Septic issues
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I’ve mentioned briefly a couple of different times the past few days about having some issues with our septic system. It’s not been a very fun ordeal - especially not with little kids who *insist* on playing in the dirt. With the hose. What IS it with dirt, water and kids???
Anyway - we started having problems a few weeks ago and thought it was just a clogged drain as the tub just wasn’t draining quite right. Since there are three girls in this house with long hair, we figured it was likely related to that.
Well, it wasn’t.
First, we had our septic system pumped out and cleaned. That’s when we learned the line coming from the house to the tank was beginning to crumble (it’s concrete) and would need replacing - ASAP.
Then, we find out there’s a good possibility that the drain field has failed as well. Not only does that mean replacing some pipes, but it means tearing up the yard to do so. Right in the back yard where the kids play.
While exposing the line that needed replacing, my husband hit the main water line to the house (which stupidly enough runs right OVER the septic tank line). It sent water spewing everywhere! And flooded the septic tank. Which we just had emptied.
So, we had to turn the water off . . . again. Do you know how hard it is to bathe dirty, dusty, muddy children with no water? Yeah, let’s just say it’s next to impossible.
I’m thinkin’ that if we ever decide to move again, it’ll be to a brand spankin’ new house where we can properly monitor systems and perform proper maintenance.
Now, the question is - do I hate moving more? Or do I hate dealing with other people’s poor maintenance habits more? I’m beginning to think moving - which I absolutely loathe - is preferable.
In the arena,
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Hi Ann,
You’re probably not aware of it (yet), but we have an excavation business. In years past, we did septic systems (don’t anymore). From what you described, your system MAY have failed. Fixing the pipe from the tank to the house is essential (to get the waste out of you house lines), so once that (and the waterline) are fixed, you’ll know more. The water you got in the tank should drain into your leach lines.
And you’re right, a total new system (or repair) means digging up your yard. That was one thing we hated - ruining someone’s beautiful landscape.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Interview With Lorelle VanFossen - Part 5 - Managing 350+ Feeds
Barbara -
Thanks for the info! No, I did not know you all have an excavation biz.
I will totally be ecstatic if the drain field is not in need of repair. But, at this point, I’m not holding much hope.
The neighbors on either side of us, whose homes were built in the mid 1960’s just like ours, have both had to have their systems - lines, tanks and drain fields - replaced in the past year.
So far, the good news is that the water line has been repaired and from what we can see of the line running from the septic tank to the drain field, it’s obviously much newer than the rest of the system. However, the junction box doesn’t look as new and according to the one neighbor, that’s what failed on his system last year. Hopefully, if repairing the line from the house to the tank doesn’t do the trick, the junction box will be all that needs repair on that end. We’re seriously hoping the rest of the drain field is functioning normally.
There seems to be a clog in the drain leading from the tub in the main bathroom to the main outside line, but so far, we can’t seem to unclog it, even using a snake in the clean-out valve.
Thankfully, the toilets and sinks in both bathrooms are draining and flowing properly. When the septic guy was here last, he and his crew ensured all of that was flowing like it should be. He thinks that fixing the line from the house will take care of everything. We shall see when his crew gets here Wednesday!
~ Annie
Hi Annie,
It sounds like you’re getting closer to the final fix. For your sake, I hope you don’t need a complete repair. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Very important in regard to septic systems: Make sure no one drives over the leach field (where the lines are). The weight of vehicles can crush them.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Interview With Lorelle VanFossen - Part 6 - Let’s Woop It Up
Hi Barbara -
I sure will! I appreciate the offer. If I think of anything, I will definitely take you up on that.
Yes, we are (and always have been) very careful about not driving in that area. We’ve only had the truck back there once but kept a good 25 feet or so away from the drain field. (We pulled out some stumps by our patio.) And when the septic crew has been here, they’ve parked on the side of the house on the other side of the patio, again, about 25 feet or so away. So, I think we’re good there.
Our weather has not been fully cooperative and we’ve had some rain so things are going a bit slower than we hoped. But, fortunately my mom lives just a couple miles from us, so we’ve been able to use the shower at her house and we’ve been fixing supper over there as often as possible, too.
Today I bought some paper plates and such so we can be very careful of the water we’re putting down the drain and only have very minimal dishes to wash. We’ve been using some dishpans and just filling them up to wash instead of using the sinks at all.
We’re hoping to have everything back to normal by Saturday. Then . . . we get to fix the hot water heater . . . lol . . . which decided to die as well.
As they say “When it rains, it pours.”
I don’t generally subscribe to that way of thinking but boy, it’s times like these when one can imagine what prompted such a saying to become to popular.