Thank You KiotiJohn !

[bearhawk]

I just worked 4 hours on my CK20HST with the 60" Box Blade.

He assured me that would be the most used implement, and he was right.

I just scrapped 8" of topsoil off my leach field in preparation to rebuild the Enviro-Septic system that failed.

There is a bunch of us that miss you John..

I hope all is well.

Jim from NH

 

[MikeD74T]

bearhawk, I have a nearly 60 year old leach field consisting of 3 drywells. It's never been a problem but was considering going to Enviro system. What caused your failure? MikeD74T

 

[bearhawk]

bearhawk, I have a nearly 60 year old leach field consisting of 3 drywells. It's never been a problem but was considering going to Enviro system. What caused your failure? MikeD74T

I think the primary reason was the water softener back flushing into the system.
(Note to self, don't listen to the installer saying it will be fine)

The fact that it was not vented could have contributed to it. When the system was designed (99) venting was not required. It is standard practice now.

Last fall I did the recommended procedure to "rejuvenate" the system... and added a vent. It did extend the life another eight months.

When I had it quoted for replacement the installer did say that five years was about the time they fail. And for 5k to replace (just the field) I priced the tubes and will save 3500 by doing it myself.

 

[MikeD74T]

bearhawk, Are you thinking buildup of minerals, ie non-biodegradables is plugging the fabric? I think venting came along with raised pumped systems as water comes into the leach field in bigger batches. In frozen ground that can be a problem as displaced air has nowhere to go. Not that it would be fun,but, could the units be cleaned with a pressure washer & reused? Even $1500 every 5 years is quite unreasonable. MikeD74T

 

[IXLR8]

I think the primary reason was the water softener back flushing into the system.
(Note to self, don't listen to the installer saying it will be fine)

When I lived in Mass and had a water softener, I was told it was illegal to have the wafer softener back flush drain into the septic system. Maybe this is the reason why.

My present septic system is 30+ years old and is showing signs of issues. I was thinking of redoing it with the Enviro-Septic system.... but not if it is going to need major work every 5 years. Please keep us posted on what you find.

 

[JoelD]

I vented my softener to day light, will ultimately put into dry well. But definately kept out of my septic. Building inspector suggested venting softener into perimeter drain. i thought that may cause problems with the clogging the perimeter drain.

 

[gravel13]

I think the primary reason was the water softener back flushing into the system.
(Note to self, don't listen to the installer saying it will be fine)

My cousin is having her system replaced as I type. She said she didn't have any problems with her old one until her softener was plumbed into the septic about 6 years ago. When I was building my house, we needed a softener but the installer vented it into the perimeter drain, he said that is how he does all of them. So far we haven't had any problems going on 7yrs now.

 

[bearhawk]

bearhawk, Are you thinking buildup of minerals, ie non-biodegradables is plugging the fabric? I think venting came along with raised pumped systems as water comes into the leach field in bigger batches. In frozen ground that can be a problem as displaced air has nowhere to go. Not that it would be fun,but, could the units be cleaned with a pressure washer & reused? Even $1500 every 5 years is quite unreasonable. MikeD74T

My Enviro supplier is the one that said everybody is venting all the systems now. So last fall I installed a dry well for the softener and rejuvenated the system to the manufactures specs along with venting the system. Unfortunately the sand surrounding the pipes are clogged with black goo.

Yes, you can clean the pipes, but I'm not sure I want to be the one to do it...

I think the hardest part to clean would be the fabric member that surrounds the pipe. I am going to check to see if I can just buy those.

The pipe costs are about 1k, so I'm not sure I want to do all this work, (and have to do it again) to save 1k.

 

[mrutkaus]

yep ol' kioti john is just sort of a legend now fading into the smoke (from those florida fires)

he really added a lot of solid info here

mike

 

[Gittyup]

I run both my water treatment system and my washing machine into my storm drains. All that water in a septic system doesn't allow the solids to ever settle. Then they end up in your dry well and leach field. When I bought my place, the previous owner dumped it all in the septic. The pipe from the septic to the dry well was completely clogged with solids from one end to the other.

I don't really know, but treatment backwash may also kill essential bacteria in the septic tank. I would think that salts especially would be harmful. Every year I dump 10 lbs of sugar right in the septic to boost bacteria growth. Keeping my fingers crossed, it's still working good after I replaced that clogged pipe 17 years ago.