septic tank

Dakota

Dakota

~~~~~~~
Dave's Septic was wonderful... We were told when we settled on this house that both tanks were drained.... it was in the contract. It is obvious that during the big housing boom (which is when we bought) that it wasn't done. They may have done the septic test (at that time) but there is no effing way our tanks were drained. They were FULL... both of them. Which was wonderful news after digging for hours to unearth the tops and having to remove a fence. After we were done, we put risers and lids on them and recreated the fence (which actually looks better because it is at an angle).

So my posting is a warning to those who bought during the housing boom, have yours checked. I cannot stress enough how important it is... you don't want serious septic issues because my father had them and they are extremely costly.


I did learn that Rid-X is a wonderfully marketed product that is pretty useless.... and that I need to be careful what toilet paper we use. It looked like a #### ice burg in our tank.... totally yuck.
 
zigg72md

zigg72md

Member
Just my 2 cents: The house I grew up in was 35 years old when my mother sold it. We NEVER pumped the tank. However for the last 15 we used a box of RidX every month.

The house I live in now is 12 years old. Never pumped. Box of RidX every month.

Just sayin
 
S

softtouch

Member
You don't want the stuff floating on top or building up in the bottom to get into the drain field.
 

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garyt27

garyt27

INAFJ
zigg72md said:
Just my 2 cents: The house I grew up in was 35 years old when my mother sold it. We NEVER pumped the tank. However for the last 15 we used a box of RidX every month.

The house I live in now is 12 years old. Never pumped. Box of RidX every month.

Just sayin
Click to expand...

Thats because you are on city sewer.
:killingme
 
Dakota

Dakota

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garyt27 said:
Thats because you are on city sewer.
:killingme
Click to expand...

Good one, Gary.

Some people get lucky and never have 1 single issue with the septic... but I'm not taking chances that I'll be within that very small percentage. I'd rather take the preventive steps to avoid issues later.
 
MMDad

MMDad

Lem Putt
wharf rat said:
When we had our new field put in a few years back, we were ask if we ever planned on adding any bedrooms. I was a little confused at that question but the guy (Morty Bowen) said you can have as many bathrooms as you wanted but the number of bedrooms was the deciding factor with the drainfield.
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That's because the number of bedrooms is the best way to guage the number of people who will live there. If you have a three bedroom house with 1 bath people will use use the toilet and shower just as much as if you had 3 baths.
 
R

red_explorer

Well-Known Member
silly question....

Ok....How do I find my septic tank?

Here's the thing. We bought the house in 2005. The home inspector did the inspection with my husband on the phone....my husband was sick, and couldnt do the walking around the house, and I know the septic tank was discussed. He explained everything to my husband. Well, my husband died in 2006. Since then, I've learned...the hard way....that I have a sump pump....and a grinder pump....and dont want to learn about septic problems.

Do I have to have the tank unburied for them to empty it? And how much does this cost? And furthermore, who is reliable to call?
 
GWguy

GWguy

*
red_explorer said:
Ok....How do I find my septic tank?

Here's the thing. We bought the house in 2005. The home inspector did the inspection with my husband on the phone....my husband was sick, and couldnt do the walking around the house, and I know the septic tank was discussed. He explained everything to my husband. Well, my husband died in 2006. Since then, I've learned...the hard way....that I have a sump pump....and a grinder pump....and dont want to learn about septic problems.

Do I have to have the tank unburied for them to empty it? And how much does this cost? And furthermore, who is reliable to call?
Click to expand...

It can usually be found by following the outflow pipe out of the house. Long metal rods are pushed into the ground until they hit something solid and rectangular. Once found, they might have to dig down 2-4 feet until they find the tank cover. Remove that, pump out, cover back up. Mine was about $250-300, but I also had them put in an extension cover so I never have to dig it up again.

Lots of good recommendations here, I used Wayne's Drains, quite happy with them.
 
Dakota

Dakota

~~~~~~~
red_explorer said:
Ok....How do I find my septic tank?

Here's the thing. We bought the house in 2005. The home inspector did the inspection with my husband on the phone....my husband was sick, and couldnt do the walking around the house, and I know the septic tank was discussed. He explained everything to my husband. Well, my husband died in 2006. Since then, I've learned...the hard way....that I have a sump pump....and a grinder pump....and dont want to learn about septic problems.

Do I have to have the tank unburied for them to empty it? And how much does this cost? And furthermore, who is reliable to call?
Click to expand...

In addition to what GW told you, you can also ask your local heath department to look it up. If you have to have somebody dig, it is anywhere from $300-$500 in addition to the pump, which was $200... riser and lid on both cost about $230.
 
Suz

Suz

33 yrs & we r still n luv
Dakota said:
In addition to what GW told you, you can also ask your local heath department to look it up. If you have to have somebody dig, it is anywhere from $300-$500 in addition to the pump, which was $200... riser and lid on both cost about $230.
Click to expand...

I Just called Copsey's yesterday to schedule a pump out. We don't have a riser on ours, so I inquired about them. $100 per 12" and they use the cap currently on it unless it is damaged..... If I remember correctly the cost for pumping was $230 or $235.

Now as for Ridex.... I recently attended a meeting where a well known inspection company spoke to all us agents. According to them, using Ridex is the WORST thing you can use in your septic. The usual flushed items add enough bacteria, the tank shouldn't need anymore and it can actually do damage.

If you need to add anything use yeast. But flush it at night before you go to bed.

As for TP brands, I am a firm believer of Scotts, but there is no proof it is better or safer then other brands.

Have a good flush!
 
garyt27

garyt27

INAFJ
Suz said:
I Just called Copsey's yesterday to schedule a pump out. We don't have a riser on ours, so I inquired about them. $100 per 12" and they use the cap currently on it unless it is damaged..... If I remember correctly the cost for pumping was $230 or $235.

Now as for Ridex.... I recently attended a meeting where a well known inspection company spoke to all us agents. According to them, using Ridex is the WORST thing you can use in your septic. The usual flushed items add enough bacteria, the tank shouldn't need anymore and it can actually do damage.

If you need to add anything use yeast. But flush it at night before you go to bed.

As for TP brands, I am a firm believer of Scotts, but there is no proof it is better or safer then other brands.

Have a good flush!
Click to expand...

Why is Ridex the worst thing you could use?.
Ridex has yeast in it.

If you pour alot of bleach and antibacteria cleaning agents down the drain, that kills the poop eaters and I thought ridex contains poop eaters.?
 
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