Septic System Backup Questions

   / Septic System Backup Questions #21  
The tank had to be pumped and inspected when you bought it or no bank would ever have written a mortgage on the place. If the previous owners went 25 years without pumping the tank, it's quite possible the drainfield is plugged solid and has to be replaced, or you may just need to run a snake down the lines. Good luck.
This isn't a true statement. Last two homes I bought the bank didn't require a septic inspection. They made me get the wood burning fireplace inspected - go figure....
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #22  
This isn't a true statement. Last two homes I bought the bank didn't require a septic inspection. They made me get the wood burning fireplace inspected - go figure....

Man that is odd. I bought and sold houses within the last year. Both have septic. Inspection was required in both cases. I would have done so on the purchase anyway. On the one I sold the original field was 50 feet from the well head. That was the typical at the time. FHA wanted 75 feet. When we replaced the field it was more like 90 feet. Not sure why the bank could not find that diagram.... but of course I had it so no problem.

As for the OP it seems odd to me that one out flow would drain no problem, but the other one would not.

Hope it is simple and not an expensive repair.
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #23  
The O.P.s problem sound remarkably similar to one I had. Turns out all along we've been pumping the second tank, thinking it was the first one. The local septic guy scratched his head and got out his sounding rod. Sure enough, ther first tank was mis-identified and NEVER pumped in 30 years. They replaced the cross pipe between the two tanks because it was corroded cast iron. Now things are back to normal. We had them put on a surface level riser over the No.1 tank lid so we now know what is where.
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #24  
I think the way people go about maintaining septic systems might be all wrong! A little story that makes me go "hmmm..."

My parents had a septic system installed 46 years ago. A year later, my sister and mom planted a silver maple not far from the tank and drainage field. 45 years has past since they planted that twig of a tree. In that time, every septic system on their street has failed and or requires pumping on a regular basis. Their system has never been touched. Never pumped. Not even once. They've never had a wet drainage field. Never a bad smell. No problems whatsoever. I don't know why their septic system is so good. But that twig of a silver maple tree is now over 20 foot in girth! :eek: I think we can all figure out what is going on here! True story.
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #25  
Field lines around here have changed over the yrs. Use to use the 4'' corrugated pipe with holes and gravel..
They now use these plastic chambers with no gravel.
Depending on the age of the home, The lines could be anything.
Dig up outside and cut the main line going to the septic tank 3-4'' pvc ? Flush the toilet. If the toilet drains without any issues, your tank is full, and the field lines are plugged,and won't accept the water anymore..Fieldlines will need replacing..
Pumping your tank will last until the tank fills again, and that's it
 
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   / Septic System Backup Questions #26  
Leach fields are usually the problem area and they can be undersized and over-worked, causing clogging problems due to the biomat. If it's an old system then it's probably perforated PVC pipe with leach rock. The holes in the pipe get clogged with either silt or bio sludge.

New systems use plastic chambers which don't have the same issues with clogging but a bio-mat can still form on the ground, although the plastic chambers have a much bigger leach area and work better. Most septic guys up here refuse to use perforated pipe and leach rock. Almost all switched to Infiltrator chambers.

LeachField2.jpeg
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #27  
A system that has set unused for 6 months would be able to accept quite a large amount of liquid. Just the opposite of over-worked. If the field is saturated, the site is to blame.

Since this type of topic has come along a couple times recently, I did some research. It seems that most drain fields will completely renew themselves if given a two year dry rest. The essence of having two fields and a diverter box.

Ain't nature wonderful!
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #28  
Field lines around here have changed over the yrs. Use to use the 4'' corrugated pipe with holes and gravel.. They now use these plastic chambers with no gravel. Depending on the age of the home, The lines could be anything.
Dig up outside and cut the main line going to the septic tank 3-4'' pvc ? Flush the toilet. If the toilet drains without any issues, your tank is full, and the field lines are plugged,and won't accept the water anymore..Fieldlines will need replacing..
Pumping your tank will last until the tank fills again, and that's it

Just on this particular diagnostic suggestion. Opening the tank to check for that same "flush" flow. Would verify that the clog was not at the tank inlet. Something a mid pipe cut won't do.

The pump out technician may be a wealth of practical knowledge. Most of them have "seen it all".
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #29  
A client called me as he was having flushing problems and system was backing up.
In this case the problem was not enough water.
Their chalet was little used and had little water flow so feces went solid and actually clogged the inlet at the tank.
When we pulled the tank lid I observed what seemed to be the inlet pipe touching the deflector baffle like they had forgotten to measure correctly and let it ride.
I took a stick and poked at the 'extension' and it broke away and water flowed freely.
Was a simple case of lack of usage and the solids simply dried and created a plug.
I instructed them to use more water. That was 5 years ago and I no longer get calls.
 
   / Septic System Backup Questions #30  
A client called me as he was having flushing problems and system was backing up.
In this case the problem was not enough water.
Their chalet was little used and had little water flow so feces went solid and actually clogged the inlet at the tank.
When we pulled the tank lid I observed what seemed to be the inlet pipe touching the deflector baffle like they had forgotten to measure correctly and let it ride.
I took a stick and poked at the 'extension' and it broke away and water flowed freely.
Was a simple case of lack of usage and the solids simply dried and created a plug.
I instructed them to use more water. That was 5 years ago and I no longer get calls.

9/10 times this is the issue I've seen. Too much paper helps build up at inlet baffle also.
 

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