damn septic tanks

**Redwood** · 03-16-2013, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by SewerRat

was officially elected into a board member position on our Onsite Wastewater Association of Idaho yesterday. Not sure that means anything, but we'll see.

It means you are a Big Kahuna in the septic tank world now...

It makes no difference to me whether the customer has septic or sewer...
Actually maybe it does...
I kind of like the idea that I can dig the inlet cover, snake from the tank back to the house, see what comes out of the line when it clears, for just a few of the reasons...

**ADBCONSTRUCTION1** · 03-16-2013, 05:42 PM

I'll take septic over sewer anyway! Always two points of access and you can work from the outside and not make as much of a mess

**Trent2** · 03-18-2013, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by SewerRat

Me too.

Trent, I notice your signature and it reminds me that I was officially elected into a board member position on our Onsite Wastewater Association of Idaho yesterday. Not sure that means anything, but we'll see.

Good for you! I'll become president of the O2WA in a couple of weeks at our conference. I'm nervous!

**Roto-Rooter** · 03-18-2013, 06:27 PM

ADB you are lucky. In this area nobody even knows where there tank is at. If they do have a idea you have to dig and try to find it. Wish we could clean from outside also, I am getting sick of basements with no walkout. The steps are killing me.

**AssTyme** · 03-18-2013, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by ADBCONSTRUCTION1

I'll take septic over sewer anyway! Always two points of access and you can work from the outside and not make as much of a mess

I guess you need to see some of the systems around here. Some only have a pipe sticking up with a coffee can over the top, others are just a neck & tank you can see nothing else without entry.

Luckily I don't get many, I refer them all out to my friends if it's anything other then house to tank.

Working outside sucks, cold in the winter and the bugs/sun will eat you the other months.

GIVE ME MY BASEMENT !!!

**JCsPlumbing** · 03-18-2013, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by ADBCONSTRUCTION1

I'll take septic over sewer anyway! Always two points of access and you can work from the outside and not make as much of a mess

Must be different where you are. Here 95% of septic tanks are buried. Both ends as well.

No risers or cleanouts at all.

To access, you must dig.

The lids can be a roughly 2' square lid, or it's also typical to have a lid roughly 4'x30". And the depth can be anywhere from 1'-4'.

**BuckeyeBowhunter** · 03-19-2013, 10:53 AM

septics aren't all bad. Lots more that can go bad downstream of the outlet that need work.

But city sewers are usually easier to get around.

**Redwood** · 03-19-2013, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by JCsPlumbing

Must be different where you are. Here 95% of septic tanks are buried. Both ends as well.

No risers or cleanouts at all.

To access, you must dig.

The lids can be a roughly 2' square lid, or it's also typical to have a lid roughly 4'x30". And the depth can be anywhere from 1'-4'.

Oh our tanks in CT are buried but they are also pretty highly regulated in many areas...
Due to the population density and abundant water around (lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, & Long Island Sound) many areas without municipal sewers are required to have a sewer avoidance program with required cleaning & inspection intervals along with approvals of system design. This has been in place for many years, so the systems in place in many areas are quite good and standard...

In many cases the tanks are easy to find visually or, with an educated guess and a probe very quickly if the homeowner doesn't know the exact location. Frequently they have markers in place or, system maps to guide you, and are in tune with their system...

Worse case scenario is a locate electronically...
So yea we dig but it's not bad and quite often easier and safer than draining full pipes to access a cleanout inside...

**BuckeyeBowhunter** · 03-20-2013, 12:28 PM

Just jetted a line from the septic tank yesterday. hardest part was setting up and getting the jetter hose started at the inlet to the tank. From there i just engaged the pump and it was all cake from there...

**Trent2** · 04-03-2013, 11:48 PM

I had one the other day that I jetted from the outlet baffle to the d box. It was cast and packed tight. The nice thing is I pulled all of that nasty stuff back into the tank so it won't contaminate the drainfield! Love my jetter. I couldn't do that with a cable machine.