spare bag:


Lint from one medium size load:

 

[Chewwy]

Why?

 

[arto98607]

Why?

To keep lint, especially man-made synthetic fibers away from the septic tank & drainage field!

Bacteria does not work on synthetic fibers and many floating fibers will end up in the drainage field....

How long before it clogs up is anyone's guess?

 

[ponytug]

Why?

Adding one reduces the amount of non-digestible debris going into the septic tank; sand, plastic fibers, etc., that don't degrade. The concern is also that the finer particles potentially flowing through the septic system to the drain field where they add to the biofilm growing in and outside the pipes, clogging the drain field more quickly.

Although they are more focused on floating items like fats, septic tank exit filters/brushes also help reduce the load on the drain field.

Once you install one, you realize how much crud gets washed into your septic tank. We had one years ago just to keep the line to the city sewer clean and a couple of loads of laundry would fill it.

Whether this is an issue for you depends on a lot of variables; the soil type in your drain field, the ratio of of septic tank volume to flow, and the extent of man made fibers and soil in the laundry. At a minimum, I would file it under an easy way to extend the life of a septic system, and the time between pump outs.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Chewwy]

It has never been a problem in our 40+ year old septic system. I have never heard of this being an issue.

Googling the most common septic tank problems. Lint accumulation is not on any of the lists.

 

[Milo]

It might not be a bad idea for those who use fabric softener.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

We just had our tank pumped after a bit over 2 years. Only 2 in house. We have a filter/trap(?) in the tank and it was about 3/4 full. Owner operator wasn't concerned, saying we were fine, but try to stay in 2year+/- schedule.

 

[masscity]

I'm new to a front loading washer and I don't use fabric softener. I found this online, to use white vinegar in the softener spot instead. I tried it on a bunch of t-shirts and they were soft, it was if they were ironed too. Plus it helps to remove any excess soap from your clothes.

 

[jyoutz]

This isn’t really legal, but we have our washing machine drain plumbed to an outdoor drainage settling basin. Washing machine drain water is bad for septic systems for reasons other than lint. Bleach also destroys the bacterial colonies in the septic field.

 

[etpm]

I put in our septic system so I am pretty well acquainted with it. It is the infiltrator type. The drain field is comprised of 4 50 foot long 3 foot wide ditches that are 2 feet deep. The ditches are covered by a plastic clamshell that is 1 foot high and the clamshell is covered with 1 foot of dirt. In the middle of each ditch is a 4 inch capped pipe that sticks up about a foot. Removing the cap allows me to inspect the inside of the clamshells. In the 17 years we have been using the septic system I have never seen anything but water inside the clamshells, except of course dirt. So I wonder if a lint filter would do much good.
Eric

 

[2manyrocks]

We have about 40 year old septic field which is working fine, but laundry washing lint has been a concern for quite some time, however I did not want to install a septic outlet filter because accessing it outside say every 2 - 3 months is something I am trying to avoid!
Installing this type of 100 micron filter was an alternative I had been contemplating, but delaying mainly due to not really having a place where this setup could be hidden out of sight, but finally decided to de best I could figure out & install it.

It's installed in that spot so it could be screwed directly into a wall stud while it still clears the adjacent cabinet door - It could be elevated more if moved further to right, but trying to avoid that.

The bottom outlet pipe is pretty close to top of the washer so I decided to improvise & custom-make a 90 degree turn on it which is against the instructions - otherwise the drain hose would be rubbing against the machine top.


So far so good, after couple of loads of laundry.

I will post updates later.


Lint filter with a spare bag:
View attachment 839800

Lint from one medium size load:
View attachment 839801

Would you mind posting a link to where you found this filter? Is it just a standard house water filter except you're using it on the laundry discharge?

 

[Milo]

This isn’t really legal, but we have our washing machine drain plumbed to an outdoor drainage settling basin. Washing machine drain water is bad for septic systems for reasons other than lint. Bleach also destroys the bacterial colonies in the septic field.

FWIW I've never had any problems with my septic system in the 21 years since I built the house. I will say that I have a front load washer and use about 1/2 the detergent called for, also never fabric softener or bleach.

 

[jyoutz]

FWIW I've never had any problems with my septic system in the 21 years since I built the house. I will say that I have a front load washer and use about 1/2 the detergent called for, also never fabric softener or bleach.

Without bleach the issue is much less.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

We have about 40 year old septic field which is working fine, but laundry washing lint has been a concern for quite some time, however I did not want to install a septic outlet filter because accessing it outside say every 2 - 3 months is something I am trying to avoid!
Installing this type of 100 micron filter was an alternative I had been contemplating, but delaying mainly due to not really having a place where this setup could be hidden out of sight, but finally decided to de best I could figure out & install it.

It's installed in that spot so it could be screwed directly into a wall stud while it still clears the adjacent cabinet door - It could be elevated more if moved further to right, but trying to avoid that.

The bottom outlet pipe is pretty close to top of the washer so I decided to improvise & custom-make a 90 degree turn on it which is against the instructions - otherwise the drain hose would be rubbing against the machine top.


So far so good, after couple of loads of laundry.

I will post updates later.


Lint filter with a spare bag:
View attachment 839800

Lint from one medium size load:
View attachment 839801

Sounds like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, if you ask me.

 

[Hughman]

We had the same concern but went with a different solution. We plumbed the washer drain out to the garden. Seemed like a terrible waste of water sending it to the septic. Trees love it. Just need to use plant based soap and no bleach.

 

[etpm]

We had the same concern but went with a different solution. We plumbed the washer drain out to the garden. Seemed like a terrible waste of water sending it to the septic. Trees love it. Just need to use plant based soap and no bleach.

Dumping laundry washing water onto the garden seemed like a good idea to me too. I spoke with the Island County Health Department about this when I was installing my septic system. They didn't like this idea and it is in fact illegal in Island County WA. The reasoning being that there is a good chance that disease causing microbes, like hepatitis for example, may not be killed in the washing machine and so may contaminate surface water. This has happened more than once.
Since hepatitis can be spread by feces, and since feces is often present in underwear, I can see the county's point.
Eric

 

[jyoutz]

Dumping laundry washing water onto the garden seemed like a good idea to me too. I spoke with the Island County Health Department about this when I was installing my septic system. They didn't like this idea and it is in fact illegal in Island County WA. The reasoning being that there is a good chance that disease causing microbes, like hepatitis for example, may not be killed in the washing machine and so may contaminate surface water. This has happened more than once.
Since hepatitis can be spread by feces, and since feces is often present in underwear, I can see the county's point.
Eric

Could be an issue if the discharge is within a certain distance of surface water. Seems overly cautionary where surface water isn’t nearby.

 

[jaxs]

Few things can equal opportunity to use mirrors and lights for profit as sewage disposal. A couple of examples out of hundreds. When laws were passed in most counties in Texas requiring arobic systems,it was also law that systems must be periodically serviced and inspected by licensed contractor. Installers sold a package that included 20-30 year service contract paid annually. Routine service was so simple a 14 year old could preform it with 2-3 hours of training. Install was reasonable but service was an expensive rip off. Lawsuits were filed and won alowing homeowner to take a couple hour course and be allowed to maintain his system. Once homeowners could do maintenance,the lobby for arobic companies disappeared and conventionally systems were allowed again.
All this hoop-la about danger of septic system polluting water while municipal treatment plants route millions of gallons raw sewage around treatment plant running it into lake where public water is sourced.

 

[Chewwy]

. . .
Since hepatitis can be spread by feces, and since feces is often present in underwear, I can see the county's point.
Eric

Seems silly? Fish and other animals poop in the water? All land animals, including humans, poop in the woods.

 

[ponytug]

Could be an issue if the discharge is within a certain distance of surface water. Seems overly cautionary where surface water isn’t nearby.

Viruses don't get any more infectious than hepatitis. The minimum dose is one virus particle. It also is not easy to kill with chlorine.

In this case, I can understand the public health department's desire for subsurface disposal.

I worked for awhile in an area where hepatitis was common (public defecation everywhere, with the resulting rampant fecal-oral diseases, dysentery, typhoid, etc.). One pretty fit young guy felt sick Friday, was ill Saturday, and dead Sunday from hepatitis.

We have septic, and much as I would like to recycle the water directly, I have made peace with running it through the septic field to be recycled (eventually). The upside of a more direct recycle is not worth it to me, but I can understand others arriving at different uses.

All the best,

Peter