Problem with Septic tank and Percolation

S

sparky11

Registered User
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I know my query is partly covered in other threads here but I would like to get advice from anyone who feels they have something to offer.

I moved into a new house in country 6 years ago. The house is 10 years old. For the past 2 years the septic tank has been giving trouble. It literally fills up with water every 5-6 weeks and I get the local farmer to empty it for me. Now all the waste from the house goes into the tank (washing machine, dish washer, gutters). It is a concrete tank and is submerged well down in the back garden as the house is built into a slight hill and the ground level is higher the further back you go. It appears that there would be a problem with the percolation area but the garden is always very dry and never would flood no matter how much rain falls.

I have got the tank emptied 6 times in the last year and am at my wits end with this problem. I cannot afford to put in a new system! The farmer empties it for me as a favour. However I am thinking of digging a drain at the top of the garden and getting a water pump to pump out the tank myself when it fills up.

Before everyone starts on about the septic tank inspections etc. I want to point out that I would love to be able to afford to get this problem solved permanently but thats not currently possible. I bought the house in expensive times and am currently in arrears with my mortgage. The house is in a very rural area with no streams or rivers close by.

1. Would the pipes going to the percolation area be blocked and if so is
there anything I could do to try and clear these blockages????

2. Anyone know of any products I could buy to try and solve this
issue???

Any advice/help would be grateful as its got to the stage where I cannot enjoy the house as I'm just waiting for the toilet to block up which leads to having to get the tank emptied again and again.
 
Do you know what company installed the tank?

There are companies who service septic tanks, maybe you could get somebody out to have a look and try and find out the problem.
 
Sparky11 Your concrete tank should have 2 chambers. The waste goes in one end and the solids/waste etc remains in the first chamber where it breaks down over time with the help of bacteria etc, Meanwhile the excess liquid minus the waste flows into the 2nd chamber and then out into the percolation area.
So in effect your tank will always be full and the excess flows out the other end into the percolation area.
When your tank is full does it flood around the area of the tank? If so then you have a problem with your percolation area.
If the area around your tank is dry when the tank is full then you have no problem as the excess water is properly exiting into your percolation area.
Hope this makes sense.
 
The rainwater from your gutters is causing the problem from the look of your posting, it should not go to the septic tank but to a separate soakaway
 
sparky,

i had this problem a few year ago and a builder pal of mine told me that the sink,washing machine,gutters should be going into a seperate pit,mainly the wahing machine becos of the detergants not breaking down the waste properly...he checked it out for me and now only have the toilet direct to the tank and all else is going to a seperate pit, i get the tank emptied once a year and all is fine...i have not had a bother since,,,,well until the worry of this septic tank charge surfaced.......
 
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