Septic System - Part 2

tillboy2001 · May 4, 2005

I WISH I had an easy way to divert the washing machine water out into the lawn so all that water wouldn't end up in the leach lines. I think that would solve this problem. When I think about it, that's where all the water is coming from. There's not much from showers and dishwashing. Problem is I have no easy way to get the water out /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Other than doing something wild like this...(see attachment)...and I don't think this is a reliable long-term solution.

ByronBob · May 4, 2005

How is the water from the washer getting out of the house now?

tillboy2001 · May 4, 2005

Goes into the utility sink in the basement, which drains right into the septic tank /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

PBinWA · May 4, 2005

Hey! You've got the same septic "problem" I have!

My distribution box is not level and crumbling apart from age and Blackberry roots.

I had an excavator out on Monday to pluck some big trees out of my property and asked the operator about the box. Apparently you can buy caps for the pipes that are half cut away and then turn them to adjust the flow rate to the different pipes.

I'm waiting for my wife and kids to go away for a few days so I can shut off the water in the house and replace/repair my distribution box.

I got a referral to buy fancy distribution boxes from this site:
http://www.americanonsite.com/american/products.html

You can see their Distribution Boxes by browsing their "products" menu on the left or going directly to this link:

http://www.americanonsite.com/american/catalog/am-dbox.html

Replacing the old box isn't going to be fun - it's a sh**ty job but someone has to do it. Sorry for the bad pun.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tillboy2001 · May 4, 2005

I already have the caps that regulate flow to each pipe (look in the photos). But yeah, this concrete is junk. It's only been installed for 8 years. The box itself is ok, but the cover is cracked into and the baffle is shot. I think i'm going to buy some quickcrete and make my own cover and baffle rather than fool with trying to find replacements. Should be very simple to do. All I need is 2 simple rectangular pieces.

tomnky · May 4, 2005

I know in Ky to legally do this , You have to have a seperate leach bed for the " greywater", If You want to seperate the drainage.As I checked with the Health Department on doing just that. It actually cost me less just to have additional leach chambers put in to take care of the "grey water".

At the time I was having to put in a complete system to the tune of around $9,000.00 with more than enough leach chamber to handle it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tillboy2001 · May 4, 2005

This is one of those 'if I knew then what I know now' type of situations. I would have had a separate leach field JUST for the washer. We'll never move...so this is what we're stuck with for awhile unless we do some serious work.

ByronBob · May 4, 2005

That being the case (you not moving) rent a ditch digger, trencher, whatever you want to call it. Run the line from your house wall out a 100 feet or 200 feet. Dig a hole with a steel drum in it full of gravel and create your own leach field just for the wash water. If you put 100 feet of solid line and then put 100 feet of perforated pipe with cloth around it you can eliminate the water in the septic.
Why is the concrete bad after 8 years? Do you have a water softener on the system?

dummy · May 4, 2005

Probably not legal in Ohio. I know it's not here.

tillboy2001 · May 4, 2005

I actually live in Norhtern KY just below Cincinnati, OH. Probably not officially legal here either...maybe.

Not sure why that baffle crumbled into pieces. We have no water softener. I know there's a lot of laundry done every day usually. Or at least the machine runs a lot anyway. No bleach in the wash usually though. Just detergent and sometimes fabric softener.