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Peat mound septic system, Two Harbors MN, (C) Daniel Friedman Septic Systems

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This page provides an index to key articles about septic system design, installation, maintenance & repair.

We include step by step procedures explaining how to install, inspect, troubleshoot & repair septic tanks & drainfields or soakbeds.

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.

We discuss how septic systems work, and how to provide septic system care to avoid replacing the septic system unnecessarily.

We provide septic cleaning and septic maintenance procedures, septic inspection methods, septic repair guides, and septic system design information. Page top: a peat mound septic system in Two Harbors, MN.

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- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Septic Systems - ST/SAS Septic Tanks & Soil Absorption Systems

Photograph of a conventional septic tank during installation.Installation, inspection, diagnosis, maintenance & repair

Here we give in-depth information about conventional septic tanks, septic digesters, drain fields, soakaway beds, reed beds, seepage pits, cesspools, drywells, soakpits, and also septic pipes, and septic waste handling.

We describe and explain the need for and how to install alternative septic system designs for problem sites where the need is to save water or where it is difficult to dispose of septic waste.

We include tables for septic tanks: pumping frequency, septic tank size, septic tank design, and clearances between septic systems, wells, and other site features and boundaries.

This page organizes and links to our detailed septic system inspection, test, repair, and design articles, including our online septic systems book.

Septic testing class presentations, septic system photos, septic system design sketches, septic care tables, links to products and consultants are provided.

"How-To" articles at our Septic System Information Website are in these groups (these links are also at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article).

Shown above: a building main drain has just been connected to a concrete septic tank that has not yet been covered with backfill. [Click to enlarge any image]

To find what you need quickly, if you don't want to scroll through this index, you are welcome to use the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX to search InspectApedia for specific articles and information.

  1. SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS

    Septic maintenance and septic care instructions for home owners and home buyers; steps to take when buying a home with a septic tank and septic fields, and basics septic system information about:

    Septic soil & percolation tests, septic tank size, septic tank depth, septic tank tees, filters, graywater, clearances for septic system to other site features, drainfield size, drainfield shape, tank pumping frequency, tank pumping procedure, tank repair, septic treatments & chemicals, steep slope systems.
  2. SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES

    Septic system designs, designers, suppliers & products for Aerobic, Alternating Bed, Biogas, Cesspools, Disinfection, Drywells, Evaporation-Transpiration, Filters, Fixed-Film, Gravelless, Greywater, Lagoon, Latrines, Media Filter, Mound, Outhouses, Pressure dosing, Raised Bed, Sand Bed, Sequencing Batch Reactor, sewage treatment, toilet alternatives, Vegetative Submerged Bed, wastewater treatment, & wetland septic systems.
  3. SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN & INSTALLATION

    Articles on how to design & install an on-site private wastewater treatment system, that is, in normal talk: a septic system.
  4. SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TESTING

    How to find and diagnose septic system problems.
  5. SEPTIC SYSTEM MAINTENANCE & REPAIR

    Septic system care, maintenance, repair or replacement procedures and products.
  6. SEPTIC SYSTEM & PRODUCT SUPPLIERS

    Lists of suppliers and repair experts for septic systems - where to buy septic system parts.
  7. SEPTIC SYSTEM VIDEOS

    "How to" videos describe how to find the septic tank, how to find the drainfield, dealing with septic pump alarms, and other septic system inspection, maintenance, and repair tutorials in short videos hosted at You Tube.
  8. SEPTIC TANK FAQs

    Frequently asked questions about septic tanks.
  9. Free Online Septic System Inspection Class Notes

    Septic System Design Types, Inspection, Diagnosis, Safety - Power Point presentation Handouts - NY Metro ASHI Seminar, White Plains NY, 11 Sept. 2010(PDF File © 2010 Daniel Friedman). - Class text & references - NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 66 Hale Ave., White Plains NY 10601, 11 Sept. 2010 text and refrerences for that seminar. (PDF File © 2010 Daniel Friedman).

    Also see Septic System Inspection Class original draft - generously provided by ASHI inspector Victor Faggella.

Photograph of a seepage pit collection at the factory

We discuss just about every septic system topic and product at this website: septic tank and septic system drainfield or soakaway bed design, septic tank size, septic tank pumping frequency, septic tank cleaning, and septic tank inspection.

We also discuss cesspools and drywells, aerobic septic systems, septic system repairs, treatments, and additives or chemicals. If you find that something is missing from this website just CONTACT us and ask for it.

"Septic tanks" are what home owners or home buyers think of when buying or maintaining a home with a private septic system. But we should be thinking about the whole septic system - since the drain field or leach field makes up half of a typical septic system cost.

Septic tank care and septic tank cleaning need to be done on a regular frequency (we provide a septic tank pumping schedule table) in order to avoid ruining the drainfield.

Septic tank maintenance is not enough. Proper septic system design for the level of usage and soil conditions is critical if the system is going to have a long useful life.

We are also quite concerned with septic system health and safety since there are potential collapse hazards which can be fatal, and there are bacterial and pathogen hazards for both site occupants and for the environment if a septic system is not working properly.

The articles listed at this website form an extensive guide to septic systems care, inspection, testing, and installation. We welcome questions and suggestions for content.

Septic System Basics

How Septic Systems Work, Septic Inspection, Septic Maintenance, Septic Repairs

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

In Oregon is it ok to use 60 ft of pipe from septic tank to the leach field ?

@Bruce in KY, I had this same thing happen to us the smell not the fence , , when tanks are full or close to full Hotter and wetter weather can cause septic tank burp ), and the gases follow lines into house ,

I was wondering in Oregon is it ok to use 60 ft of pipe from septic tank to the leach field ? My Question is their a maximum amount of feed line to a leach field ?

I ask because I am adding on to my existing leach field and where I want new leach runs to go is 60 ft away so can I run 60 ft of supply line to reach new proposed leach field ? On 2021-10-21 by Don

by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) -

@Don,

The concern isn't the distance per-se but rather the depth at which it will put the drainfield (at 1/8 to 1/4 " per foot of run) and the soil properties - those are questions to take to a local septic designer and to your building department.

The concern is that if the drainfield is too deep in the soil it won't get enough oxygen and you'll starve the aerobic bacteria and won't adequately process the sewage effluent pathogens.

Our fence post hit a neighbor's septic - I think it's OK

We recently decided to put in a four-rail fence in our back yard. Due to a mistake of location (on my part) while digging the post holes, they hit the next door neighbor’s septic.

We hit the effluent pump line, one distribution box, and two connecting pipes for additional distribution boxes (each lateral line has a d-box connected to it). I had these elements repaired in agreement with the neighbor. That was on June 26. I had it repaired on June 30.

Since this issue, I have had a septic smell in my house (I’m typically down wind). There is no material smell outdoors, or near the repair. But the smell in my home continues, and seems to increase during hotter/heat of the day, and when the air conditioning is running.

We have inspected multiple times, and do not find any water on the ground near that area. So it doesn’t appear the fix could be leaking.

And, again, no real smells over there. But the smell in my house persists, and can get quite disruptive at times. Any ideas on what could be causing this? On 2021-07-28 by Bruce in KY

by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@Bruce in KY,

I don't know what the cause is,

But if you will take a look in the article index given above you will find a number of articles on tracking down and curing septic odors. Please take a look and let me know how you progress or what questions arise.

by Bruce in KY

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, thanks for the feedback. Sorry if I sounded like I expected you to know the cause. I will continue to research the links on odor.

But what I think I’m looking for expertise in is this: It has been 4 weeks since the repair. I realize that we disturbed a key part of the septic ecosystem over there (20 year old system)…is it rational for that to somehow be continuing to spew gasses and/or odors that are finding their way into my house each day?

That’s the only thing that has changed in house during this time frame. We breached their system accidentally, the smell started. It has been repaired, but the smell in my home continues - it’s the only logical source. Should it still be smelling after a month?

by (mod)

@Bruce in KY,

I thought perhaps during the repair a lot of sewage-contaminated earth was brought to the surface; if so that could take some time to dissipate;

Also you or the neighbour might want to have the lines scoped using a sewer line camera to confirm that everything is in good shape; better to find a problem now than to have a sewage backup into their home later.

Keep us posted as what you find will help other readers.


Can a septic tank located uphill from a house cause problems?

I'm considering purchasing a new home. The home consists of a full basement at ground level with a first floor. The septic tank is located on a hill behind the house. When I stand on top of the tank I am at roof level of the house, so really two floors above where it leaves the house.

Can this cause problems? Second question, what's the max distance from the truck to the tank? I'm concerned the pump truck won't be able to reach the tank to pump it. Thank you very much. On 2021-06-23 by Royce_0331

by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@Royce_0331,

It's common for homes to have systems that pump sewage to a destination higher than the home's lowest plumbing fixtures.

Of course if that system fails then you don't have a way to dispose of waste water.

So you might be interested in the frequency with which there are power failures and you might need to consider a battery backup for your pumping system.

You also might ask your inspector or plumber to point out to you what check valves are installed to prevent backflow from the piping between house and septic tank.

And you certainly want to take proper care of your septic tank and drain field since a back flowing or flooded septic tank could in that unusual event put those check valves to a test.

None of these concerns ought to be a showstopper. Every system has its personality and its strengths and weaknesses.

by Royce_0331

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, Sorry, forgot to say Thank you. WOW, that was a fast response.

by danjoefriedman (mod) - homes that pump sewage to a destination higher than the homes lowest plumbing fixtures.

@Royce_0331,

We are glad to assist.

Your questions and comments are helpful and showing where we need to add or clarify material, so we both benefit from the conversation.

I forgot to add that if you use the on Page search box just above to search for the phrase

Septic tank Pumpers truck distance

You will find our article on septic tank pump or truck specifications including the usual maximum pumping distance. I hope you will look at it , but I will point out that the answer is 150 ft

Can we use the old septic system with our new house?

We are building a new house on property that already has a house and traditional septic with leach field.

The current house will be removed after we build the new house. We have had no issues for the last two years with the current septic and we had it pumped and inspected when we purchased the property as well.

What I am wondering is. Could we not just hook the black water for the new house up to the existing septic and then install a grey water only aerobic system that we can use to water pastures?

Topography and distance from new house to current septic are favorable and provide enough slope. Thank you in advance! On 2021-05-31 by Beth

by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@Beth,

In theory, yes; your septic design engineer can answer that question; there is a lot of information one needs and that's not in your question, such as

- wastewater volume of the new home
- condition of the existing drainfield - age, functionality, soil conditions
- size and condition of the existing septic tank


Does this septic report mean that there's a problem?

Is this a problem?

On 2021-05-29 by Mark

by (mod) - Yes, flooded septic lines = "problem"

@Mark,

Yes it sounds as if your lines are blocked or the field is flooded which equal a septic drainfield failure.

So your inspector did something useful and important, but if you paid Working Dog Septic Service for an inspection and report and they won't tell you what their report means, I'd ask for a refund.

 

Home buyer's inspection failed the septic system - but I think it's OK

Selling my home. Only used on weekends and mostly by myself. 3 bedroom 3 bath. Bought from bank 10 years ago. Not knowing anything about septic only had it pumped one time. Buyers inspection failed the septic.

According to the report- The absorption area was found in "Unsatisfactory Condition."

Liquid from the treatment tank enters the absorption area through a conveyance line which directs the effluent into the seepage pit. The seepage pit was located and inspected by camera.

Liquid was found to be elevated to the inlet invert. Please note, once the liquid in the seepage pit is elevated to the inlet invert, the pit is no longer draining as designed and is in unsatisfactory condition.

Is this an automatic failure? I have an engineer coming to inspect to confirm I need a new system. He wants to do a dye test.

Says the system might be ok....maybe high water ? your thoughts please. thanks Dan On 2021-05-11 by Daniel Shill

by (mod) - septic report interpretation

@Daniel Shill,

Sorry to say, but it's correct that any time a seepage pit is full to near its inlet, it's no longer serviceable.

You probably used so much less wastewater than would a family occupying 2 or 3 bedrooms thst you never observed the failure.

I'm not sure what a dye test is going to add.


Can we pump out our sepic tank through a 4-inch vent pipe?

Have an old farmhouse with a septic system that appears to have a 4 inch vent pipe coming out of the ground , but no cover .

Can it be pumped through the 4 inch vent pipe ? On 2021-04-19 by Jim

by (mod) - Not effectively

@Jim,

Sorry but no, not in in a useful way. I've seen septic pumpers claim to clean the tank through such a small opening, but it's impossible to actually remove all or even most of the solid sludge and floating scum through such a small opening.

That is, if it were directly over the tankk. the pumper could not adequately break up the floating system and settled sludge through a 4-inch opening sufficiently to clean the septic tank in a way that benefits the drainfield.

And your septic tank certainly will have a cover - over the whole tank if it's a concrete rectangble and over each service or access area if it's a newer fiberglass or plastic septic tank.


Which laundry detergents are safe for septic systems?

What laundry detergent is safe for septic tank On 2021-03-13 by Anonymous

Reply by (mod) -

@Anonymous,

If you use the laundry detergent in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, any laundry detergent is "safe".

However using a low-phosphate detergent can reduce the chances of drainfield discharge of phosphates into the environment, and

also I've found that some homeowners who use powdered washing machine detergent sometimes use too much, leading to white detergent clogs in the plumbing system or in a sewage ejector pump.

For more suggestions about "safe" detergents, somewhat confounded by opinion, see

DISHWASHERS vs SEPTICS


Diagnose A septic tank is normally always full to just below or just at the bottom of the exit pipe

My tank is always 1/ 2 full . Never pumps out fully to my drain field On 2021-03-09 by john cox

Reply by (mod) -

@john cox,
From just your text I don't know what kind of septic tank you have.

A septic tank is normally always full to just below or just at the bottom of the exit pipe that sends effluent to the drainfield.

If you have a normal septic tank that is one that doesn't use a pump to remove the fluid than the septic tank should be filled to that level in normal use.

If it's not your tank is damaged and leaking and needs repair or replacement

Will a failed septic system drainfield repair itself?

I read somewhere that a "sick" septic field that is left unused for a period will repair itself. For example, in the circumstance of a cottage (or similar), if it left for a year (or so) will repair itself. Is there any truth to this? On 2021-03-08 by David E.

by (mod) - What's needed to repair a failed drainfield depends on what's wrong with it.

@David E.,

What's needed to repair a failed drainfield depends on what's wrong with it.

A broken or collapsed pipe or a field that is seasonally flooded by groundwater won't ever repair itself.

A drainfeld whose trench borders have become clogged by a too-thick biomat can "heal itself" given a rest period but not in one year; more likely you need 5-10 years in most soil conditions; during that interval other soil bacteria break down the biomat sufficiently that the field may begin to percolate and absorb effluent again.

That's the reasoning behind a septic design that uses alternating drainfelds that are switched, usually, by controls found in the D-box.

Home buyer says septic inspection was improper or inadequate

Uh. Am in process of buying a house with a 50(!) year old septic system. In NC. Had what I guess would qualify as a level 1 inspection done, i.e. inspected by a licensed septic company who excavated the inlet and outlet covers and visually inspected inlet and outlet pipes as well as drain field.

System has no (!) baffle walls, but has an outlet baffle T (no filter). Didn't seem to raise any alarm in the report given to us.

Didn't perform any dye testing or locate the D-box. I mean jokes on me for not researching this stuff before seeing the pictures, but am I right to just budget like $25k over the next few years to fix it properly? I mean, it's concrete, but from poking around on here there's basically no way there can be any expected life of the drain field, right?

Additionally, is it wise for me (as a homeowner) to try and locate and inspect the D-Box? original permit show it located relatively close to the septic system and parallel with the outlet. Figured looking at it might give me a better idea of how bad the field is at this point.

One more- is it possible to, just in the interests of protecting my kids while we budget out the eventual replacement/overhaul, do some surface mitigation to reduce the potential for exposure to pathogens? I've got a green thumb, so is there any (obviously shallow rooted) planting that can temporarily mitigate contamination risk through increased soil microbiology? On 2021-03-03 by Hunter

Reply by (mod) -

@Hunter, First I need to emphasize that I can't possibly assess the safety of your building or septic system from text. But safety is my first concern with any septic system particularly an old one in unknown condition.

The far greater hazard is not that there may be bacteria on the soil surface since all soil has bacteria but rather the hazard would be an old septic tank of unknown condition with an unsafe cover into which someone could fall, usually resulting in a fatality. So the first thing to review with your septic inspector is the safety of a septic tank and its cover.

Beyond that question if there's not actual open sewage or effluent on the yard surface there's no appropriate step for you to take concerning septic bacteria that maybe in the soil below. If you're concerned just keep your kids from playing in that area.

Last, you're correct to expect to face a significant expense replacing at least the drain field and possibly other components.

In my opinion the septic inspector who sees an old septic tank with no baffles is derelict in not warning you that the result of no baffles is having pushed solids into the drain field and therefore damaging and shortening is life - which means you have no predictable forward life of that system.

But whether or not the amount that you think you're budgeting is going to be adequate is not something that can be answered by text at a website. You need an on-site septic engineer who would do to soil perc testing, look at the lay of the land in the amount of available space, and other conditions in order to give you an idea of what kind of drain field is going to be needed and what is cost is likely to be.


Is our septic tank big enough?

Can a 2000 gallon septic tank handle 5 adults and 2 children on two mobile homes. One home has three bedrooms and two baths. The other home has two bedrooms and one bath.

Part two is there a standard leaching rate in inches when the tank is full to lower back down to the leaching field pipe? Thank You, On 2021-01-24 by Warren

Reply by (mod) -

Warren

Let's take a look at

SEPTIC TANK SIZE septic tank size and capacity vs. usage determine the required septic tank size, calculate size of an existing septic tank

and in that article take a look at the septic tank sizing vs average daily wastewater inflow in gallons and a separate table of tank size vs # of people. and you'll see that a 2000 gallon tank is likely to be too small

The result is insufficient settling time in the tank and thus solids pushed into the drainfield and thus a short drainfield life.

I think our neighbor's septic system is draining into a nearby stream and wetlands - what can we do?

I live in PA. Our neighbor has a stream discharge system. The neighbor has violated their permit on the regular. We live on a slightly lower elevation than our neighbors.

We also live next to wetlands. A little over two years ago, we had a stream going through our yard down to the water basin. Our neighbors are trying to say that it is rainwater. The stream is coming through the ground from where their septic system is.

Our well is so high in total coliform that the instrument can not read the level. Our well is also two and a half times the rep limit but negative for ecoli. Is there a way to manipulate the lab test to not show ecoli? We had an independent inspector inspect.

The inspector had the neighbors system pumped right before he did a dye test and put the dye in the tank in the winter. Is this normal procedure for a licensed inspector? And when laws are set on distance for a septic system, do the distances change with the laws when it's a different time, like years later? On 2021-01-24 by jlus0166

Reply by (mod) -

A documented and illustrated report from an independent expert may be helpful in this dispute, but your inspector, given what you say about the neighbour, isn't likely to be able to actually do a septic dye test in the neighbor's septic system, so you're still going to have denial and finger pointing;

Supplement that report with groundwater tests for eColi level

Supplement that with a report showing that the source is or is NOT your own septic system

Then ask your health department for help, and

if that doesn't work you will (ugh) need help from an attorney who is expert in real estate law

Prepare yourself by reading

NEIGHBORING SEPTIC SYSTEM PROBLEMS 

There's standing water in my septic fields: how do I diagnose the problem?

I have 6 drain lines in my leach field. Each over 100' long. Three of them has significant settling (maybe 12-16", hard to tell, because it is on a sloped yard. I have no trees on the leach field and had zero problems with the leach field.

The other day I noticed standing water (under the grass level) in one of the 3 drain lines. We did have quite a bit of rain lately, however, the other two settled lines did not have standing water. It still is a little wet, but certainly no standing water. What is the proper diagnosis process for determining the standing water. On 2020-12-10 by Scott

Reply by (mod) -

Scott:

How old is the drainfield? If fairly new the settlement may be due to construction - and still will need to be repaired as a sagged drain line is going to fail early - as we already see in the case you describe.

Standing water in the drainfield tells us it has failed. It cannot be treating sewage effluent pathogens in that condition, so we're discharging pathogens into the environment, contaminating groundwater and if nearby, any waterways.

I would start by scoping the lines to be sure it's settlement and not a blockage that might be a less costly and less dramatic repair.

Past that you might have to excavate a cross section of the failed area.

See details about diagnosing septic system failures at

SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS

and

SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST - home

Will my new mobile home work with the old septic system?

I am purchasing a new mobile home the septic system is about 10 year's old but the location of my new home is 60 foot away it will work properly as long as the fall on the septic pipe is correct form the house to the tank? On 2020-09-08 by Jared

Reply by (mod) -

Jared

As long as the slope of sewage piping is adequate (1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot) the waste will make it from home to septic tank; however nothing in that tells us the actual condition of the septic tank and drainfield.

Please see the advice we offer at HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Is it possible that in the early 80's an additional sewage outlet was added to the existing concrete septic tank?

Root-clogged septic line (C) InspectApedia.com CarriePicture of outlet pipe from tank [shown above].

Hello. I recently purchased a 100 year old home. Documentation states that a septic system with a shared leech field was installed in 1983. Inspection of the tank showed a blocked outlet pipe assumed by tree roots as the neighbor was not having any issues.

We are not able to find the septic plan for our house, and the neighbors permit plan shows a leech field that is not connected to our tank.

All other documentation states that there is a shared leech field between us.

Excavation of the area to investigate the blocked pipe (PVC) shows an outlet pipe not connected to anything - no D box, just the end of the pipe in the ground.

My question is - is it possible that in the early 80's an additional outlet was added to the existing concrete septic tank that leads to a D box and leech field?

Not sure if that can be done. What do you suggest for next steps? I will try to add a picture. Thank you. On 2020-06-29 by Carrie

Reply by (mod) -

Carrie

Not meaning to sound glib, anything's possible in the range of buried septic components going back roughly four decades. Often someone finds a failure, a dispute, or some other problem and makes a change - with little or no documentation.

Most residential septic tanks have just one inlet and one outlet opening.

You'll want to have your pipes located and mapped and to do some exploring to see if there is any usable drainfield or leachfield whatsoever.

There are various methods for doing that using drain snakes, sewer line cameras, above ground detection - in a series of articles here starting at

SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION

What do I do about a small sinkhole near the septic tank

Have a small sinkhole near septic tank which after heavy rain had grey water in it about 10" down .

Later that day some backup appeared in both showers and one toilet wouldn't flush. An hour later everything was fine. Is this a septic problem or leach field issue or just a result of a very heavy rain and high water levels? On 2020-06-22 by George A

Reply by (mod) -

George

A septic system that only backs up some of the time is still a septic system that's not working properly, is contaminating the environment, and worst is perhaps giving you advance notice of a future more total failure that risks a sewage backup into the building.

Is it OK to pour sodium polyacrylate down my sink?

Can I pour sodium polyacrylate down my sink, into my septic tank without damage? On 2020-05-22 by Anonymous

by (mod) - no

No, Anon,

Watch out: If you take a look at a typical MSDS fir sodium polyacrylate such as published by Fisher Scientific you'll see that it is a harmful toxic chemical that should not be released into the environment.

See more detail

at NEVER FLUSH INTO SEPTICS 

 

Open sewage at my home is making us sick.

Time sensitive. I'm in a sober living home, for woman n children. There's been a septic issue, right out front door, n many windows, n a.c unit. There's standing water, if u can even call it that..its majority feces, and excrement.

The soil has consistent standing waste, and the septic people have left it half done, even left their hose, they r pumping it to near by.. So I'm vomiting now w bad headache. No sign of sanitary relief and I feel this is super hazardous. On 2020-04-22 by Amber Sutherland

Reply by (mod) -

Amber

Watch out: What you describe sounds like an immediate health hazard.

If you've contacted the home management or owner both orally and in writing and nobody is responding you will need to get outside help; start by giving your health department a call.

Keep me posted.

Daniel

Liquid is spraying out of one of our septic tanks: what's going on?

We have a new house ( 2 yr old) with a new leach field. It has three tanks in series that feed to the leach field.

I observed today that one of the vents on top of the leach field was spraying liquid out. I checked the closest tank to the leach field and it was about one third filled. Any suggestions? On 2020-04-08 by Glenn Galer

Explanation by (mod) -

That sounds to me as if your third "tank" is a pumping chamber that's pumping or otherwise distributing clarified septic effluent to a drainfield.

If effluent is spraying out at the drainfield vent, either the drainfield is well downhill from the final tank or the tank is actually a pumping chamber using an effluent pump to send effluent to the drainfield.

In any event, if effluent is spraying out of the vent then the drainfield or its piping has become blocked or clogged and needs repair or replacement.

I can't say from just your note if the problem is something easy to fix - a broken or blocked pipe - or if the original installation was faulty. So further investigation, perhaps using a sewer line camera, is in order.

To understand what's installed at your home see

SEWAGE PUMPING STATIONS

SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS 

Neighbor's septic system is root bound and leaks sewage near my home in Hunt County Texas: what can I do?

My neighbors are renters the septic system in the mobile home they rent and is 100 ft from my property line and 200 ft from my mobile home. The system has roots in it and has been leaking sewage for at least 30 days.

On to my property and a third neighbors property.

This is in Hunt County in Texas. Can someone tell me what to do. Help. On 2020-04-04 by Lynn

Reply by (mod) -

Lynn

Watch out: Discharging septic effluent to the surface is a public health hazard that is illegal in Texas. If the property owner isn't taking steps to fix the problem you need to ask for help from your local department of health.

Hunt County Texas Department of Health [Website]
Address: 2700 Johnson St, Greenville, TX 75401
Opens 8AM Mon
Phone: (903) 408-4140

Our old septic system failed and is root bound - can we just clear out the roots?

I am purchasing a home and during the septic inspection the system failed and it was found that the tank and seepage system were root bound. I have been told that the system will need to be cleared of roots. Is this an acceptable fix for the problem? The tank would be about 37 years old. And what would the cost range for a service of this type? On 2019-07-03 by Deb

by (mod) - No, just cleaning out tree roots will not be a lasting septic system repair

Clearing the roots may get the waste system flowing again but I'm not optimistic that it's a long-term fixed since the same roots will be fractions of an inch away on the other side of the pipe and will rapidly invade the pipes again.

More like what you're going to need to remove the trees or plants whose roots are invading the field and quite likely the field itself is going to need to be replaced. So without those repairs, I'm not optimistic about the ongoing life of your septic system.

Cost to simply clear pipes is going to range significantly depending on country and city where you live, ease of access to the side length, and accessibility of the piping, but it certainly is going to be more than $500 and less than $10,000 just to do the clearing you can go ahead and do that but keep in mind that it's a Band-Aid.

Red alarm light stays on at my Aerobic septic system; what do I do?

I have a 7 year old lake house used about one week end a month and the red light is staying on on my aerobic septic system. What do I need to do? On 2019-05-10 by K Chance

by (mod) - call your septic service company for cleaning, service, inspection, and possible repair

KC

The diagnosis of an alarm light on aerobics varies a bit by system brand and model but in general it's probably telling you you the air pump isn't working OR the sewage level is abnormally high - meaning the effluent pump is not working or its control is stuck. It's time to call an aerobic septic service company.

To understand what your septic system alarm is doing and what's needed you want to

read AEROBIC SEPTIC ALARM SYSTEMS - how to silence & troubleshoot

find and read the instructions for your specific brand and model of aerobic septc system.

Let me know what you're told and we may have further suggestions.

What causes standing water around aerobic septic system sprinkler head

Does the aerobic system have a drain field close to the sprinkler head, sprinkler works, but water standing around it On 2019-05-22 by Linda

Reply by (mod) -

Linda

The sprinkler heads that disperse effluent above ground are in effect marking the area of the "drainfield" for an aerobic septic system that uses that effluent disposal method.

But if you are seeing standing water then the field is flooded and isn't working - it's time to call your aerobic septic maintenance company for inspection and repair. Let me know what you're told and we may be able to offer more comment.

See the explanation and diagnostics provided beginning

at AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ATUs - home page

Can I dig out and re-use old septic leachfield locations when replacing a failed septic system?

Hi, I need to replace my leech field. When we had them installed 15 years ago, they were placed in the only location on my property that works with all setbacks.

My is it possible to dig out the existing leech fields and re-use the same location? If not, what options do I have when no other location on my property works? Thank you for any/all advise. On 2019-04-02 by Chris

by (mod) - not exactly

Chris:

Well sort-of. When a drainfield fails from normal use (i.e. not flooding, crushing, roots, etc) it's usually the soil around the edges of the trenches that has become occluded with a thick biomat that stops passing effluent.

If one simply opened the original trench to the original width and replaced pipes and perhaps gravel I see several serious issues:

1. if the biomat is left undisturbed the new trenches have no forward life

2. driving the machinery over the absorption bed in this manner compresses the soil, further damaging the ability of the fields to absorb effluent

So yeah you can replace a leachfield in its original area but to do so effectively you'll probably need a lot of additional excavation to break up and possibly even re-mix the biomat-clogged soil.

A better approach to discuss with your septic contractor *might* be to dig new trenches in the middle of the spaces between the original trenches.

The soil compression concern remains but you can place the new trenches parallel to but offset from the originals. At one side - left, right, or both, the final "new" trench will be in new ground if it fits.

 

Our septic tank fails when it rains

We have a septic tank that is fairly new but every time it rains, no matter how lightly, our toilet won't flush correctly and when it rains all day we have the septic odor in our house but not outside and the toilet fills to the rim when you try to flush it. (Mar 16, 2014) debbie

Reply:

Debbie it's a troubling question - it sounds as if rain runoff, perhaps from groundwater, surface runoff, or roof runoff is entering and flooding the septic tank, or worse, the drainfield. Even if the tank is new a failed older drainfield could be at fault;

I'd ask your septic contractor to excavate and open the septic tank access ports to see if the tank level is flooding from surface runoff; And if you pump the tank and water runs back into the tank from the drainfield that'd diagnose a flooded drainfield. Either can back up into the house.

If the problem is really controlling surface runoff then you'll fix it by directing water away from the tank and drainfield.

See SEPTIC TANK BACK FLOODING or for drainfield flooding to read details.

What to do if the outlet end of septic tank is smaller than the inlet end

I have a two compartment septic tank. The outlet end tank is smaller then the inlet tank . my inlet tee is 16 inches long down the tank .

The outlet drain pipe is in the centre of the bottom of the tank . How far or how long should my drain pipe be up in the tank ? (July 26, 2014) Steve

Reply:

Maybe if you send me a sketch I can try to find an answer; from just the e-text I'm a bit confused about what's installed. Generally however the septic tank drain outlet is lower than the bottom of the inlet pipe's bottom surface.

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

  • New York State Department of Health, APPENDIX 75-A WASTEWATER TREATMENT STANDARDS - INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD SYSTEMS , [PDF] New York State Department of Health, 3 February 2010, retrieved 3/1/2010, original source: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/nycrr/title_10/part_75/appendix_75-a.htm
  • "International Private Sewage Disposal Code," 1995, BOCA-708-799-2300, ICBO-310-699-0541, SBCCI 205-591-1853, available from those code associations.
  • "Manual of Policy, Procedures, and Guidelines for Onsite Sewage Systems," Ontario Reg. 374/81, Part VII of the Environmental Protection Act (Canada), ISBN 0-7743-7303-2, Ministry of the Environment,135 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto Ontario M4V 1P5 Canada $24. CDN.
  • US HEW, MANUAL of SEPTIC TANK PRACTICE [PDF] 1975, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Servicve, original source: https://nepis.epa.gov/
  • Manual of Septic Tank Practice, US Public Health Service's 1957, reprinted in 1963, 1967, 1969 and in a 1975 edition given just above.
  • SEPTIC TANK/SOIL-ABSORPTION SYSTEMS: HOW TO OPERATE & MAINTAIN [PDF] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf.
  • Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include:
  • The The National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC), West Virginia University, PO Box 6064, Morgantown, WV 26506, website: www.nsfc.wvu.edu provides a Products List of design manuals/modules available from their NSFC website. Engineers & scientists provide answers to wastewater handling, treatment & disposal questions over NSFC's assistance hotlines, (304) 293-4191 or (800) 624-8301. NSFC also maintains five wastewater system design & maintenance databases:
    • Regulations Database of regulations for onsite wastewater treatment systems in the 48 contiguous U.S. states
    • Bibliographic Databaseof articles dealing with onsite and small community wastewater issues
    • Manufacturers and Consultants Database of industry contacts for wastewater products & consulting services.
    • Facilities Database (not online) 1,000 facilities using conventional, innovative, and alternative wastewater treatment technologies
    • Contacts and Referrals Database (not online) lists organizations involved in onsite and small community wastewater infrastructure at the national, state, and local levels.
  • In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested

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