All Questions
204 questions
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Is disuse good or bad for a septic system?
I travel a lot for my profession, and there's no one else using the home while I'm gone, sometimes for months at a time. Is a lack of drainage to my septic system generally a good thing, or can it be ...
- 409
1
vote
0
answers
26
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What model septic filter is this? What are compatible models?
This filter sits between second tank (semi solids) and third tank (effluent).
It inserts into that white flange that leads to effluent tank:
And here is a top picture with filter inserted in its ...
- 524
0
votes
0
answers
41
views
Fixing a Septic Leach-Field Vent
My septic system's leach-field vent pipe cracked just underground. I think the pipe is Schedule 30, but I have free access to Schedule 40. Can I just use an adapter to go from Schedule 30 to 40 and ...
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
108
views
Septic system's old and new pump tripping circuit breaker
Recently, a storm caused a power outage in my neighborhood, and immediately afterward, my septic system started malfunctioning. The circuit breaker in the septic control box began tripping whenever ...
- 524
0
votes
1
answer
72
views
Can I effectively inspect a septic system with a boroscope?
I have a septic tank in my backyard, and it has a gravelless chamber drain field pipes. After the septic tank was emptied, the septic person told me that the drain field pipe was clogged. He used a ...
- 129
0
votes
1
answer
90
views
Is a lot of smell from a septic system access panel normal?
We just had a new septic system installed. I expected there to be gas coming up in one bathroom, given the shower and sink don't have drain traps installed. The smell is unfortunately more intense ...
1
vote
2
answers
110
views
What is allowing septic plant smell through shower drain?
In our very old stone farmhouse, there is a wetroom downstairs with a shower drain. Ever since having the septic tank emptied, and then replaced with a treatment plant, a foul stench comes from the ...
1
vote
0
answers
58
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Went to switch leach field but don’t see switch
Bought my house in February. Knew it had some sort of way to “alternate” the septic between two leach fields. Finally got around to opening up what I assume is the correct lid (there are two lids on ...
- 23
8
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Looking at buying house with mechanical septic system. What questions should I be asking?
House is 30 years old, and I assume the septic system is as well. Septic has been supposedly pumped twice a year. What kind of questions should I be asking about it? I've never had a home with a ...
- 459
1
vote
0
answers
109
views
How can I determine if my septic drain field needs replacement?
So last week I noticed there was a puddle of water on top of our septic tank, which was gone by the morning (few days before that it rained hard all day and most of the night - I figured water must ...
- 123
1
vote
1
answer
142
views
Why is water emerging at the end of my septic system leach line?
Our home, over 40 years old, likely retains its original septic tank. Situated in a densely wooded area with few neighbors, we've maintained the property well. Recently, within the last year, we had ...
- 175
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Understanding the risks surrounding empty tanks & containers (propane, natural gas, septic, etc.)
In a quickly upvoted comment to this answer regarding propane tanks, community member crip659 wrote:
I would change "any level" to ever contained. Empty containers can be as bad(deadly) as ...
- 2,384
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votes
0
answers
38
views
strange sewer like smell
Can anyone answer this sewer question. We have been having stench smells in our trailer for a while. I thought it might be the AAV vents under the sinks. But it's not those, replaced. Already cleaned ...
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votes
0
answers
2k
views
What type of pipe should I use in my drain/leach septic field?
I have an older house and its septic somewhat failed. Leach field pipes were not glued and they all disconnected immediately after d-box so that none was going into the field. These are also very ...
- 101
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0
answers
46
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Sewer smells/Noxious fumes in house
We purchased a house 6 months ago in Western Oregon, a very wet climate. The old cement septic was cracked on inspection and replaced with a new poly one just prior to our arrival. The old one was ...
- 31
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votes
1
answer
73
views
Is this some kind of backflush septic filter?
Filter is connected to two white PVC pipes:
But it also has this tiny black hose that sends water to tank when pump is engaged. See this picture:
Is it some kind of backflush filter (similar to R.O. ...
- 524
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votes
1
answer
215
views
Can I install a septic system drain field over a power conduit?
In Washington state is it ok to install a septic drain field over electrical lines in a sealed conduit buried 3ft deep?
I have not done it but looking for locations on my property and wondering if it'...
- 169
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0
answers
181
views
Can I keep the baffle filter outside of septic tank
My builder has made a mistake , he didn't install Baffle filter either for septic tank inlet or outlet and he didn't make any provision for soak pit or cess pit
Builder has kept both inlet pipes and ...
- 145
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
I want to wire two pumps so that one turns off when the other turns on
I have an aerator pump in my septic tank that runs continuously. I want to wire a timed septic pump to the same circuit so that the aerator turns off when the septic pump turns on.
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1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Sewage smell in bathroom and outside house
The day after moving into our recently purchased house in Oregon, we started noticing sewage smells on the back deck that were periodically overwhelming. We later began smelling it on the opposite ...
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
477
views
Is my plan to repair a broken primary septic drain pipe reasonable?
I bought a house a few years ago and it appears as though the previous owner knew the septic pipe was leaking where it leaves the house and goes to the septic tank. There’s about a tube’s worth of ...
- 11
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votes
1
answer
308
views
How to make the septic tank safe for human entry
My septic tank is hard sealed with concrete slab.
My mason and plumber wants to install two Effluent filter inside the septic tank.
So I'll call up the septic tank trucks ,they will suck the septic ...
- 145
3
votes
0
answers
424
views
Is it risky to have soak pit of septic tank near building
I have series of soak pits connected by pipe and this soak pit takes grey water from Kitchen and bathroom only.
I have to call septic tank lorry frequently to pump out the filled up septic tank. ...
- 145
2
votes
1
answer
704
views
Why did a new drain pipe cause my septic tank to smell outside?
We have (what I think) is a pretty standard setup: various drains converge in the basement and exit through a single pipe out to the septic tank. I have lived in this house for 13 months and never ...
- 123
0
votes
0
answers
773
views
Water on top of sewer pump cover
I have water standing on the top of the sewer pump cover in my basement.
The sewer pump is used to pump the waste water from a full bathroom in the basement (toilet, shower, sink) up to the main ...
- 167
0
votes
0
answers
51
views
Septic Tank backed up into the basement. What now?
We had a flash flood over the weekend which caused the septic tank to overflow, spilling vile sewage water into my parent’s house while they were away. There was about 2 inches of water and most of it ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
Septic tank issue
I had my septic tank pumped out two weeks ago. When bath water drains the toilet is still gurgling and the dirt on top of septic system is wet. Does anyone know what the possible problem is?
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
Dry Well Failing in Septic System
My septic system (tank and dry well, no drain field) is about 60 years old and from the most recent inspection, it seems that the dry well is no longer discharging water to the soil. Is there any fix ...
- 13
1
vote
3
answers
924
views
Can I use my SpeedQueen washer with well & septic?
We are buying a house with well & septic. Well was tested at 6.6 gpm and the septic system checked out okay. This will be the first time I'm not on public utilities and I am stressed.
Just 2 ...
- 11
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1
answer
81
views
Is it ok to connect septic overflow line to a concrete box which has incoming from kitchen and bathroom line?
I have a precast concrete box like the one in below and this have three inlets and one outlet.
outlet -> Takes the water to near by canal
Inlet 1 -> Kitchen sink outlet is connected with this
...
- 127
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votes
1
answer
912
views
No vent in my cabin and smell septic tank
I have a cabin without a vent on the roof for the drain pipe.
We have a concrete septic tank also without any vent.
My water drains correctly inside but we have some smell in my bathroom.
Does anybody ...
0
votes
1
answer
488
views
Is it ok to sod or mulch over a leach field?
So we have nine people living in our house. Several teenagers means lots of showers and laundry. We have a pretty persistent wet spot at the end of our leach field but the system has been inspected ...
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Downstairs bubbling toilet when upstairs shower runs
What could cause the downstairs toilet in the middle of the house to bubble (and sometimes make the water disappear) when someone takes a shower upstairs all the way at the far side of the house?
Info ...
- 11
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votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why does my septic vent pipe cap pop off? [closed]
Why does the vent cap on the vent pipe that is located in our yard occasionally pop off? Does the vent cap need to be tightly secured? Thank you.
1
vote
2
answers
181
views
What's the impact of Chlorine on prefabricated concrete ring well
I have a percolation pit made up of 5 cement rings.
I use this percolation pit to hold filtered water from septic tank.
I would like to drop chlorine tablet ( 1.67gm Water Purification Tablets, Each ...
- 145
2
votes
0
answers
276
views
Smart/Wi-Fi septic alarm monitors? [closed]
I'm looking for the way to be alerted remotely when I get a septic pump alarm in my summer house. The septic pump is a traditional one, with a buzzer that goes off when the float gets too high and ...
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to design my own septic tank filter
My building has septic tank on its southeast corner.
I have no manhole cover, i.e, upward/eastward/westward/northward access to my septic tank, it's all covered.
I can access it through south wall ...
- 145
1
vote
2
answers
985
views
Do we need an air vent pipe for percolation (septic) tank?
I'm going to set up water percolation tank( made of cement rings ) for filtered septic water from septic tank.
Is it necessary to have air vent pipe? but it could cause some foul smell.
Would it be a ...
- 145
2
votes
1
answer
714
views
Using a septic tank for toilet black water only
Can you use a septic tank only with black water from the toilet? I am planning to reuse the other water (shower, sinks, kitchen) and only use the septic tank for the black water coming from the toilet....
- 175
1
vote
0
answers
44
views
Concrete pour: consolidation vs too dry mix
Resealed the outlet baffle on a septic tank, and noticed a smallish crack under the outlet on the tank extending about 18in down, a little bit of the grey water was weeping out of the crack. I poured ...
3
votes
4
answers
781
views
Can I run septic effluent through a series of filters and get clean water out the other end? [closed]
Let's pretend that my leach field suddenly malfunctions ... but we need to continue occupying our house ... so we route the septic tanks effluent through a progressively more aggressive series of 4 or ...
- 1,098
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Discovered old dry well or septic tank with muddy water - can I just fill it in?
My house has been on the sewer main for 30+ years (original house built 1959, at least three owners ago), but a hole opened up about ten feet from my foundation. Looking down, it's a round cavity, 4 ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
343
views
Why is my toilet bowl filling up?
It's been 4 months since we moved in to the newly constructed house and the septic tank is quite large (like 10 feet length, 6 feet depth and 8 feet width).
Water seems to be backing up in the toilet ...
- 145
14
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Is it safe to have a drain in the floor out to the septic tank with no trap?
I had a contractor add an additional bath. When we were planning out the project, he mentioned my lack of a water heater valve drain pan. Instead, he installed a drain directly into the septic line ...
- 323
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votes
1
answer
312
views
How to stop foul smell in toilet
My toilet always leaves some kind of foul smell not sure how it happens , all the toilets and septic tank has vent pipe too.
I personally checked my WC and it's properly attached with floor and it's ...
- 145
2
votes
1
answer
759
views
Does this septic tank have built in baffles?
I had a septic tank delivered and want to understand what needs to be done for the hookup (I'm not doing it myself, just want to be sure I understand the requirements).
I'd seen / read that you ...
- 247
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1
answer
128
views
Digging out septic lid but going through unexpected material
I bought this house with a septic system two months ago, and we had the septic system inspected, which left two clear dug-up areas in the lawn. I am digging up what I think is the inlet lid (closer to ...
- 99
1
vote
2
answers
98
views
Home condensation pump emptying into sewage pipe. Is this functionally okay?
I was looking at a house and noticed they had a condensation pump for a hot water heater going directly into one of the houses sewage pipes, which empties into the property's septic tank. See images ...
2
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How to proactively detect a clogged sewer drain pipe?
Is there a way to detect that a sewer drain pipe has clogged and is in the process of backing up? I'm not looking for a) advice like "don't put grease or tampons down the drain" or b) here ...
- 296
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3
answers
396
views
Sewer connection with lift pump, or septic tank?
My wife and I are considering a building lot.
The city ran a sewer line down the street in front of the lot early this spring, so connecting to the sewer is a possibility, but would require a lift ...
- 1,768