Leech Field Collapse-Repair Help

[Dr Dave]

There are 2 diffferent types of filters, the cheapest is a T inside the tank on the discharge line, requires opening the man hole lid and lifting up the handle to remove the filter basket, then you wash it out with a garden hose. They recomend doing this yearly.
The second type is a chamber that installs outside the tank on the dicharge line, remove cap, pull out and wash. Never use the black flex pipe for a drain feild it will fail, this I learned the hard way.
The arched chambers are said to work great, no gravel needed, Menards sells these. Also these are covered with fabric before backfilling. If you have a backhoe you can do this yourself. As said relocate the drainfeild to virgin soil, do not reuse the old trenches. Good luck!

 

[MotorSeven]

Ben, if you have the space for new leach fields you really need to think about giving up on the old one's. Do it once, do it right and forget about it for another 30 years.

 

[ben2go]

Sorry I haven't updated this thread..I have or had perforated corrugated leach field lines.Not only did they collapse but they also fell apart.The pipe going into the tank is in thousands of tiny little pieces no bigger than a dime.We thought we had the problem fixed but we hired a lazy septic repair company to pump the tank and check the lines.We thought we were clear until we had heavy rains this past week and our toilet flooded the house while we were away.Luckily the bath tub never overflowed.It was a nasty mess.

I hand dug the septic tank and pipes.

 

[MotorSeven]

Corrugated as in metal? Wow those have to be original then from the 50's and I have never even seen that type. The ones I replaced in my '59 house has 4" terracotta pipe 12-16" long for leach fields. There was no joint or connector between each section of pipe so it failed when it all filled up with sand(FL). Like you I had to hand dig up all of it, wheelbarrow in gravel(tiny back yard) and put in new poly perf pipe.

 

[ben2go]

Corrugated as in metal? Wow those have to be original then from the 50's and I have never even seen that type. The ones I replaced in my '59 house has 4" terracotta pipe 12-16" long for leach fields. There was no joint or connector between each section of pipe so it failed when it all filled up with sand(FL). Like you I had to hand dig up all of it, wheelbarrow in gravel(tiny back yard) and put in new poly perf pipe.

Black plastic.

The guy cleaned out the tank and pointed out a few issues.I have leaks around the inflow pipe and the outflow pipe was found about 16 inches down beside the septic tank.He offered to put chemicals in the tank that would unplug the holes in the perforated pipe.He checked the lines and told me that is all that is wrong with my leech fields.At an extra $200 for the chemicals,I said no thanks.I think I can find them cheaper.I just need to know a brand or what chemicals or enzymes are in the stuff he was going to use.Anyone know what I should be looking for to remove solids,grease,and paper from the lines?I tried searching but haven't found a specific brand that will work.

 

[radioman]

first off -- its not required, but everyone should install a septic backflow preventer. It would eliminate the mess in the house.
Second off - I am not sure how a pipe would degrade so fast underground - unless the pipe were exposed to sun in the yard for a long time and it finally broke down. If I were you, I start digging up the pipe from house to tank to inspect it and replace as needed as you are finding pieces in the tank. Do you have a distribution box after the septic tank? If so I would dig that up and inspect it as well. It might be full of plastic stuff you mentioned. If it is, you are looking at a full replacement of all pipes and leech feild.

 

[300UGUY]

The pipe going into the tank should be a solid pipe, not slotted like that pipe. It is usually a solid, non flexible, PVC in most tanks I've seen. The pipe going out of the tank, to the leach field, should also be a solid pipe. Looks like some body did a very poor installation or a cheap repair.

 

[PILOON]

first off -- its not required, but everyone should install a septic backflow preventer. It would eliminate the mess in the house.
Second off - I am not sure how a pipe would degrade so fast underground - unless the pipe were exposed to sun in the yard for a long time and it finally broke down. If I were you, I start digging up the pipe from house to tank to inspect it and replace as needed as you are finding pieces in the tank. Do you have a distribution box after the septic tank? If so I would dig that up and inspect it as well. It might be full of plastic stuff you mentioned. If it is, you are looking at a full replacement of all pipes and leech feild.

I had a client that suffered from a massive backflow in his 2 year old house.
I suggested that he make a claim against the contractor as there was no backflow protection.
The contractor informed us that backflow valve was not in the code foe septic systems (only city connected to mains) hence he denied any claim.
When asked for a quote to install one he wanted $800. plus extras to redo the concrete and tiles.

I installed the backflow for a mere $100 without damaging tiles.(exit point was in laundry room)
As there was a clean out in place I simply removed it and replaced it with the backflow. Was simple since the installer used minimal glue and I was able to couple with rubber adapter devices. (clean out is still possible as valve has large access cover)
The 'plumbers' other no no was that the gutters also drained into the septic system and also not buried below frost line.
I could go on with other unacceptable discoveries but won't.

Must say that seeing many other 'professional workmanship' I prefer do DIY.

 

[PILOON]

WOW, he used black irrigation pipe! Big NO NO! all those ribs will trap suspended particles and clog up real fast. Also proper field piping has perforations on the top segment to induce even distribution. In fact a field must be as perfectly level as possible.

I know of one installation that used that black irrigation piping and it clogged up so badly that the owners could not flush a toilet and had to replace all the in house drain pipes, sinks and all.

 

[kevin37b]

The pipe from house to tank SCH40 4 " PVC , OR CAST . Most of the failures I see are the outlet side of the tank due to rammy backfill or settling .Alot of the outlets have slipped out of the tank , big problem . And no 4" CP , joke , chambers are the only way to go , same money .