Septic / Drain Field issues

[SALIV8]

Septic fields can sometimes develop an impermiable layer, kinda like jello, that the water can't penetrate into the soil below. Happened to us over a decade ago. Thought we were going to have to replace our field 15 year old field.
A neighbor suggested a company called Septic Medic. Their guy came over, marked the edges of the field by sinking a long pole into the yard, feeling for the gravel bed. Then he walked to the center, sunk the long pole again, and all you could hear was glug, glug, glug, glug, glug.
All the water trapped above the impermiable layer drained into that single hole punched by the pole into the sand below, confirming the existence of the jello layer. He came back later with a big portable air compressor, connected to the same pole by a flexible hose. He sunk the pole on a 1foot by1foot grid and blasted a shot of air pulverizing the jello layer. Then he connected an aeration pump (kinda like a big aquarium pump) to the second stage of the septic tank which injects oxygen into the slurry, further cleaning the water before it distributes into field.
The septic field has not given us any trouble since, and it's been another 12 or 14 years since.
Cost us $3000 instead of $10,000, with no tear up to the yard and irrigation system, etc.
A phone call might save you big bucks.
You're welcome.

Never heard of this option. Thanks.

 

[DOUGD]

We lived with a very marginal leach line septic system for many years in Texas black clay. Our last back up was actually caused by a broken line between the house and the first tank. The broken line was drastically slowing down the flow to the tank causing backups. Check it out, easy fix if that is your problem.

 

[cantupshift]

As others have said no fabric softener, a lot of detergents have it included, buy it without and use dryer sheets instead.

Check your labels to make sure the soaps that you are using are in fact septic safe.

 

[TractorJeff]

40 years is a LONG time for a Septic system Leach Field!
Big Trees in the area probably means Root intrusion.
1 load of Laundry per day? That's way too much water for an ancient system!
1 thing I found is the pipe going out to Distribution box of very tends to reduce in diameter due to Grease and various Soaps until it is plugged almost Solid!
If it was me I would dig up the far ends of the Laterals, rent a big Plumbers Auger 100 feet of 1/2 inch with a root cutter and a bore drill. Run the Root Cutter up the Laterals to reduce the Roots. When you encounter reduced diameter pipe, then put the tapered Bore Drill on to enlarge the pipe.
Do this right after you have the Tank pumped to reduce the water you may be working in!

 

[Bretny]

Water useage dosnt matter on tank pump interval. Basicly the only reason you pump your tank is because solids are built up. The water in the tank should always be at the output level. Water is removed by the leachfield. So useing less water wont do anything for a tank thst filling quick. Useing less water will help for a failing leachfield.

 

[Bretny]

Also in the original post you say it backed up. Where is it backing up? Crushed pipes or semi clogged pipes can make things back up.

 

[mikec35]

Also in the original post you say it backed up. Where is it backing up? Crushed pipes or semi clogged pipes can make things back up.

The toilet on the bottom floor started bubbling as the washing machine was draining water. I went outside to the cleanout that is a few feet from the septic tank inlet and pulled the cover off and saw where water was halfway up the cleanout pipe. It never did backup in the house. There is a shower near the lowest level toilet which I assume would back up first if I had an actual backup. We drastically reduced our usage and haven't had an issue since it originally occurred. At this point we will continue to monitor our usage and watch the system to determine how much water we can use. Having city water for 51 years, this is my first Septic System. I never worried about doing all the laundry in one day, taking multiple showers, not using bleach, not worrying about if I used too much laundry soap or toilet paper. I think after watching this system work I've determined that I just have a slow draining system. What I don't understand is how come I don't have any depressions or noticeably greener areas in my yard, wonder if it's just been a slow draining system for years? I don't know if it's the original 40 year old setup or if it has been redone. Nothing heavy has been in my front yard that could have crushed the pipes, at least not during my ownership.

 

[casmurbax]

From what you described I believe your leach field and/or distribution box have been compromised. They could have been compromised if your baffle on your septic tank broke and the solids moved into the leach field and subsequently plugged the lines.

The only way you will now for sure is to locate your distribution box. Once you locate your distribution box and uncover that will you be able to determine what happened that it is making your slow draining.

You really should not have to make do or change the way you do things, sooner or later those pipe(s) will close up and it will be backing up into your home.

If that system is over 40 years old time for new system.

I grew up in a house of 6, 3 full bathrooms, washer machine, dish washer going constantly we never had an issue. At the first sign of a problem, like you are describing, my dad had a new system installed.

 

[steveo1o9]

Water useage dosnt matter on tank pump interval. Basicly the only reason you pump your tank is because solids are built up. The water in the tank should always be at the output level. Water is removed by the leachfield. So useing less water wont do anything for a tank thst filling quick. Useing less water will help for a failing leachfield.

Too much water all at once can wash solids from the tank to the leach field. But yes you are correct tank level should never change, unless you are using an absurd amount of water that is probably not the issue. Most septic systems are designed for a demand of 150-300 gallons of water per day per bedroom (varies by jurisdiction), which is astronomical.

 

[Bretny]

What your explaining is what happened to me when the pipe from the house to tank was half clogged. You should get the pipes snaked and inspected with a camera before you go getting the tank pumped again.

 

[Kenstone1]

OP
I suggest you read up on Orangeburg pipe, it's what was most likely used for the leach fields 40+ years ago.
It's some pretty lame stuff made of "bituminous fiber", the "fiber" being old newspaper and the "bituminous" being tar.

It was replaced with ABS in the 1970's
Easy to check what you have...
https://www.bing.com/search?q=orang...355F9A52D445DE9E869D5A5B4713C2&FORM=QBRE&sp=1

 

[mikec35]

If my leach field was working correctly wouldn't I see greener grass over the area?

 

[larry4406]

If my leach field was working correctly wouldn't I see greener grass over the area?

I think it depends on the design. Some of the older systems were installed rather deep and the “nutrients” don’t always migrate to the surface to promote lush growth. The system that was installed at my house about 6 years ago has the leach lines rather shallow at something like 18-24” down. I can clearly see the affect on the grass showing where the lines are. In my case I think the soil condition drove this dispersal method.

The aerobic systems that were installed at some of our new construction homes had a single linear trench arranged in a serpentine manner and were 6’ deep. Can’t see any striations in the grass.

 

[sjvicker]

What your explaining is what happened to me when the pipe from the house to tank was half clogged. You should get the pipes snaked and inspected with a camera before you go getting the tank pumped again.

We had the same issue.

When we bought the house it was a foreclosure listed as connected to sewer so we called the sewer company up and started paying the monthly bill. About 5 years later it backed up into our basement so we called for a snake to clear the clog. Snake didn't work so we had the clog scoped and marked outside. Next day we dug out the pipe and found the clog just outside the house. The pipe was old concrete so it kept crumbling and wouldn't give us enough meat to put in a patch pipe and sure enough as we kept digging we found a septic tank.

There was a huge rhododendron on the lid so it was probably 15 years since it was pumped last.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Bretny]

If my leach field was working correctly wouldn't I see greener grass over the area?

No. A more green area can happen but mostlikely wont. Water flows down not us.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Never heard of this option. Thanks.

I've heard the process called two names, "soil fracturing" is one, can't remember the other.

Google "soil fracturing for septic", and "pneumatic soil fracturing".

Worked great for me.

 

[recountryman]

The toilet on the bottom floor started bubbling as the washing machine was draining water.

Noticed you said it was bubbling...sure you don't have a venting issue? Also does this also happens after a lots of rain? Do you have a filter on the outlet of septic tank?

 

[Jackfre]

Years ago I was in Japan on business and the hotel had Toto Washlet Toilet Seats. I was stunned and amazed at the comfort and good sense of these products and upon returning home installed one in our home. The toilet seat is heated. Seems a small thing but consider it as you place your *** on a cold seat next time. Upon completion of your business it will wash your posterior for you and then has a blow dry function. The dryer doesn't work very well, but I end up using no more than four squares of tp to dry. These things are catching on and especially for septic owners, really good for the systems.