Questions tagged [septic]
Questions related to septic systems
122
questions
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Sink Smell and Slimy P-Trap
I have a sink which emits an odor from the drain. I checked the p-trap and there was a pretty nasty buildup of black slime in it. I'm cleaning that out, but find it strange that just this one drain ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Toilet clogged with paper cat litter
Here's a very related question but seems to be about clay litter: Flushed cat litter, maybe clogged?
I flushed paper cat litter down my toilet. I have been doing this for 5 years without any problems,...
-1
votes
1answer
63 views
Washer and toilet water backing up into shower. Can't change plumbing. What can I do?
Renting a tear down, landlord does next to nothing, house will be torn down. Water drainage from house is not working, also not going to be redone.
So the problem is drainage for 3 showers 4 toilets ...
0
votes
0answers
61 views
My septic works fine, but I have wet spots
So, I have had 2 septic companies inspect our septic system. One pumped all the water out of the lines and dropped a camera in. Everything is working perfectly. We have saturation on our lawn. So, ...
0
votes
2answers
63 views
Are there ways to minimize the area of my septic leach field?
We have a working septic system that we have no complaints about.
However, we'd like to add a guesthouse and more bedrooms and that requires expanding the septic system.
I am happy to do this and ...
1
vote
2answers
74 views
Grey water tank issues
I just finished installing a new Grey Water Pit (4’deep, 4’wide & 32’long). 4” perforated PVC runs down the middle of pit to 8” off the bottom & tees out in both directions 16’. Then filled ...
1
vote
1answer
96 views
Did I flood my septic system?
New leach pit was put in 4 months ago. The system hasn’t been used at all since then due to renovation. Yesterday however, one of the faucets was accidentally left on for about 16 hours at full blast. ...
3
votes
2answers
105 views
Does anyone know what this material is in my septic system?
These photos are of my sewage system and were taken at an inspection point right outside my house.
I have had this issue for years and I don't know what the material is. I have tried changing ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
Foundation flooding caused by new septic line
We've been living in our house for 10 years, and a few years after moving in our sewer line began backing up every 6 months or so. Each time, we'd have to pay a plumber to come in a "roto root" or ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
Cool down wastewater from dishwasher
I am planning to install a high power dish washer. This dishwasher runs hot and the water is heated to 180 degrees during the wash cycle. One potential problem with this is that I have a septic system,...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Ejector Tank Safe Cleaning Additives
Wondering if there are any suggestions for a safe additive that can be flushed into a sewage ejector tank that can help break down waste (even toilet paper). Getting some awful foul smells - going to ...
0
votes
3answers
112 views
Grout and/or thinset flushed in septic system
All.
My contractor is awful. If we weren't almost done with the project, I would kick him off my property and sue him.
Anyway, it appears that he dumped excess thinset or grout into my basement ...
0
votes
3answers
96 views
How do I stop water from building up in toilets and bathtubs?
Today, I awoke to water on my bathroom floor. What caused it?
My house has a septic tank and two bathrooms, a master bedroom and guest bathroom.
The guest bathroom had water on the floor, and the ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Toilet gurgling/ bubbling and backing up on septic
OK...had my cleanouts inspected and cleared and septic pumped....all fine. So, it has to be from the septic to the drain fields. Have a probe and know where my line is from the septic the fields and ...
2
votes
2answers
172 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
31 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
How can I remedy a septic system that is sometimes below the surrounding water level?
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
116 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
67 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
547 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
115 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
8k 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?
1
vote
0answers
35 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
129 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
45 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
97 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
70 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, ...
1
vote
1answer
1k 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.
0
votes
0answers
1k 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
3k 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
39 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
844 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 ...
0
votes
3answers
6k 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:
...
0
votes
1answer
95 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
53 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
683 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 ...
1
vote
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
65 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
1k 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!
2
votes
1answer
6k 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?
0
votes
1answer
471 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-...
1
vote
1answer
59 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
5k 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
875 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 ...
