Questions tagged [septic]

Questions related to septic systems

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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 ...
Amogam's user avatar
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1 vote
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35 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. ...
Amogam's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
521 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 ...
TheNextman's user avatar
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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 ...
John_Henry's user avatar
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33 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 ...
Zaitsev's user avatar
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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?
Sherry Yount's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
222 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 ...
swaarley's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
216 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 ...
Stephanie's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
73 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 ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
138 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 ...
Carl Boulianne's user avatar
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1 answer
140 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 ...
Dan Jansen's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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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 ...
user161671's user avatar
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2 answers
667 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.
j miralgia's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
85 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 ...
Amogam's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
47 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 ...
Alexander L. Belikoff's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
315 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 ...
Amogam's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
275 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 ...
Amogam's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
165 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....
Michael's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
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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 ...
Country Roads's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
425 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 ...
user227963's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
311 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 ...
Adammmmm's user avatar
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2 answers
176 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 ...
Amogam's user avatar
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14 votes
3 answers
4k 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 ...
Austin Seward's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
190 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 ...
Amogam's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
250 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 ...
user101289's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
85 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 ...
S'pht'Kr's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
74 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 ...
Tool Time Garry 's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
322 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 ...
DaveBurns's user avatar
  • 276
0 votes
3 answers
154 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 ...
spuck's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
2k 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....
crockeea's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
469 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 ...
Viki Ann's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
4k 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 ...
Rob Irwin's user avatar
  • 113
1 vote
0 answers
89 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 ...
JSess's user avatar
  • 187
1 vote
0 answers
117 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?...
Kevin Lay's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
393 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) ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
55 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 ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
208 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 ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
385 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 ...
JSess's user avatar
  • 187
-3 votes
1 answer
87 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.
Sam Vosburgh's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
310 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) ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
120 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 ...
user2138912's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
886 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 ...
btown's user avatar
  • 43
1 vote
2 answers
832 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 ...
WPNoviceCoder's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
41 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 ...
Maria Ellul's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
594 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 ...
g491's user avatar
  • 730
0 votes
1 answer
1k 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, ...
Gary Holiday's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
2k 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 ...
Bookaholic's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
2k 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 ...
Mike's user avatar
  • 63
0 votes
1 answer
2k 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 ...
Ryan Detzel's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
254 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?
Tim's user avatar
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