OK to drive over septic system ???

CTyler · Nov 26, 2003

Ba Da Boom...ching.

RalphVa · Dec 26, 2003

I had a septic tank cave in at my house in Baton Rouge. I won't drive over it with anything. Admittedly, that one in Baton Rouge was metal. Most are concrete.

I know where mine is here, from drought periods browning the grass. I don't drive over it. Prefer not to even walk over it, but I have to mow the grass. Do it walking behind my Lawnboy, nude: less weight.

Ralph

Inspector507 · Dec 26, 2003

Now that's a visual I didn't need /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PineRidge · Dec 26, 2003

Some things are better left unsaid /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Junkman · Dec 26, 2003

a scary sight to say the least......

DougM · Dec 27, 2003

More info then needed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DougM

Jethro · Dec 29, 2003

I think you will be fine. The drain lines should not see a lot of heavy traffic though. The damage to those would be very gradual but real. Even though I think you would be fine to drive over the lid, I think you have a good idea in asking the septic tank dude. One of our local septic tank pumping guys has the following slogan on his trucks: "The number one man in the number two business".

On an entirely unrelated note, a local radiator repair shop's trucks display the slogan: "A great place to take a leak".

Jibber · Jan 2, 2004

When I moved into my house in 1993, the builder and his wife had been living in it (still unfinished) for about two years. I had never had a septic system so I decided to have it pumped out. The septic guy said it was pretty much full and if I had waited another year I would probably have had some problems.. (backups and the like). Two years later I decided I'd better have it pumped again figuring two people were living here before.. now.. just my wife and me.. 2 years.. well.. the guy who pumped it said I could easily have waited another year. Three years later I had it pumped and the guy said the same thing. Next summer I'll be at four years.. and we now have two small children. So I figure It will be time.

Interesting note.. My brother had lived in his home for more than ten years and had never had his pumped. I warned him of impending doom. He called out the honey dipper and the guy told him his tank was in great shape.. really didn't need to be pumped. What's the difference between my house and his? He lives in rural ohio and has a separate pipe that diverts the drainage from the washing machine so that it doesn't run into the washing machine. No soaps.. no bleach.. nature takes it's course!

ps.. my tank is 3 feet down.. I have an L3130, loaded tires.. loader and frame mounted backhoe..

and I haven't taken a "dip" in the tank yet.

If it were a foot down.. I might have second thoughts about driving over it.. but a newer reinforced tank is pretty tough. You'd be more likely to crack a concrete driveway.

Bird · Jan 2, 2004

( What's the difference between my house and his? He lives in rural ohio and has a separate pipe that diverts the drainage from the washing machine so that it doesn't run into the washing machine. No soaps.. no bleach.. nature takes it's course! )

I think you may have just answered your own question. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif What kind of soap is used? Bleach? Size of tanks? Volume of water and other material used? Amount of grease or oil down the drain? Maybe the type of soil and rate of percolation in the leach field? Size of leach field? I had mine pumped (and it needed it) after 4 years. My brother-in-law and his wife lived in their place for about 7 years and never had theirs pumped, but he did divert the washing machine water the last 4 years. When I had a system installed for my parents the installer said it should need nothing for 6 to 10 years.

Jethro · Jan 2, 2004

In some areas (e.g. Washington State) you arte required to design in a 100% reserve area for the drain field, with perc tests and all. That is acknowledging that the drain field is likely to fail, and preserving a place to put the replacement one.

This is true in my county as well. I think it may vary from county to county in NC. We are remodelling a house built in 1932, and have just had the lot perk tested for a new septic system. They required an additional area to be planned for as a "repair field" for when this system fails. The existing system was installed in 1956.