[wengang1]

Hi all.
I think I tracked down my plumbing problem to a possible clog in the septic tank. I thought I'd try to clear it myself before calling the man.

I went to the area where I remember the guy digging it up before and started digging around. So far, I have a hole about 3ft x 2ft, but I didn't see the risers I expected to see.

Picture attached.

What I have is two steel handle shaped bars about 18 inches apart (circled in red). Pretty much the entire area of the hole is now hard steel, but I don't see anything standing out to indicate it is a lid, and no sign of a manhole shape revealing itself.

Are these rings handles to one of the lids or both, or just something used to maneuver the tank during installation? Giving them just a tug didn't budge them.

I've indicated on the photo where the house is, and in the opposite direction, about 10 feet from the house side of the hole is the pipe sticking out of the ground for the septic tank.

Anybody with experience know what I should do next? Keep digging houseward? widen the hold around the two rings?

Thanks.

 

[de-nagorg]

I have experience with Concrete septic tanks.

Keep digging, until you find the edges, this might take a while.

These handles appear to be a lifting point for something.

When was the last time that you pumped it out?

They do need pumped occasionally.

Especially if your drain field has been compromised, or the drain outlet has clogged.

ED

 

[jmon]

Looks like you located the tank itself, so you are half way there, just have to find the cover. They look like a regular manhole cover you would see in the street. Sometimes they have handles, most time just a metal cover you pop open with a crowbar etc. As you mentioned, those handles look like they are for lifting/positioning.

septic tanks usually line up with the house venting system. But not always. Use a long metal probe (metal stake or crowbar) to probe around edges till you feel metal.

Also look for a clean out popping out of the ground they usually line up with that as well.

 

[chandler48]

You have tapered concrete lids with the rebar for handles. Clean around them thoroughly and lift them out to expose the inside of the tank. You don't have to expose the entire tank. Once you have them open, the pump truck can do their job. You just saved $200.

Don't let them cover up the tank when they are through. Go to a plumbing supply house and buy risers and a lid for each opening. The number and size of risers will be dictated by the distance from grade level to the top of the tank. Once the tank area is good and clean, you can install the risers using silicone and drilling for redhead fasteners to keep the risers in place. The lid is held on by 8 stainless steel screws. Then you can back fill around the risers. The lids will still protrude above grade, but they are green and become innocuous eventually.

 

[joecaption]

Checked under the house to see if there's a clean out there?

 

[wengang1]

Yep that was tapered concrete, not steel.
I pried it up and what I found is photo attached.

Can anybody identify that black swamp creature? I assume it's a web of small roots coated in crap, but I haven't been hands on with it yet.

Is this for certain a full tank, or possibly a clog? I was planning to try to clear it up myself, but with a four foot 2x2, I really had no clue where to poke around through them murky water, and I sunk it almost all the way in in several places.

So call the man? Try to clear it myself?

Thanks.

 

[chandler48]

Yes, your tank is full to back up stage and needs pumping. That sea monster is thriving tree roots. We pulled one from our tank that would equal the mass of 2 human bodies. Afterwards, the pump guy suggested using a root deterrent in the cleanout every couple of months to keep them at bay. Most likely the roots are coming in from the outlet joint.

Once cleared, you may need the exit line to the leach field examined and/or cleaned. Sometimes the clean out guys can do that for you, too. Your field lead in line is clogged, causing the back up. Keep in mind, the tank should remain full to the exit pipe only.

 

[de-nagorg]

You got problems that the average DIYER, is not equipped for, and are unwilling to handle.

Even I would " call the man", now.:devil3:

Follow Chandlers advice.


ED

 

[wengang1]

OK.
Just out of curiosity, I started siphoning the water, and it's just now to the point that the pipe has emerged, but I don't see any clogs. I think the lines out must be clogged (as they were by tree roots a few years ago) since I only had it pumped out about 4 years ago, and it was 11 years before that the previous time.
Anyway, I will cease and desist and call the man tomorrow.
Thanks for all your help guys.

 

[crawdad]

You're probably done by now but I would like to offer a suggestion to install an effluent filter in the outlet of the tank if not already there. You can diy but my outlet baffle was concrete and it took a while to remove it with a sledge hammer and the tank needs to be empty.