My septic tank is not draining properly. Should I replace my fields or try to snake them clear?
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Why? You will find noting in the leach field tiles. Absolutely noting.
What probably is happening is that your laundry water is killing off the bacteria in the main tank and that is causing a problem. Laundry water has chlorine, strong detergents and hot water killing off needed bacteria in the septic tank. Its the main reason septic tanks fail.
Consider digging a 4 x 4 hole in the back yard and fillit with rock and top off with grass. and running the drain from the laundry to that hole.
I would do this before i even thought about attacking that drain field. You will, first of all, find noting in those lines, and secondly there probably is nothing wrong with them.
One point here. That Milogronite fertilizer made from sewage in Milwaulkee----- a septic complete pump makes only one 40 pound bag of that fertilizer. Imagine that huge 1000 gallon septic tank pumped out making only such a small bag when bacteria has gotten at it.
Get the back hoe on order. A snake will not work but only pack the pipe harder. You need to replace your drain field. Also, find out why the drain field is plugged and make sure that you pump the septic tank more often.
If you have roots in your field line then a rotary cleaning might work. If you have waited years to pump your septic tank, then get prepared to spend some money replacing the lines.
Yeah you need to get it pumped more. Talk to the pump fellas and ask them what they charge for what you need, whether it be a new tank, pipe cleaning, etc etc. I dont know where you live, but I live in FL and I need a new one b/c it's 51 years old and they said it will cost me about $2-3k.
use a snake and check with a hare ware store they have a product that helps keep the fields clean, you just pour in the toilet
If you have trees in the yard, get some root-destroyer.If you don't have trees, use rid-x or another bacteria additive. try these first before investing in professionals.Remember these products take time to work, don't panic!
If you find out the leach field is overworked and you need to replace it be sure to look at a product called the "Infiltrator". This is a product made of recycled plastic. The infiltrator lines I installed in both a new system in northern California and as a replacement for my the leach field at our house work beautifully. A cross section of the product looks like a pyramid cut off at the top. Mine is about 24 inches wide and 7 or 8 inches tall. The sides slope at about a 45-degree angle to the horizontal top which I recall being about 8 or 10 inches wide. The sloping sides have louvers to allow fluids to seep through into the surrounding soil. The bottom is completely open and the trench is dug as level as possible. No gravel needed, just lay the 4 or 5 foot sections end to end (they lock together) in the trench and then back fill without compaction. Under heavy usage you have a very large capacity system capable of holding a lot of fluid.
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