think I smell a (ummm) rat ?

jb52761 · October 09, 2010, 06:37:58 AM

Try to keep this brief. Our septic system decided it doesn't want to work properly now. System isn't that old, I think installed 12 years ago. The old system on other side of house worked fine for 30 or so years before we had the cash to install newer, larger one. I think the drain lines, or leach lines are clogged because the top-water isn't draining out fast enough. So I pay this guy 125 buks to come pump it out so he could locate lines for inspection. First guy shows up, pumps, I pay him...he leaves. The second guy, The boss, shows up, looks around the area for a few minutes, and says that it won't work like this anymore and we need a new "green" system.....at a cost of 5 grand...HE DIDN'T EVEN INSPECT THE TANK, didn't look in the hole, didn't look for the lines, didn't check water level...what the hell?

? It's worked fine for 12 years, and how could he know it's CRAP now, without even looking..

diyfrank · October 09, 2010, 10:09:22 AM

Theirs no money in telling you all is fine.

October 09, 2010, 10:24:24 AM

They tried to get that to go through around here. We nearly had riots - they backed off but retained the right to do it in problem areas and some case by case incidents.

Was that the county guy? Hard to DIY without problems if they are involved- or was it the septic pumper trying to make business for himself. You still have a problem but may not need to direct the cash his way.

You just need it pumped to get the solids out then a new leach line put in. Possibly you could propose just a new leach line and to imoprove it you could put an effluent filter on at the start of the leach line - it would prevent plugging the new one as fast and help you too.

glenn kangiser · October 09, 2010, 10:28:02 AM

We did have one at our rental that the leach field was ok, but tree roots had grown in and completely clogged the start of the leach line - clear into the D box. You could look for that.

rick91351 · October 09, 2010, 11:53:08 AM

I have a couple questions.

One has there been an expansion in your household? Have you let in any house guests or family came to visit for more than just a few days?

If some one new is in the house you can have a system that is fine for two or three people. It just sets there fine day in and day out. Now add three or four more because they were foreclosed on and now at your house. Or the classic funeral and everyone come to the house and guess what the septic is over run. Then you do have problems. Best fix - pump the tank reduce amount of water used and let the drain field sort of catchup and it might come back.

When was the last time your septic tank pumped? Pump it every three to four years. If there is a lot of people more times that that.

If there is a real problem, then walking around the area is bogus, he might as well lit incense, killed a chicken and sprinkled the blood and chanted. He needed to check the baffle and the out flow. He is bogus and out after a quick buck no make that large bucks and if I were you I would never ask him back.

October 09, 2010, 12:12:24 PM

Isn't the standard test a dye test? Is the water coming out of the ground? I'm a little confused as to why it won't work. Can you still connect to the old system?

glenn kangiser · October 09, 2010, 12:50:48 PM

Lots of rain or excessive yard watering over the drain field could cause problems too.

The problem is that as it overflows more and more crap goes into the leach lines plugging the system and permanently blocking it off. There is a cleaner that will work - it is basically a very strong sulfuric acid - that will eat the organics out of the drsain field - maybe - best to put it into the second half of the septic tank so it goes right out to the field. A gallon of it is around $30 or more and is very heavy for its size.

Don't bother fooling with any other kind of septic treatment - enzymes - powder etc. We had one of them plug up our system - did no good.

jbos333 · October 09, 2010, 05:19:34 PM

A friend purchased a house a while back that had septic issues. There was money set aside for a new system in the deal. So, we had a few beers one day and investigated, starting with pumping the tank, checking for filter blockage, etc. Then hand dug between tank and distribution box. Found someone had joined 2 pieces of pipe with a "fernco" type rubber coupler at some point the pipes shifted and pinched off the coupler, maybe from frost heave? So straightened out that situation and all was fine! Cost about a case of beer.

jb52761 · October 10, 2010, 07:02:50 AM

Thanks folks...the world is a better place because of you all...

. The guy was the boss of a septic specialist company, not county....I'm still sittin here thinkin that I must have looked really stupid, or really desperate for him to throw that at me without even physically looking at anything...yes, we did have an extra person staying here for two weeks just prior to the start of the problem...but have had company before and this has never happened..I am going to contact a few more businesses to come out, try to get a video inspection of the lines first thing...that might provide at least a starting point...funny, that first guy said thats what he was going to do...