Newer septic system design, installation, maintenance & repair guide questions & answers:

Frequently-asked questions about installing, diagnosing, or repairing septic tanks & drainfields.

These septic system articles explain how to buy, inspect, install, test, diagnose maintain and repair septic tanks, drainfields, and all other components of all types of septic systems. Page top: a peat mound septic system in Two Harbors, MN.

Page top photo: settlement and rough sitework around a peat mound septic system in Two Harbors, Minnesota raised questions about the function and life of this installation.

Septic System FAQs #5

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[We're in process of editing and sorting the reader Q&A below - Ed. ]

 

We heard the house we're buying has no leach field. How do we inspect it?

Hi,
We are in the process of home buying. The inspection and septic inspection are coming up shortly.

We heard word of the property not having a leach field. What should we expect at the inspection? On 2018-07-05 by Anonymous

by (mod) - what to check when buying a home with a private septic system & septic tank

Anon

My best advice in more detail than I can re-type here is at HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Take a look and feel free to ask if any questions remain.

In general if your home has no working septic system (no drainffeld or leach field could mean that) you need to know that a properly-designed system can fit and be installed on the property - if not it may not be salable.

When we stop using a septic leachfield do we have to have the soil removed as toxic material?

My understanding is that when a leach field is taken out of service, the dirt/sand/gravel is considered toxic and must be disposed of accordingly if removed. How long does it take for it to lose it's toxicity and can be considered safe? On 2018-06-12 by John

Answer by (mod) - No, not normally

John,

In my experience your understanding is not correct. There's no regulation, color, or guideline that I have been able to find that suggests that when a leach field or drain field is abandoned that the soil has to be removed from the site.

Length of time for soil bacteria to completely process the remaining biomat pathogens could be anywhere from 3 to 20 years depending on the soil properties, moisture levels, and the biomat thickness and chemistry.

That does not mean at the site should be considered toxic. In fact if there's no sewage on the surface there's no reason to be concerned with normal use of such a property.

by John

Thanks for the info - I was not thinking that the soil had to be removed, but if it is, I have been told it is considered toxic.

I am interested in re-using the land in a manner that requires some excavation and so my concern is for the safety of doing so. It has not been an active leach field for 20 years so it sounds like I should be OK - does that sound right?

by (mod) -

I'd review this question with your local health officials. I'd expect they'd be ok with a bit of soil mixing on the existing property - at most you might need to top it with clean fill.

At a house I might buy, the septic system is under the garage floor - is this OK?

Recently looked at a home tp buy that has septic. Owner says it is under the concrete garage floor! Is this right? On 2018-05-27 Judy Keller

Answer by (mod) - not really

Judy

Most likely what you're being told is that the septic tank is under the garage floor not really the entire septic system - unless it's a cesspool.

I would expect this situation to show up at an older system which by age alone would raise questions about its capacity and its remaining life. I'm referring to both the septic tank and the drain field or absorption system.

Typically we find this when a garage was added to an existing structure. You're going to want to check for permits and approvals.

If it's a cesspool that's not likely to continue to be a functional system for a modern household.

If it's a septic tank, there could be safety issues with methane gas escaping into the building, as well as sanitation issues regarding accessing and cleaning the tank. There could also be tank collapse hazards given that you're parking over it unless the tank and garage floor were specifically designed to carry those loads.

In any case even if the installation was approved some time ago it's not likely to be approved by modern post. You can confirm that by checking with your building department.

In sum , you need an on-site expert inspection to tell you what is installed and what is its condition and what safety hazards are present

At a home I'm considering buying an abandoned septic tank is present: what should be done with it?

I am looking to buy a totally remodeled home located in Lake Ozark MO - Lake of the Ozarks.

There is literally an abandoned septic tank 6 feet from the front door. Home is now on city water and sewer. Should the owner have filled it in??? Since it wasn’t removed? This is the main concern I find with this home.

Do I need a separate septic inspection? I think the seller would have to fill it in for safety and health reasons.

I’m disabled and have many health issues including 3 autoimmune diseases. Concerned about the safety, smell, cave ins especially being disabled. Thank you for your time! On 2018-05-23 by Anita Ott

Answer by (mod) -

Anita

Check with your local building officials. Typically proper abandonment would have the tank filled-in.

If the system is not in use you don't need a "septic inspection" but your home inspector should certainly advise you of

- any apparent health and safety risks from the abandoned tank

- any signs of building water entry related to the tank's location close to the foundation

Watch out: an improperly-abandoned septic tank could risk a cave-in that could be dangerous or even fatal should someone fall in.

Details of what to do are

at SEPTIC TANK ABANDONMENT GUIDE

and safety warnings and examples of hazards from improperly abandoned septic tanks are

at SEPTIC TANK ACCIDENT REPORTS

What to do about a septic system not in use after a house fire

My house burned down and I won't be using the septic system until the house is rebuilt about 6 months from now. Live in NJ, have septic tank with two cesspools 60 feet away. Is there anything I should do? On 2012-02-04 by Jessica

Answer by (mod) - locate the septic after a house fire

Jessica,

We we sorry To read about your house fire and loss.

You might want to rope off the location of septic tank, piping, and drain field to keep anyon from driving over (and damaging) those components during reconstruction.

Also be sure the drain line into the septic tank is capped off to keep debris out of the lines.
A month or so before ready to return the system to use ( to give time if repairs are needed), pump the tank and have tank and baffles inspected for damage or trouble signs.

How to diagnose noises in a shared septic system

We share a septic system with approx. 8 other homes in a mobile home park. In July 2011 we started to experience the sound of the flushing of another toilet, like if you are do in a motel. At first it wasn't often but now it is quite frequent.

The water in our toilet does not move, we just hear the sound of another toilet being flushed.

Should we be concerned and we should get a plumber? I repeat, the water in our toilet does not move either in the tank or the toilet itself. We just hear the sound. On 2012-01-13 by RTermehr@yahoo.ca

Reply by (mod) -

R Termehr, because you are describing a change in how your home's plumbing & septic systems work and the appearance of a plumbing drain sound not heard before, it's worth tracking down the sound to its source to determine if it indicates a problem, such as with drainage or plumbing venting.

Under NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE (land inks found at the ARTICLE INDEX near the end of this page) you'll find a series of articles that will help track down the source of plumbing noise and that help diagnose the cause as well as recommending the cure for most plumbing drain & noise problems.

Start with

PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE

PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST

Let us know what you find - what you learn will help others.

Will the septic water always be within inches of the top of my septic tank?

I have a 1200 gallon tank that was installed new 6 years ago. It is taking care of a rented duplex unit (2 famly) I recently had it pumped out. When I looked into the tank I saw water and other things floating within aprox 4 inches from the top.

When I commented to the tank truck guy that it looks as though the tank was full and needed pumping out he said yes. When I mentioned to someone else that the tank was full I was told that the tank is always operating with the water up to within inches of the top of the tank.

So I ask you ifI remove the cover from the tank at anytime will the water level always be that high? Thank you in advance Bill On 2011-11-18 by william rebman

Answer by (mod) - normal levels of sewage that should be found in septic tanks

William:

We describe the normal levels of sewage that should be found in septic tanks in the article titled

• SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS

Remember that a normally operating septic tank is always full, right up to the level of the exit pipe that drains off effluent to the drainfield or soakaway bed.

Abnormally high sewage levels in the septic tank are any levels above the outlet pipe - indicating a blockage, clog, or flooded drainfield.

Abnormally low sewage levels are any level below the outlet pipe, usually indicating that the tank has a leak.

Exceptions to low levels include, of course, the period right after the septic tank has been pumped.

Depending on septic tank size and the level of its usage, number of building occupants, amount of wastewater sent daily into the septic tank, it can take a few days for it to refill after pumping.

Toilets bubble and spray water up when they're flushed

We have bubbles in our toilets that are spraying significant water up into the toilet. If the lid is not on the toilet the bathroom would be very wet.

We have a septic system that when pumped last year appeared to be working well even though it is 30 yrs old. Can you help? On 2011-10-06 by Barb

Reply by (mod) - drain blockage or septic field failure?

Barb,

If you mean that there is air bubbling back up in the toilet bowl then you have an air or possibly worse, sewer gas backing up through your house drain system from the septic tank.

To me that suggests that the septic tank outlet may also be blocked, the drainfield clogged, and the house drain-waste vent piping system is not handling air or gas backups.

Normally any gases backing up a drain waste vent pipe would be vented out through the vent piping system above the building roof.

I'd call a plumber to inspect the house vent piping and you'll need to check on the condition of the septic tank, its outlet piping, and for evidence of tank outlet clogging or blockage as well. Keep us posted; what you learn will help other readers.

Leaks appear at septic tank lid whenever we run water in the house

I have a septic tank that leaks out the lid whenever we use the water in the house. I had the tank pumped out in May.

The lid does have a broken out corner but it looks like it seals pretty good. Need direction.

I have used root killer thinking it could be a root issue in the drain field. On 2011-08-16 by Curt O

Explanation & advice by (mod) - I suspect a blocked septic line or a failed septic drainfield

Curt:

Watch out: If there is leakage out of the septic tank when you use water in the house your system is in trouble.

Normal sewage level in the tank is below the top of the septic tank - and effluent is intended to flow out of the tank into the drainfield.

So for effluent to flood out of the tank top, the tank is flooding, which in turn means the outlet from the tank must be blocked or the drainfield flooded.

Pumping the tank is good maintenance and it affords the pumper a chance to inspect the septic tank for damaged inlet or outlet baffles (intended to avoid clogging in the inlet our outlet piping) as well as for evidence of drainfield saturation such as abnormally high effluent levels in the tank. But pumping wont' fix the tank.

Root killer won't have caused this problem either, but roots sure could. Further investigation is needed.

See ROOT KILLERS in SEWER LINES or SEPTIC PIPES

...

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