Questions tagged [septic]
Questions related to septic systems
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septic leak - what's leaking?
Over the past 3 months I've noticed some standing water in my yard. We had a lot of rain, so I thought it was just runoff from the surrounding area. However today I saw the water flowing and we haven'...
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2answers
47 views
Replace septic system before failure?
We're looking at getting some landscaping work done in the front yard to remedy some drainage issues. Two years ago we got an inspection of a septic system that is underneath the front yard done, and ...
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22 views
Can a septic dispersal field be too big?
When designing a septic dispersal field (via sub-surface dripline), can it be harmful for the field to be much larger than required? E.g. not getting enough wastewater through to keep the drippers ...
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1answer
13 views
Septic Tank System
We have a septic tank. About two years ago, after a hurricane, we had additional drain lines placed because of excessive water. Well, we had another hurricane and the tank was pumped. We were told ...
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1answer
67 views
Plumbing venting into apartment
I am a renter and my house often smells overbearing of sewers gas. I guess this is a two part question. The smell cures up from all the drains and I’ve made the landlord aware of this, she has not ...
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1answer
50 views
What is a “washing machine filter”?
I read an article on leach fields that recommended that a "washing machine filter" be used to prevent lint from getting into the septic system.
What is that? The portal for my washing machine ...
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1answer
55 views
Can flies get in the house from the septic tank?
I recently bought a house which is completely empty, no food or anything, but a constant source of dead house flies is found on the floors. How can they be getting in?
I checked all the windows and ...
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1answer
39 views
Can a septic system leach field be installed over clean fill?
First off, this is my first post here, so I apologize in advance if this isn't the right place to ask this. Please feel free to move it around and/or re-tag it if you think it fits better somewhere ...
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3answers
2k views
Is Liquid Plumr or Drano safe to use with a septic system?
Just as the title asks, is it safe to use products like Liquid Plumr or Drano in a Septic system?
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28 views
Septic line drop requirements - 100' too long of a run?
I'm installing a modular building on a piece of land I've purchased. The land is only 60' wide with trees lining the sides. For me to set the modular building and still have the ability to get around ...
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1answer
62 views
Should this Grasslin UWZ48-L hour counter in my septic pump box be rolling or ticking over?
Should this counter be moving forward if it is working properly? Would it tick 1 hour at a time (tick at the hour) or slowly roll forward minute by minute (slow roll)?
Background: My septic alarmed ...
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0answers
29 views
Septic Inspection Pipe crooked in field
Hope you can help maybe. Our Septic ( built 2009 ) is a mound system, but installed in a depressed area of the property so it doesn't really look like one. After the recent torrent of rain we've ...
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17 views
Septic system tile bed: Is there some means of keeping tree roots out of it?
I'd prefer to avoid felling nearby trees. Are barriers feasible solutions?
Thanks for considering the question.
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1answer
87 views
Why is all the plumbing draining slowly in my old farmhouse?
I have just purchased an old farm house that has a septic tank. The tub drains slowly and the toilet will not flush toilet paper or waste. The toilet will flush if you pour about a quart of water in ...
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0answers
37 views
Adequacy test on a septic system to sell house
Does any one out there know how to figure the adequacy test on a 1000 gal septic system? It's required here to sell your house. It's an engineer question but I don't know any.
I know you add water, ...
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1answer
661 views
My toilet won't flush when it's windy
I have a septic tank. When it's windy it won't flush. The bowl fills up and will slowly go down, but no complete flush.
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0answers
28 views
Septic issues? Septic pipe/bad thing?
My dogs dug a hole that kept filling with water, and smelled like sewer so I dug around and vacuumed it out some and now I'm stumped.. there is a little section that is hard and the rest is almost ...
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0answers
21 views
Starting over with the back lawn and tilling in vicinity of the septic system
My back yard has as many or more deeply rooted dandelion colonies as it does blades of actual grass. It also has a variety of other weeds, including those purple tops. Besides being one ...
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0answers
611 views
septic pump trips new gfci on dedicated circut
Its 2/5/20118 now and my septic pump on a brand new gfci trips the gfci---the new float switch does not by itself trip the gfci--the pump by it self or in combo with the flooat switch does trip--I ...
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1answer
1k views
Why is my toilet bubbling when other fixtures drain?
After having septic pumped out, main line professionally augered and installed a new efficient toilet, water in toilet still bubbles when other drains empty. When laundry water drained, some came up ...
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0answers
23 views
Septic vented into basement - newly smelly
It appears that the vent for gasses from our septic system, which I've learned through googling normally comes out of the roof, is instead just a 2 inch pipe extending two feet up from where the waste ...
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0answers
501 views
New septic tank + smell in house
We have recently had a new septic tank put in our house (about 3 months ago). 1 month after the works were complete, there started to be an overwhelming septic tank smell in the house. There is only ...
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3answers
2k views
Cesspool vs Septic system, what's the difference?
I own a home on Long Island, NY, which has an original block construction cesspool. These are known to collapse, and I'd like to replace it in the near future. I was given two options for replacement:
...
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1answer
44 views
What are “alternative absorption field products” and are they a good choice?
My county's application for a septic tank permit asks if I want to use "alternative absorption field products" instead of pipe and gravel. They won't make any recommendation of one type of absorption ...
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1answer
41 views
What are the factors in determining the cost of a septic system and what can I do to decrease it?
One of the biggest topics around building or homesteading in the country is the potential cost of a septic. Fundamentally I understand why good septic design is important for health and safety. i've ...
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2answers
374 views
What does it mean when a property listing says that the county denied for a “conventional” septic system [closed]
I'm interested in buying a plot of land and building something on it. I'll need plumbing and electricity on this plot of land and I think I found a perfect lot for sale, but one of the bits of ...
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0answers
1k views
Washing machine hose backing up and overflowing AFTER septic tank has been emptied
A few months ago, my washer started overflowing from the pvc pipe. A friend who's very well versed at plumbing cut the PVC pipe, snaked it and there was nothing blocking it. He pulled the cap off the ...
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0answers
151 views
old septic & aeration
I have an old septic and had it pumped out 27 yr ago. This is an old hand made tank concrete floor block walls concrete lid with a drain field that runs out about 35-40'. Once I had it pumped I ...
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0answers
47 views
How do I remove the septic effluent pump
I have an aerobic septic system. I need to remove the effluent pump that drives the sprinklers. It seems connected to the floor of the tank. After disconnecting the pipe union, I can rotate the stack ...
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1answer
779 views
Septic tank concrete flooring
Does septic tank need to have concrete flooring? If so, why? Will the concrete flooring affect the decomposition of waste?
Thanks!
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1answer
2k views
How often should our septic aerator run during a day?
Our vacation home has a pump on the septic and an aerator. Our electric bill seems high even when we are not there. How often should the aerator kick on?
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0answers
479 views
Sharing Waste Water Line to Septic with Washing Machine
I have an existing wastewater line that runs from my washing machine to my septic outside (I think-- I know I at least have a septic).
I'm interested in sharing this wastewater line with a reverse ...
0
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1answer
395 views
Why does the toilet keep running?
One of our two toilets keeps running (septic system); both toilets have black sediment (sand-like) in toilets and tanks and slightly gray water. The toilet closest to drain field keeps running (has 3-...
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1answer
53 views
What are some inexpensive DIY options for fixing a low water pressure condition in a toilet?
Low Water Pressure
We have a toilet that has very low-pressure flushing action. Is there anything that I can do other than calling in a professional? We've had a few people out to look at it and they ...
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2answers
2k views
Should I use an additive to my septic system?
I recently bought a house with a septic system. In researching maintenance for a septic system I am getting mixed messages about if I should be putting an additive (Rid-X or bakers yeast) down the ...
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1answer
631 views
Why does water rush through pipes when no water is being used?
We live in a house with city water, septic well, water softener and sump pump. We periodically hear a very loud sound of rushing water through pipes in the house. It lasts about 15 - 20 minutes. This ...
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1answer
59 views
Is it safe to plant shrubs or flowers in the soil above my septic tank?
I have a septic system that has a tank underneath my front lawn. This is an eye-sore as the access points are clearly visible to anyone coming down our driveway. I would like to plant some shrubs/...
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2answers
1k views
Plumbing and septic: bubbling and backing up
My mother lives in a two bedroom trailer with two full bathrooms. It's got a septic tank, but the toilets bubble and back up anytime she uses the dishwasher, washing machine or runs water in the sinks ...
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1answer
39 views
Sewer Line Installation [closed]
I am running a septic line from my mancave to the main 4" sewer line coming out of my house.
I want to splice into this line coming out of the house.
The total run is 60'; is this ok to do?
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2answers
164 views
Rebuilding a septic drain field
When rebuilding a drain field, is it imperative to dig individual trenches for each "tine" of the drain pipe "fork", or would it be possible to just dig one big hole to lay all the piping down. If I ...
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1answer
88 views
Septic problem!
We have an issue with our septic pipe I guess or something else. Our septic tank is in the backyard and we had that pumped not to long ago. The problem arises when we shower, run the dishwasher, or ...
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1answer
92 views
What is involved with a perk test?
We're looking at buying some land soon so we can build our little get away. I will have a perk test done at some point but was wondering what it involves? Is this something I could do on my own? I ...
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2answers
516 views
Installing washer/dryer combo in kitchen
Due to space constraints, I am planning to install 1 1/2 inch pvc piping through cabinetry to the sink tailpiece (with some type of tee) which will go straight down to the p-trap to the main kitchen ...
