AndyM
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 2,369
- Location
- NW PA, USA
- Tractor
- 1948 Ford 8N and 1993 Toro WheelHorse 520H
We had our new house built this past spring, and I've mentioned in the past that we had problems getting the inspections passed on our septic system. Other than what I've seen them do, I'm clueless on septic systems.
First, a little background information, since septic systems vary from state to state and county to county--
The drain pipe runs out of the house into a 1000 gallon tank and then into another 1000 gallon tank. It then goes into a junction box, where you can either make the water flow to one of two leech fields, by switching a 90 degree elbow to stop the flow of water to one side or the other (you're supposed to switch the flow between each field every year). The leach fields consist of 1200 feet of PVC pipe buried 18 inched deep, surrounded by gravel (185 tons of gravel were brought in for this). There is also a curtain drain, consisting of perforated black pipe, running around the entire perimeter of both leach fields. This pipe is surrounded by gravel and is about 6 inches lower than the pipes in the leach field. The outlet for the curtain drain goes into another sump crock and the water gets pumped out to the ditch along the road.
When all of they failed inspection, it was determined by the county that the tanks and the front leach field were 6 inches too deep. The contractor dug up the front leach field, brought in more gravel and raised all of the pipe up 6 inches. Rather than dig up the tanks, they put in a sump crock and a pump to pump it up to the junction box and the leach fields.
I was outside this morning breaking up ice in the driveway, and I was interested in the fact that there was no snow on the ground above my septic tanks. For some reason (I don't know why), I walked over and took off the lid to the plastic junction box-- There was nothing flowing into the pipe leading into the front leach field. Instead, the water was rising up the extra four inches and flowing into the elbow that was pointing up, the same elbow that was supposed to stop the water from flowing into the back leach field.
This is a new system, not even a year old. Why would nothing be flowing into the pipe for the fron leach field, but instead rising up four inches higher to the higher pipe going to the back field? What would block this up so soon? I started to think it could be because of the cold wether, but if that was the case, no one's septic systems would work during the winter. Is something wrong where they're going to have to tear everything up AGAIN and repair it? Also, the water coming out at the road for the curtain drain used to be clear for the first several months, but now is a bright brown color that is staining the ditch along my road where it empties out. I originally figured it was just dirty water (clay mixed in the water?), but now I hate to speculate what it is or what is going on.
Our one year warranty on the house is up at the end of April, and I've got quite a huge list of things going already. Is there something minor that I can fix easily on this one, or do I have yet another huge headache coming up?
First, a little background information, since septic systems vary from state to state and county to county--
The drain pipe runs out of the house into a 1000 gallon tank and then into another 1000 gallon tank. It then goes into a junction box, where you can either make the water flow to one of two leech fields, by switching a 90 degree elbow to stop the flow of water to one side or the other (you're supposed to switch the flow between each field every year). The leach fields consist of 1200 feet of PVC pipe buried 18 inched deep, surrounded by gravel (185 tons of gravel were brought in for this). There is also a curtain drain, consisting of perforated black pipe, running around the entire perimeter of both leach fields. This pipe is surrounded by gravel and is about 6 inches lower than the pipes in the leach field. The outlet for the curtain drain goes into another sump crock and the water gets pumped out to the ditch along the road.
When all of they failed inspection, it was determined by the county that the tanks and the front leach field were 6 inches too deep. The contractor dug up the front leach field, brought in more gravel and raised all of the pipe up 6 inches. Rather than dig up the tanks, they put in a sump crock and a pump to pump it up to the junction box and the leach fields.
I was outside this morning breaking up ice in the driveway, and I was interested in the fact that there was no snow on the ground above my septic tanks. For some reason (I don't know why), I walked over and took off the lid to the plastic junction box-- There was nothing flowing into the pipe leading into the front leach field. Instead, the water was rising up the extra four inches and flowing into the elbow that was pointing up, the same elbow that was supposed to stop the water from flowing into the back leach field.
This is a new system, not even a year old. Why would nothing be flowing into the pipe for the fron leach field, but instead rising up four inches higher to the higher pipe going to the back field? What would block this up so soon? I started to think it could be because of the cold wether, but if that was the case, no one's septic systems would work during the winter. Is something wrong where they're going to have to tear everything up AGAIN and repair it? Also, the water coming out at the road for the curtain drain used to be clear for the first several months, but now is a bright brown color that is staining the ditch along my road where it empties out. I originally figured it was just dirty water (clay mixed in the water?), but now I hate to speculate what it is or what is going on.
Our one year warranty on the house is up at the end of April, and I've got quite a huge list of things going already. Is there something minor that I can fix easily on this one, or do I have yet another huge headache coming up?