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Unearthing the cover on my septic tank. Is it OK to use the backhoe?

skyking1

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2020
Messages
7,465
Location
washington
My last "backup" was caused by the filter sock on the outlet of the first tank. if I had just dug that end up and pulled the outlet baffle plug, cleaned it and put it back we would have been fine. There was nothing bad in the pump tank.
Now I have a plastic box over the baffles so I can clean that filter periodically.
We had been at least 10 years since the last pumping and it was not otherwise full. We have been here 26 years and two pumpings.
 

JL Sargent

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Messages
842
Location
Alabama
The amount of use by the amount of people, soaps, other cleaners, chemicals, different paper products, etc. are used enough by the majority of folks that this isn't achieved.

One other point I should make is that I have a separate field line just for the washing machine. That is a big part of it I suspect. The septic system never sees all that soap/bleach.
 

Willie B

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Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
4,040
Location
Mount Tabor VT
Occupation
Electrician
One other point I should make is that I have a separate field line just for the washing machine. That is a big part of it I suspect. The septic system never sees all that soap/bleach.

Here at least, old timers worried about what Mrs. Smith might use for laundry. Laundry & kitchen sink, even bath tub grey water did NOT go to septic. No one in my neighborhood put that in the septic tank. Everyone had a separate drywell.
My drywell was an 8 foot deep hole. A ring of giant boulders were arranged, then smaller boulders to a height 18" below grade. Rail road rails supported the lid which in my case was an antique iron lid from a charcoal kiln.

That worked fine 25 years until an addition on the house forced me to move it.
 

NH575E

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Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,183
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
I let the pump guys dig it. I know where the tank is but they do this every day and know how to find the access cover. They usually dig out a 2 square foot hole and are right on the money.

They aren't going to give you a discount for having it open.
 

skata

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Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
1,541
Location
midwest
Isn't it standard practice to have a pipe riser? I'm surprised to hear many tanks don't.
 

skata

Senior Member
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
1,541
Location
midwest
Ok. Actually had to look up a riser meaning. Those seem to be a big diameter opening. I have a couple properties with septic, and they have 4 inch pvc pipe sticking up above ground, so we can pump out the tank if needed.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
Here at least, old timers worried about what Mrs. Smith might use for laundry. Laundry & kitchen sink, even bath tub grey water did NOT go to septic. No one in my neighborhood put that in the septic tank. Everyone had a separate drywell.
My drywell was an 8 foot deep hole. A ring of giant boulders were arranged, then smaller boulders to a height 18" below grade. Rail road rails supported the lid which in my case was an antique iron lid from a charcoal kiln.

That worked fine 25 years until an addition on the house forced me to move it.

Wow Wille - I just thought I was an Appalachian Engineer!:p

Isn't it standard practice to have a pipe riser? I'm surprised to hear many tanks don't.

24" manhole type risers are required in my area by code now, not so much in the past. All new septic installs have to have 2 accessible MH lids, most are the green plastic types. The tank pre-casters supply them.
 

cuttin edge

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Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
Here at least, old timers worried about what Mrs. Smith might use for laundry. Laundry & kitchen sink, even bath tub grey water did NOT go to septic. No one in my neighborhood put that in the septic tank. Everyone had a separate drywell.
My drywell was an 8 foot deep hole. A ring of giant boulders were arranged, then smaller boulders to a height 18" below grade. Rail road rails supported the lid which in my case was an antique iron lid from a charcoal kiln.

That worked fine 25 years until an addition on the house forced me to move it.
We dug up one like that, but it was the hood off a car.
 

Willie B

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Jan 2, 2016
Messages
4,040
Location
Mount Tabor VT
Occupation
Electrician
Some use the whole car. Saabs are a favorite. Put them upside down, they work quite a number of years.
 

emmett518

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2021
Messages
810
Location
USA
Alright septic gurus, what should not be dumped down the drain? No antibiotics. Check. No bleach. Check. No antibacterial soaps or cleaners. Got it. Limit fats. No garbage disposals.
 

emmett518

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2021
Messages
810
Location
USA
Think of the definition of anally retentive, these people don't poop. When they do poop, it's in the form of burdening some poor service worker with an impossible demand. Oh, & the price better be less than free! These people don't use, or need toilet paper. Now, if we are discussing the practice of pi$$ing & moaning, the anal retentive don't do that in a toilet. They pi$$ & moan on everybody who comes to shovel their snow, mow their grass, move their furniture, deliver their mail, haul away their trash, sweep their floors, & brush their teeth.

No need for the anally retentive to pump. Their $hit is given to the servants to take home with them.

I don't mind pumping, but I don't want to have to spend money when I don't have to.

My tank has rectangular openings, about four feet long, and about two feet wide. Can you get rectangular risers?
 

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
9,342
Location
The shore of the illinois river USA
I don't mind pumping, but I don't want to have to spend money when I don't have to.
My tank has rectangular openings, about four feet long, and about two feet wide. Can you get rectangular risers?
The top part of a blue plastic barrel with a lid that is removable ??????
It would require sawing the concrete ones that are on it to accommodate the circular form of the barrel.
Easy job if you have a concrete saw like my Stihl TS420.
 

Billrog

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Messages
722
Location
Armstrong, British Columbia
Occupation
band mill , backhoe and dump truck
emmett518 I've had new re-enforced tops made for a few older tanks like that which I replaced for customers. They come with plastic inserts right in the with lids but you have to buy the risers to accommodate the depth of your tank. You'd probably be looking at 3 or $400 to go that route. Your slabs may be at the end of their life span so it may be money well spent if that's the case.
 

Steve Favia

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Joined
Jan 29, 2019
Messages
170
Location
illinois
Occupation
Retired local 150 Operating Engineer
Washing machine water goes into tank/field add bacteria a few times a year.
 
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