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Re: [Shop-talk] septic fun

To: shop-talk@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] septic fun
From: scott.hall@comcast.net
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:38:59 +0000
I'm not sure I understand you, but if you're saying what I think you're saying, 
the line FROM the tank was partially plugged with hard 'matter' and the line TO 
the tank was partially plugged with slushy 'matter'.  yeah?

if that's the case, I'd vote your drain field isn't working right, or your tank 
is too small.  the idea is that only liquid will hit the drain field/tank 
outlet while the solids digest on the bottom of the tank.  so if you've got 
solids in the outlet, either the thing just got too full, like it was never 
pumped, or the tank is too small, or it's filling too quickly.  ideally, the 
tank would never need to be pumped out, and the solids would digest away.

it sounds like the tank was too full.  dunno, see if it works better now that 
is was pumped.  on the other hand, once the drain field is plugged, you're 
generally looking at a new field.  if you get the new field, spring for a new, 
ginormous tank (or two), with baffles.

they sell stuff to pour down your toilet to spur the bacteria growth.  I've 
been told variously over time that it's nothing but the yeast you can buy from 
the grocery store, that it's *not* the yeast from the store, and that either 
will work fine or that they do nothing.  I pour both the stuff from the store 
and the yeast down the toilet.  I like toilets that flush.  on the other hand, 
the last time we had the tank pumped, the guy complemented us on the 
digested-ness of our 'matter'.  what can I say, I'm a winner.

scott
(we don't have sewer out here, either, and I'm just waiting for the thing to go 
bad.)


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: eric@megageek.com
> OK, so let's say that someone had a septic system that was clogged.  So he
> has the tank emptied so he can work on the outlet of the holding tank.
> 
> Right as the water comes out of the holding tank, there is a build up of
> hard crusty, well you know, "matter."
> 
> So, being resourceful, he digs out the pipe, replaces it with a new one and
> adds a washout right after the holding tank, but notices that there is
> soupy "matter" in the pipe that goes to the distribution box.  Not wanted
> to dig up the entire yard, (it's over a 150' run to the d' box), and
> wanting to finish his work before the light of day, he closes up his hole
> and makes it all pretty like.
> 
> Now, my questions are as follows...
> 
> First, what causes the "hard" matter to form? Is there a way to prevent it?
> 
> Then, want can I put in the system to "break down" this matter?
> 
> Lastly, how can you tell if you field is clogged or if the soupy matter in
> the line was just as a result of not having any water pushing it down (the
> septic was clogged for a while)?
> 
> Again, this whole discussion is academic because I know that NO ONE would
> dare work on their own septic systems without getting all the necessary
> board of health permits and building permits and paying all that money to
> have their towns just give them a hard time.
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