epoxy for septic tank?

[sky jumper]

a bit off topic, but figure you folks know a thing or two about epoxy concrete coatings. I have to replace my 27yr old septic tank due to corrosion from the caustic sewer gasses. I'd like to get inside the new one and coat it with epoxy or polycuramine to help prevent corrosion going forward.

do you think this would help protect the concrete? what would be better epoxy or polycuramine?

 

[Jazz1]

a bit off topic, but figure you folks know a thing or two about epoxy concrete coatings. I have to replace my 27yr old septic tank due to corrosion from the caustic sewer gasses. I'd like to get inside the new one and coat it with epoxy or polycuramine to help prevent corrosion going forward.

do you think this would help protect the concrete? what would be better epoxy or polycuramine?

Buy a plastic septic tank would be my choice

 

[JRC3]

Maybe concrete is required in his location.

I think I'd talk to the company who made the tank and ask. That and the inspector. Ask your septic pumper and see what they say.

I'd also be looking at what shortened the old tank's life. Like...

• Is A/C condensate being put in there?
• What is the pH of your source water?
• Do you use excessive vinegar for cleaning?
• What are you using in your toilets and laundry and other cleaning products?
• Does your water softener backwash to the septic?
• What else???

 

[sky jumper]

ya know I asked about platic but the guy didn't want to do it. he claims they cause more problems (shifting around in the hole, distortion in shape, etc). I might push a little harder on the plastic option as I do think it would make more sense. This is the 2nd tank in a 2-tank set up. the first tank is fine. I guess its the 2nd tank that gets all the corrosive gasses.

as for the water. the AC and water softener go out the landscape (via sump pump). our raw water report is attached. not sure if there's anything in there that would cause a tank to fall apart?

aside from that we use regular tide laundry soap, etc. nothing unusual.

 

[Andamo]

That's a pretty hostile environment inside septic tanks and I think you're better off just replacing the tank and in 27 more years, replace it again. I don't think any coating, short of something expensive, is going to help for very long. Maybe leave some sort of access to the second tank and add lime occasionally.

 

[Kaizen]

ya know I asked about platic but the guy didn't want to do it. he claims they cause more problems (shifting around in the hole, distortion in shape, etc). I might push a little harder on the plastic option as I do think it would make more sense. This is the 2nd tank in a 2-tank set up. the first tank is fine. I guess its the 2nd tank that gets all the corrosive gasses.

as for the water. the AC and water softener go out the landscape (via sump pump). our raw water report is attached. not sure if there's anything in there that would cause a tank to fall apart?

aside from that we use regular tide laundry soap, etc. nothing unusual.

I've never dealt with this but i would guess the plastic tank requires better soil compaction and back fill methods which would be more work for him. can't imagine they would ever be approved if there were a lot of problems with the design.

 

[Randy in Maine]

Did the 27 year old tank just disintegrate or did the concrete outlet baffle fall to the bottom of the tank?

 

[Jazz1]

I only ever built one septic tank,,,40 years ago ....We added a product( looked like jug of White Lepages glue) to the cement that was supposed to seal the cement. It would be interesting to see what new products the industry is adding to cement or are they using a lining similarly to what is used on exterior of foundations

There was a company altering plastic septic tanks into ice fishing huts up here. Very light to tow.

 

[CarBikeGuy70]

Go with a plastic tank and never look back. Installation is simple. Once you have the right size hole for placement use a bed of sand under tank with pea stone around the sides and top. The stone will compact around the tank you are good for years (and a lot of years I should add). The plastic tank is cheaper, easier and quicker to install, and lasts longer than any precast(concrete) tank. I recently spoke with the sanitarian at the local health district who issues permits for septic systems and he endorsed the plastic tank idea in a heartbeat.

 

[sky jumper]

Did the 27 year old tank just disintegrate or did the concrete outlet baffle fall to the bottom of the tank?

above the water line there's a ring of corrosion. the top has mutliple large cracks. the sides are almost corroded through (above water line). the back wall has a hole you can put your fist right through it. the baffle is gone. I did dig down and patch the hole at the back side with hydraulic cement and installed a filter/pvc baffle. it works fine and it would probably last another 5 years. but I'm in the finishing stages of a massive garage build and once the area is landscaped/fenced it will be very difficult to get a backhoe back there to put a new tank in. so I'd rather just deal with it now and not have to destroy $10k of landscaping/trees/fencing/lawn/basketball hoop, etc in 10 years when it finally collapses.

the septic tank sits between the new garage and the house, in the back as in the photo. the only way to access it is to go around the new garage. in retrospect i probably should've left more space between the 2 buildings for septic work.

 

[like2wheel]

Go with a plastic tank and never look back. Installation is simple. Once you have the right size hole for placement use a bed of sand under tank with pea stone around the sides and top. The stone will compact around the tank you are good for years (and a lot of years I should add). The plastic tank is cheaper, easier and quicker to install, and lasts longer than any precast(concrete) tank. I recently spoke with the sanitarian at the local health district who issues permits for septic systems and he endorsed the plastic tank idea in a heartbeat.

Any extra concern about weight on top of a plastic tank?

 

[JRC3]

Any extra concern about weight on top of a plastic tank?

Weight from what? A riding mower at the most. Or a fat wife?

 

[like2wheel]

Weight from what? A riding mower at the most. Or a fat wife?

Some people own these things called "tractors".

Some are heavyish.

I happen to own a small one but not being familiar with plastic septic tanks, I thought it might be a reasonable question .







.

 

[JRC3]

Some people own these things called "tractors".

Some are heavyish.

I happen to own one & not being familiar with plastic septic tanks, I thought it might be a reasonable question .
.

I have a cast septic tank. No way in Hell I'd drive a 3K+ pound tractor over it. Pretty sure it's easy enough to avoid that 75 square feet with a vehicle larger than a riding mower. Especially if it has proper risers...And most plastic tanks do.

I also don't drive a vehicle over my drain field. I'd suggest not driving anything heavier than 1000 pounds over it.

Who knows...Maybe a tractor has been driven over the OP's tank and caused the damage.

 

[RADcustom]

What size tank is it?
What type of soil do you have?

Heavy clay content will mis-shape a plastic tank with expansion and contraction as the seasons change.

It sounds like the tank had poor quality concrete to start with considering the first tank is exposed to the same water and the solid waste and shows no deterioration.

 

[Tpsykes]

Check out novolac epoxies

 

[Jeepster04]

This is certainly a new to me thing. Had no idea anyone had ever needed to replace a concrete septic tank.

My parents thankfully recently went on city. Their tank was evidently damaged when the driveway was paved before they purchased the house. The tank wouldn't hold any liquid, it all ran over the hill. The tank was/is under the driveway........................ Thats correct................