No water in septic tank

[spryde]

Thanks to all. I will definitely have the tank inspected before going any further.

If the tank can be repaired and the top can be totally taken off, it will be done safely.

I hope to help as well in the future as you guys have!

 

[spryde]

And yes, this guy seems to have put everything under the microscope. Not too bad so far. A few things on the roof, some code violations (grandfathered in) and the septic. All I have inspected as well and he was right. He said everything else looks good.

If I wasn't moving 700 miles to MI (house is in Maryland right now...), I would hire him in a second.

 

[plowking]

The rest of system may be good, regardless of leaking tank,unfortunately the inspector can't tell, both because tank level and house being vacant. A vacant house's septic system has to be dug up more to check for telltale signs of recent flooding, or problems. Some inspectors use cameras with closed circuit TV to check before digging. The five year house I checked is doing fine after tank was fixed. The cost then was around 600.00 to have contractor dig along one side and seal the halfway seam. You might need a reinspection once tank is fixed or replaced. Inspections can be quick or intensive, depending on the state the inspections are located in and the costs for the inspection. plowking

 

[zzvyb6]

Any chance you have the wrong tank? If a new system was put in to replace an old one, then the new one has yet to be inspected. I presume the tank will partially fill wen you flush... Maybe you should do a simple check with just flushes. There's always BarsLeak...

 

[spryde]

There is a chance it is the wrong tank. I only lived in the house for 4 years. However, the sewage pipe exits the house at the right angle to hit the tank straight on.

Right now I am in MI and will be heading back to MD to start wrapping things up there on Friday. I will inspect and see what I can find (without going into the tank).

 

[plowking]

When you get back, if the water is still on in the house. You can lift cover and have someone flush the toilet, if it is the right tank, you should hear it come in. The inspector should have had you flush or run water as part of the septic inspection. Because it has solids, it should be the main or primary tank. New systems I deal with have primary/secondary tanks with filters or aeration chambers. I had to take courses, programs to keep up with the new technology. I'm considered a dinosaur, as there are a few newer guys doing it now. My customer had a polystrene tank pop out of the ground at a new house this year from flooding, [ it wasn't filled with water first before use to settle it, or wasn't anchored ],They replaced it with a precast tank. plowking

 

[RonMar]

If the system is more than a few years old, I would bet the inspector would not approve a tank replacement with the existing field. Septic regs have been changing all over the place in the past few years and I would take a guess that to pull a permit for the tank replacement, an entire new system will have to be planned and approved. I hope I am wrong. I would definitely get it pumped and search for a source of the leak though.

Good Luck.

 

[atgreene]

Septic tank replacements are common in this area for tank only.

Tanks here run $564.00 plus tax that incudes delivery. I typically install a new tank, plumb it and handle all permits for $2500 or so. That is a more reliable fix than a repair, unless a very easy repair can be done. It's got to be dug up anyway, replace it and be done with it.

 

[txdon]

At least one installer ( in a non-inspected Texas County) would put a hole in the bottom of the tank so it will not float. When "they" were installing my septic I heard one guy tell the other to knock a hole in the bottom, I quickly intervened and told them I did not want a hole in the bottom and I filled it up with water so it would not float if a rain came before it filled with sewer.

 

[spryde]

I am probably that lucky knowing some of the examples of work I have seen around here. Folklore and tradition have seeemed to override good engineering principles around here. Usually the good folklore and tradition have already been encompassed by the engineering.

SP