My company is very local, but does a great job. They even have a commercial on the local cable complete with singing, and dancing with plungers. Since they were here a couple of weeks ago, I did notice the people in the commercial were the same ones digging in my yard. Fortunately, they didn’t sing while handing me the bill.
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Hey, you could have missed talent!
Fat Bob, the Singing Plumber (at 6:00):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg5JBkYVJGk
After (only) forty years of living on a septic system, I learned something just yesterday … A friend of ours had the man over to empty the tank and got a lecture on the meaning of all the different layers and colours of sludge.
Turns out his wife has been on oral chemo for a very long time and it has not done his septic tank any favours.
They are trying overdoses of septic bacteria to see if they can wake it up again as the lady is off chemo for now.
Petey-Be nice to me or I’ll somehow find a way to send the link to the commercial. It’s hysterical. The company name is also Royal Flush-nope, not kidding. Because my bank card only posts the first two words of the name, I think the bank thought they were a gambling company, because the afternoon after the servicing charge cleared, the bank sent me a new card and number, because my card was ‘at risk’.
For septic, you shouldn’t dump chemicals down the drain, especially drain cleaners (don’t put that down any sewage or septic, my mother almost blew up our plumbing that way once, but it was only a small explosion), and bleach.
People have some interesting ideas about what you shouldn’t put down a drain without hurting the septic tank. A friend’s dad is really worried about salt hurting the septic tank. Personally, I think the worst thing you can do to any plumbing, either sewer or septic, is treat it like a garbage can. My father used to flush dental floss, and I bet you can guess how we found out about that issue. A friend worked his way through college by managing a lot of rental houses, and he told me some of the stuff people flushed, and it was stunning. Just because something says ‘disposible’ (spelling?) means some people think you can flush, instead of use a trash can.
I know this sounds odd, but I put cultured buttermilk down the drains once a month or so. After I touch up my hair color, I dump a quart then, to counter act the non-ammonia color-It’s probably not necessary, but I’m not taking any chances. I do the buttermilk drain treatment, because two different plumbers said it was a good idea, to help the tank bacterial cultures. It’s probably silly, but I do it anyway.
@Foxtrot’s: septic bacteria, really? (there is no such thing, except the naturally occurring kind-I’m sure you know what I mean). No, having chemo drugs certainly didn’t do the system any favours, but really, the best ‘bacteria’ for a system is time (not even JanM’s buttermilk); if it’s going to work, then only time will tell.
There actually is septic bacteria that they use to “eat” the sludge. It works best when used in conjunction with warm air added to the tank. This method did wonders for our system.
Then what you did, ctmon, was turn your septic tank into an aerobic treatment plant.
Septic tanks are, by definition, anaerobic, so the addition of air- warm, cold or otherwise- changes the composition. You don’t want to know where the sludge that was ‘eaten’ ended up, (hint: it’s not in your tank)
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I love my septic lagoon. Every once in a while it stinks, but you can’t miss where it is and do something dumb like put a pool on top of it.
I would start with the simple stuff first which is get the drains cleaned out or snaked, as even in my mom’s old house on the sewer there were problems with drain lines that would over time get deposits at certain intersections and eventually clog up. My mom ALWAYS had a problem at her houses with drains eventually clogging up out usually by the garage due to tree roots or something like that, and these were older homes on city sewer.
I personally get spectacular hair clogs in the shower because I have long hair and after a long enough period of time it will make a mat down into the P trap and really slow down that drain. I have to take things apart and hook it out.
So start there, then have your tank cleaned, and no do not dispose of your tampon applicators down the commode. We had our tank cleaned out and there were hundreds of plastic applicators in there. The tampons themselves had actually degraded, thank god, but those applicators were going nowhere except to clog up the pipes. We don’t put grease down the drain or certain TP and try to limit bleach and antibacterial products.
Please expand, since you are a septic professional, and I am just a home owner…Maybe I’m screwing it all up, I have no clue, I know nothing about septic systems. This is what I was told and it seems to have worked on a very small, very old system. It’s not the forever fix, but it seems to be working for now…what ele is going on that I don’t know about? Thanks for any insite.
Appreciate all the information posted - very helpful!
One last question for clarification :
Draino - bottle says it’s safe for all types of pipes and septic systems.
True or FALSE ??
- Is it a product that can be used for a slow bathroom sink drain / hair clog … once a year if on a septic system ?
Thank You
- adding and if it is False :eek: what if anything should be done after one made this mistake months ago ?
While it worked beautifully!
HAVE I RUINED MY SEPTIC SYSTEM ??!?!!!:eek:
fanfayre-I think they both told me about the buttermilk because they know people who know nothing about septic systems are worried about them. The buttermilk is probably totally harmless, and it makes me think I’m ‘helping’, but it doesn’t do anything to bother the natural process. It’s a way to have me occupied, but not worried. I’m very glad I had the tank serviced, and pumped, and know that everything is doing fine, since I’m getting ready to sell (I hope I am, but it might be a long process here).
Sorry about this but I have more questions. The problem hasn’t gotten worse but it hasn’t gone away either. I finally made the call to have the septic pumped. Here is the problem they won’t come unless I unearth the lid. How do I find the lid? They advised to use a metal rod and thump the ground listening for a hollow sound. Now it is 90 F, I have been thumping and digging to no avail. So here is the question: Is there a standard system as to how far from the house the tank would be, how far below would the tank be and would the lid’s position have any relation to the pipe leaving the house?
When we had it pumped 17 years ago DH was alive and looked after it. He and a friend had no problem finding the lid. Unfortunately I had not wanted to have anything to do with this and stayed in the house. That was not a good idea.
I always thought I could do anything any man could do but I sure wish I had one around now.
Our local health department keeps records of the tank’s location, with a sketch and measurements from the house or a landmark, from the initial perc test.
Of course, that might not work for a house built in 1850. Maybe they have some info from when the septic system was finally installed. Might be worth a call or visit.
Previous owners died 40 years ago. I doubt that I can find any records.
My septic service company charges a little more to locate the tank, but not very much. On my house, there are two clean out pipes, and the bigger one is where the tank is located, but with a system as old as the one you’re dealing with, it’s anyone’s guess at how and where the tank was buried.
Generally, the local health department, or county engineer’s office have records of where the tank and the system of drain lines were buried.
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What about the friend who helped your husband??? maybe he remembers where it is??
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You should be able to get a rough idea of the direction by where the pipes exit the house.
we just bought a house that was an estate sale and had no idea where the tank was. They poked around basically stabbing a heavy breaker bar around the yard. When we still could not find it he sent in a camera to see how many feet until a bend nd them how many more feet until the tank. Call around until you find a company who will do this.
how are you sure that what you have is an actual septic? If this was installed.over 40 years ago as you say, chances are it’s not a septic at all and rather a cess pool. If so (as we found out) It’s a game changer.
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Don’t give up!
40yrs is not that long for a County to have kept records.
While you might not get the exact info you need there, at least they s/b able to provide the name of the company that installed the system & (if still in business) they may be able to help.
Kinda mystified why the pumping company can’t help - they should have an idea of where the cap is generally located.
& {HUGS} for that feeling of Why Did I NOT Pay Attention!
TG my own DH had made hangtags with instructions for lighting the pilot on the furnace, or me & my tenants would have had a pretty cold 1st Winter w/o him.
I cried like a baby seeing his handwriting, but at least it helped me do what I had to.
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I know there is a tank because we had it drained before. I know it is the right pipe leaving the basement as I can see it coming from the bathroom and kitchen and going out the wall. When I called the pumping company they said they were very busy and it would be best if I found the lid. I will give it one more try with my metal rod and shovel, failing that I will call the septic company again, hopefully they are the same company that was here before and they will find the lid.
I think you were given good advice above. Call the town and see what they have. Your call will not be the strangest call they get. They can likely direct you to where to call if they do not have access to the right plans/maps at the number you called.
Can you see where the lines and such are in your grass? (Ours are greener where the leech lines are and a brown square where the septic tank and distribution boxes are.)
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