Anybody use septic tanks?

[ryoder 1,590]

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By the way, as someone else posted, the tank was not full of our crap, it was already screwed up when we bought the house four years earlier and took that long to get critical.

Something similar happened to a co-worker. He bought a new house as a vacation place up near Breckenridge, and after several years he realized he was wasting too much money considering he only used it occasionally, so he put it up for sale.

Shortly after closing, the buyer came back yelling that the septic system was backing up, so my co-worker agreed to pay to have it pumped. Upon attempting to pump it. the workers discovered that the tank was collapsed, and apparently that had happened when the place was built.

I don't know how much my co-worker had to pay to resolve the mess, but I understand it was too late to go after the builder who screwed it up.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Misternatural 0]

Yep you're on the right track getting it pumped and inspected- Tanks are normally installed at least 8 feet from a foundation, at least that's code around here-and the cover is in the center of the tank about three of four feet from the edge. Hope it's concrete or plastic and not metal...dig carefully we don't want to read about a catastrophe with you and your crapper tank Billy..

unless there's video

if unsure let the septic company dig it....they have insurance for cave ins.

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[jimp 1]

We've used this over the past 20 years:

http://www.septicsystemhelp.com/?gclid=CNCF6sSu-JgCFRFWagodK1Amnw

[DanG 1]

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If I wanted to add shit-eating bacteria to the septic tank, is there a product I can buy and just flush it down the toilet?

The septic guys told us that the best shit eating stuff is already in your gut. In other words, just poop away and the only enzymes you need come preinstalled, so to speak. Of course, there are a thousand products on the market to help "jump start" your septic system. Our plumbers told us they were all crap (pun intended). I'd just get whatever your septic people recommend. Roto-Rooter has their own product. One Roto-Rooter guy said to use it, another said not to. What's a poor shitter like me to do?

And we had a bitch of a time finding our tank. Our old house was built in the forties with no indoor plumbing, and then added on to over time. Our tank and leech field ended up being in the front yard. One thing to look for is trees planted close to the lines (especially the line to the tank, or the line between the tank and distribution box). If someone's planted a tree near those lines, the roots can lead to a break and/or clog.

Good luck.

- Dan G

[steve1 5]

I've heard that drain fields aren't expected to last much over thirty years or so. I'm not sure if that is true or not. I've been pumping our septic tank out every ten years or so. Maybe it isn't needed. Our septic system is about 30 years old. It still works fine. You flush the toilet and it all goes down.

When I worked as a plumbers apprentice....I was told there is two important things to remember in that profession. One is shit flows down hill. Two is that payday is on Friday. That is about all I can remember from way back then.

[monkycndo 0]

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.I was told there is two important things to remember in that profession. One is shit flows down hill. Two is that payday is on Friday. That is about all I can remember from way back then.

I was taught three things. Your two plus, don't chew your fingernails.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[cliffwhite 0]

***Your two plus, don't chew your fingernails. ***

Also, hot goes on the left and the boss is an asshole.

Blues,
Cliff

2muchTruth

[keithbar 1]

iirc most concrete tanks have a piece of metal immbeded in the lid so you can find the center of the lid with a metal detector.

i have on occasion been accused of pulling low . My response. Naw I wasn't low I'm just such a big guy I look closer than I really am .

[CSpenceFLY 1]

They should have metal eyelets and rebar in them

[Gary73 10]

Had all kinds of problems with the tank at my first house, then started using Rid-X and never had a problem after that. If everything seems to be fine, use half as much, half as often as they recommend and it'll stay fine. FFI:
http://www.rid-x.com/faq.shtml

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

[Misternatural 0]

a piece of metal immbeded in the lid so you can find the center of the lid with a metal detector.


yep that works too.

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[steve1 5]

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a piece of metal immbeded in the lid so you can find the center of the lid with a metal detector.


yep that works too.

I heard of one guy driving a piece of rebar down with a hammer in various spots till he hit concrete. This would work if it isn't too deep. My tank is only about a foot below the surface. You'd think the sewer line would freeze up. No problems so far. It's been thirty years, and I live in Montana. The metal detector sounds like the best way to find a tank....

[cliffwhite 0]

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My tank is only about a foot below the surface. You'd think the sewer line would freeze up.

provided a 4 inch waste line that isn't clogged and is draining properly, there is not much chance of freezing.
See! I know my shit!

Blues,
Cliff

2muchTruth