All Questions
Tagged with septic-tanks or septic
204 questions
6
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How should I interpret these septic system diagram markings?
We bought a house built in 1996 with a sand filter septic system. We got the following diagram of the system:
but it might as well be ancient runes to us.
Specific questions:
What does "D.F.S.B....
- 255
0
votes
0
answers
946
views
Garage drain isn't draining, how can I figure out where it ends?
My house is a 1977 ranch with double garage underneath and it has septic tanks. A round drain in the garage seems to go to the left as that's where the vacuum hose goes when I put it in the drain, but ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Is an air admittance valve suitable on a sewage ejector pump basin?
My contractor recently installed a sewage ejector pump for a new basement bathroom that will feed waste to a septic tank. The pump will be handling a toilet, shower, and two sinks. I have some ...
- 113
1
vote
0
answers
138
views
Septic PVC Collar Leaking - Surfacing Wastewater
Issue
I noticed a few days ago that the snow around my septic tank has been melting/iced. I didn't think much of it at first, because there wasn't much of an odor, and it was clear. However, after ...
- 185
1
vote
0
answers
144
views
Running a gas line to the garage
Hey guys I need to run a buried gas line from my house to the garage. Its about 60 ft run. It passes through my driveway (gravel). How deep am I supposed to burry it to be safe? What line should I buy?...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
922
views
Can salt water kill bacteria in septic tank
My septic tank has open bottom and as it's rainy season and the salt water from the ground (clay) is coming up to a foot, but I'm wondering whether it can kill all the bacteria (anaerobic, aerobic) ...
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
77
views
Can sludge in septic tank prevent water from draining into the ground
I am just wondering whether sludge that settles at the bottom of the septic tank can block the water from draining(discharging) into the ground.
If yes then what are the steps that we have to take to ...
- 127
1
vote
3
answers
429
views
Do I need buffer walls in septic tank
I studied somewhere that a septic tank should have 2 buffer walls so one side water enters and all the sludge settles down in first chamber and the water that overflows above the first buffer wall is ...
- 127
2
votes
1
answer
901
views
Can someone help me identify these rough-in pipes in my basement?
I recently purchased this home and am interested in figuring out what these pipes are for, if not a rough-in.
I have a 3" pipe coming from slab at exactly 13" from wall on center.
Then three ...
- 185
-3
votes
1
answer
102
views
Cement holding tank
I have a new 1000 gallon cement holding tank with no plumbing or drains hooked up yet I went to the property today and it is completely full of water. Is it broken? Thanks for any help.
0
votes
1
answer
579
views
Can open bottom septic tank weaken the building foundation
My building has a septic tank which is at the bottom of the groundfloor. Basically it's right underneath the building and it has open bottom.
I'm worried if this can weaken the soil (Clay ground) ...
- 127
2
votes
0
answers
257
views
Septic alarm went off. Pump running. Unknown valve in closed position. Is there DIY fix or tank needs to be drained?
Recently bought a home with septic system and alarm went off. I silenced it:
It seems it has been in continuous mode for at least last few months. First question - Is this the expected mode or should ...
- 524
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Brittle material flaking off in toilet
just moved into my first rural property which is on well and septic.
Today I noticed that the upstairs toilet had a weird flat object lying in the bowl that seemed to have come loose from flushing. I ...
- 43
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
How do I troubleshoot my Septic Tank Alert and replace the float switch?
While tracing some errant electrical current, I ended up in the big concrete riser above the septic tank. The electrical is in there, rather than outside on a pedestal as is normal now. There, I ...
user122950
1
vote
0
answers
74
views
Leach field absorption layer below trench
This is my first question here. I am in the process of designing a leach field. There is only a depth of 45cm (20") of soil (good perc test) after that another 20cm (8") of large stones in ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Water softener - safe to discharge into septic?
Is it okay to connect a water softener discharge so it goes to the regular drain which feeds to a septic system, or may it cause harm or impair the system?
It seems like online there are articles ...
- 750
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What should I do about accidentally penetrating a septic field line?
I'm buying a piece of property and recently did a perc test on it in order to find a suitable place for a septic system. The current owner of the property installed a septic system a few years back, ...
- 284
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Should I install a second septic tank or add a long run for an outbuilding?
We have a barn in which we want to install a flush toilet (for human use). It is 53' from the home's septic tank.
Would it be better to install a septic tank near the barn to service the toilet and ...
- 607
0
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Green grass streaks over septic tank field
I've noticed in my yard where the septic tank is that there are two rows of green streaks of grass going in a single direction for about 20 yards or so.
Is this a sign for concern or normal for a ...
- 63
0
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Septic system was designed for 3 bedrooms but we need 4, what are my options? [closed]
We're looking to build an in-law space and for it to be legal it has to have a bedroom, which means our septic is undersized. The town has our house listed as three bedrooms (It's actually already ...
- 505
0
votes
0
answers
427
views
Propane and septic pipes
Is it safe to have a propane line (within a PVC conduit) cross a septic pipe (house to septic tank) underground?
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Septic tank pumped 6 months ago, filter cleaned 2 weeks ago, toilet backing up again. Plumbing or septic problem?
I have a septic tank that was pumped out 6 months ago. The toilets started backing up and one was leaking from the base. I had plumber out, they snaked line to septic tank but said the tank needed ...
- 111
2
votes
2
answers
192
views
What is this pipe? It leaks when the sink runs
I have a pipe that is halfway under a door jamb and inside the concrete floor which when I run a the sink water is now coming out of it. This pipe is next to our AC blower unit inside the basement. I ...
- 175
1
vote
1
answer
379
views
Stacking septic leach fields
I am getting ready to build a house and the state code is 100 ft of leach field per bedroom. Due to the size of the lot I am limited to where I can place the house due to the leach field length code. ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
94
views
How to change waste pipe fitting with a small amount of male pipe to work with?
I'm adding a 4th bathroom to my home and need to update the waste pipe going to the septic tank from 3" to 4". The pipe coming out of the foundation immediately transitions from 4" to 3&...
- 61
0
votes
0
answers
114
views
Unknown wire in septic tank pump installation
I have a septic lift pump station. When I open the outdoor control box I find one wire-nut connection connecting the 12V 14-2 wire from indoor low voltage alarm box with wire to high level float that ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
77
views
Do I need an emergency septic pumping or to have pipes cleaned when toilets flood after cleaning filter?
I own a rental property with a septic tank built in 2010. There are about 5 people living there and it was last pumped out 18 months ago. Their toilets started flooding yesterday. I dug out the ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
606
views
well pump will not fill pressure tank
Just installed a Wayne WLS150 water sprinkler pump in addition to a 20 gallon pressure tank on our boat dock. The tank has a 40-60 pressure switch on it. Pump works well and pumps an enormous amount ...
2
votes
3
answers
28k
views
Purpose of septic vents both in the yard and also through the roof?
My house has both septic venting that goes up through the roof and also a vent in the yard. What is the need for the yard vent? Is this vent a requirement (code or otherwise)? A "best practice&...
- 5,635
0
votes
0
answers
37
views
Can a septic effluent filter be installed on a pumped system?
I have found only 4"+ and larger septic effluent filters, and they all are not rated for pressure or the flow rates of a pumped system. This leads me to believe that there are not effluent filters ...
- 879
1
vote
1
answer
299
views
Septic/Dry Well Question
Our graywater drywell, which handles our washing machine and sinks, has come to the end of its life and no longer drains. Our options as presented to us are: dig and install a new drywell (~$5k); run ...
- 113
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is it ok that the drain line for a septic system is above ground?
Looking to buy a property with mound septic. The pipe coming out of the house going into the mound is above ground. Is this ok? Would the pipe not freeze?
Thank you.
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Can open-bottom septic tanks get full?
Our house has one of those two-chambered standard (Philippines) open-bottom septic tanks. I think it's also called a cesspool.
I got into a discussion with someone on whether it can get full. Their ...
- 151
0
votes
1
answer
1k
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 ...
- 93
2
votes
2
answers
1k
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,...
- 327
-1
votes
1
answer
603
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
0
answers
3k
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, ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 1,098
3
votes
2
answers
138
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 ...
- 399
1
vote
1
answer
148
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. ...
- 11
3
votes
2
answers
2k
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 ...
- 177
1
vote
1
answer
1k
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 ...
- 334
0
votes
1
answer
513
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,...
- 6,923
0
votes
1
answer
491
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 ...
- 147
0
votes
3
answers
894
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 ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
109
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 ...
- 35
0
votes
1
answer
685
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 ...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
650
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 ...
- 133
0
votes
0
answers
69
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 ...
- 101
2
votes
1
answer
560
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 ...
