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Septic tank cleaner enzymes

May 18th, 2012
by septic9628.
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The time has come once more to have your septic tank cleaned. For you, it is a kind of ritual to deposit enzyme additives into your septic tank, with the belief that by doing this, your septic system will last longer and work more efficiently. You even do it yourself ever since your septic professional told you how beneficial additives are to a septic system.

 But before you purchased the additive that you deem proper for your septic system, you searched the Internet for additional information that may help you become more familiar with the world of enzymes and septic tank additives. For years, you have heard of stories from your neighbors and relatives that adding enzymes into your septic tank will make pumping out less frequent. You have even asked for recommendations about what specific brands to use. It has been a total roller coaster ride when you started searching for the perfect septic system additive.

According to the information that you have gathered, there are two main kinds of septic tank additives—chemical and biological. The chemical additives are the strong acids and bases that target the grease and oils that accumulate in the septic tank. They are effective but very corrosive and detrimental to the environment. It is advisable for the experts to apply this kind of septic tank additive with proper protective gear such as gloves, mask, goggles, body suit, and boots. Chemical additives also pollute the environment around your septic system. Sulfuric acid id said to be environment-friendly but still very corrosive. A septic professional should take over the application of this additive. Then there is the biological additive. It can be a bacteria or an enzyme.

Septic tank cleaner enzymes are still the topic of an extensive debate. It is said that enzyme additives are helpful in kicking in a faster rate of solid waste degradation. These substances are known to greatly improve the performance of the anaerobic bacteria that are already in the septic tank. Many septic enzyme manufacturers claim that when you use their products, you may never have to be tied to septic tank pump outs. Septic tank cleaner enzymes are derived from enzymes of plants and animals. As you may know from basic science classes, enzymes are known to be the catalysts in the process of digestion. Enzymes help breakdown the huge food particles that enter the bodies of plants and animals. In your own body, you digestive system has enzymes to simplify all the complex substances that you ingest so that they could be easily assimilated in the small intestines.

It happens quite similarly in the septic system of your home. It is said that when you add in enzymes into your septic tank, the solid wastes will break down a lot faster and will help the bacterial population digest more effectively. This is where the debate sets it. There are experts that insist that enzymes are not necessary at all. The routine dumping of human wastes is enough to boost up the decomposing process in the septic tank. Humans waste is full of the enzymes and beneficial bacteria that your body produces. It is naturally occurring and is absolutely safe for the present bacteria and the surrounding environment when confined to a septic tank system.

Using septic tank cleaner enzymes do not insure that you will never pump out your septic tank ever again. It is better for you to add more bacteria than put in enzymes into your septic tank. Many companies promise the world to septic tank owners and even exaggerate the performance of their products. This misleads consumers into buying the products that they don’t really need. If you are going to choose adding septic tank cleaner enzymes, then follow it up with adding more bacteria and aerating your septic tank is always an option. There is no harm in combining several environment-friendly septic tank cleaners’ enzymes and bacteria as long as you still adhere to your responsibility of pumping out your tank periodically as a responsible homeowner.

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How to aerate a septic tank

May 17th, 2012
by septic9628.
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As you know, septic systems are utilized in areas where households cannot get access to a sewage system. These days, there is a myriad of septic system designs to choose from and the aerobic septic system is one of them. This is a system that makes use of the process or aeration that makes the digestion of waste products much faster than the old or traditional septic systems do.

It is already common knowledge that bacteria is used by septic systems to breakdown the wastes that your household produces. This dramatically reduces the amount of pathogens in the resulting effluent when it is finally released into the surrounding environment. There are anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are those that thrive and function in an environment that is oxygen-free. They are what you can find in the usual septic systems. On the other hand, aerobic bacteria are those that need oxygen to proliferate and function.  It is said that the aerobic bacteria are much more efficient and effective in treating the wastewater before it gets distributed into the surrounding area.

Having aerobic bacteria helps in treating your everyday wastewater but how could you possibly have them when you have anaerobic bacteria in your tank? How do you aerate your septic tank? With the use of a blower or an air compressor, air is forced into the tank of your septic system. The air that you have introduced into the tank gets mixed up with the wastewater and the solid wastes. What just happened is the tank’s aeration. The additional air or oxygen has provided more sustenance to the aerobic bacteria that are already present there to efficiently digest the waste at about a rate twenty times faster than the older systems. The undigested solid wastes or the sludge settle at the bottom of the tank. Other systems have a chamber where the wastes are pretreated so that the solid wastes (grease, toilet paper) can be separated to avoid clogging up the system.

It is already widely known that the drain field is where the final treatment of the wastewater takes place. This is where the aerobic bacteria digests solid waste generated by the home. The idea is to ensure the digested effluent reaches the groundwater or water table. If your property cannot accommodate a drain field, aerobic septic system would be another option. With the help of the aeration system, sewage generated by the home would be properly digested and you will not be a hazard to the surrounding body of water or the public drinking water supply.

The treated water from the aerobic septic system can be used for irrigation or flushing toilets. This way, you can also save water and really take advantage of the recycled water that you have in your own property. Aerated septic systems are a great alternative to conventional septic systems because of the aggressive action of the aerobic bacteria. The resulting treated wastewater will be much cleaner and much more usable. The diffuser that you use manages the airflow. The gases that come out are odor-free and the removal of the solid wastes is even more enhanced.

Like any other system, there are certain set-backs to having an aerobic septic system. Aerating your septic system requires electricity because of the pump and the compressor.  This results in a higher electricity expense but if you use a solar septic tank aerator, you will never have to pay for the electric bill.  You could also encounter problems with the components if the septic system that should be repaired immediately and frequently as part of its maintenance.

You can purchase one of the aerobic septic systems as a whole or just have your present septic system retro fitted with additional components to be an aerobic system. You can just add the pump and the compressor. It is always best to seek the assistance of septic professionals so that you will be sure to keep in compliance with all state and local building code.

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Leach Bed Replacement Cost

Mar 30th, 2012
by septic9628.
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It’s your daughter’s graduation from college! Finally, all your hard work has paid off. A secure future is made for her from your sweat and blood. That’s what a good parent does. You made sure that you  gave her everything so that she would have all that she needed when the time of independence came in her life.

        There you were with your family. You were discussing things that your daughter wanted to do after graduation when a thought came to you. It was time to announce the graduation gift that your daughter wanted three years ago—a vacation in the tropics for two weeks. It took you some time to save up for that but finally, you had enough money for the vacation. When you announced the surprise, your daughter hugged and kissed you. You swathe excitement in her eyes and that was very priceless.

        Night time came and all of you decided to head back home. You just stopped by a local café to buy your favorite family blueberry cheesecake before making the turn. When you got home, you were surprised to hear your Great Dane barking from the porch. A foul odor reeked as you pulled up your driveway. When you turned on the floodlights to look at the lawn, it was flooded with the odorous liquid. It was the reason why your dog was going crazy. Your wife and daughter came out from inside the house to tell you about the backup of septic water in the drains and tub.

After a few minutes, your septic expert appeared with a couple of his men. Just one look told him that your leach bed has already failed for the last time and was in need of an immediate replacement. He said that it would cost somewhere between 6,000 -40,000 USD. Your jaws almost dropped to the ground. It was the cost of the graduation gift that you had planned for the following week. It was trouble for you. It would break your daughter’s heart if you cancel the trip but if you don’t have the leach bed replaced, your property is going to deteriorate and will be uninhabitable. You will even get complaints from everyone.

The moment your septic expert left, you have already made a decision. The leach field had to be replaced. You approached your daughter and talked to her. You explained how badly you needed a new leach bed. Your daughter was bewildered because you were apologizing for the cancelled vacation. She said that the house was more important and that it would bring her more joy if the house didn’t look and smell as bad anymore.

You must admit that this was your entire fault. Work was all that you thought about. Your wife had no idea about the proper care for the septic system because you were always the one who talked with the septic expert. The tank was not pumped on schedule so the sludge dispersed into the leach bed and clogged it. It failed to function efficiently and smoothly. That was the main reason why your leach bed needed replacement. Hopefully, you have learned your lesson.

Your daughter and wife approached you and told you that your sister was kind enough to accommodate you for a few weeks until the leach bed and the entire property was fully transformed back to its normal condition. It wasn’t healthy for you to stay there longer. Your Great Dane was already coughing so you had to bring him to the vet the next day as well. You apologized to everyone for the consequence of your neglect. Your daughter and wife hugged you and just told you that you could just have your vacation the following year if you wanted to. A smile spread on your lips at how your family accepted and adapted. You promised to be a reformed septic and leach bed system owner form that moment on.

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How to Clean a Lateral Line

Mar 7th, 2012
by septic9628.
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What is the secret to a long and happy life? Well, good health and a positive attitude are the usual answers to this question. But take a look at the more practical aspect of the matter. A long and happy life starts with a good living environment. Waking up to and sleeping in a clean and refreshing home filled with love is a must have. But how could you possibly achieve this? One of the means to having this is a smooth running septic system. As you may already know, the septic system is your own personal wastewater treatment facility that handles and recycles the wastewater that your household produces. With this system functioning at peak capcity under your home and out in your lateral lines, you can be assured that you will always have a healthy living space.

Your septic tank and your drain field are the main parts of your septic system. The septic tank contains the anaerobic bacteria that degrade the solid waste products that enter it. Three layers form in the septic tank—the scum (topmost layer of lightweight solid materials), the effluent (middle layer of clear fluid), and the sludge (bottom layer that results from the decomposition of the heavy waste materials that settle). The drain field is the area of your yard where the effluent passes through to be purified.  This is where the contaminants/pollutants and pathogens are filtered out by the biomat which is regulated by the aerobic bacteria. This is the last stage of wastewater treatment. Lateral lines are part of the drain field. These structures are responsible for distributing the treated effluent throughout the drain field. If these lateral lines are clogged, back up and failure may occur. Lateral lines should be cleaned as well. Here are some of the steps involved in cleaning lateral lines:

  1. It is essential that you know the location of your septic system.
  2. You should dig to reach the septic lid and the baffle covers as well. The septic baffles can be found about two feet behind and in front of the septic lid.
  3. When you see the lids, remove them.
  4. Inside the baffles are the inflow and outflow pipes (includes lateral lines). Clean away the sludge.
  5. Have your septic professional pump out the septic tank.
  6. Run water through your garden hose and push it through your pipes. Have the highest pressure turned on to really eliminate the scum coating that lines the pipes.
  7. Remove the hose after you flushed the pipes.
  8. Return the lids of the septic tank and the baffles after cleaning.
  9. You should mark the covers and lids for future cleaning.

In cleaning the lateral lines, you should keep in mind that this is only part of maintaining the smooth run of your septic system. Lateral lines are vital parts of your drain field. If they are blocked or clogged, your entire system will surely fail and your dream of a long and happy life will have a significant dent. It is not healthy for you and your family to wade in septic waste and inhale septic odors.

With this, you should make sure that you adhere to the set treatment and maintenance schedules that are recommended by your septic professional; that you should not plant trees on your drain field; that you should not use harmful chemicals or antibacterial cleansers; that you should not keep on dumping non-biodegradable things, fats, grease, and oils into your sinks, drains, and toilets; that you should install a dry well to lessen the system’s water load; and that you should not allow any form of construction or vehicle over your drain field. These measures could help lengthen the life of your lateral lines and septic system in general. If you really want to achieve a long and healthy life, start small, in your own home. Nothing is better than having a smooth running septic system that contributes to your coveted long and healthy life.

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Common Causes of Slow Draining Septic Systems

Feb 16th, 2012
by septic9628.
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Are you experiencing a stagnant pool of dirty water for a few minutes to about an hour after you have just showered, used the tub, or washing the dishes? It is quite disheartening to notice the slow draining of your tub or sink and naturally, you should definitely seek out what might be done to help cure the clogs. 

Usually, to save on costly service calls, you tend to get a plunger and try to pump out any clog that may have stayed in there to make the water move slowly. This can be a solution but not on a long term basis since you cannot expect yourself or any member of the household to get rid of the clog manually with the use of the plunger every single day. You know that there is something wrong with the septic system and you wonder what to do. Well, here are a few things that many homeowners are guilty of and perhaps you too. Take a look and see where you might be able to improve. 

Slow draining septic systems can be caused by several things: 

  1. System overuse

If your household has too many people who give out waste and use water, more than what your septic tank has the capacity for, then expect a slow drain to develop pretty soon. Water usage is of primary concern here because if there is too much water used, then the septic tank takes too long to drain. Plus, the sediments at the bottom of the tank will be stirred up again and then flow into the leach field. This will clog up the system and cause backup flow of the raw sewage into your home and yard perimeter. 

  1. Long maintenance intervals

Maintaining your septic system indeed takes time, attention, and money. But if you adhere to the regularity of the inspection, pumping, and overall maintenance of your septic system, then you will have a happy septic system and a quick-draining home. You should have a schedule already set for this or at least assign a member of the family to remind you of the pumping schedule. 

  1. Clogs

This is the most common reason as to why there are slow draining septic systems. You may experience stagnant pools on the bathroom floor or in the kitchen sink that also reek of unpleasant sewage odors. This may be caused by hairballs, tissue paper, scum, solidified cooking oil, or other solidified materials that have stayed in the drain for a long time. These clogs hinder the flow of water into the septic tank and cause the slow drainage. You could use a plunger, hot water, or drain clearing products available in the market today. 

  1. Mechanics

Mechanical issues also case slow drains. There might be some part of the sink or toilet that has become Ill fitted over time which is now causing the slow drain. These should be checked by a service man so that you may use your drainages and fixtures properly and efficiently. 

  1. Failure

The failure of the septic system is a very obvious cause of slow drainage. This may be caused by so many factors such as excessive water use, dumping of antibacterial soaps and solutions, poor maintenance, and even using too much baking soda in cleaning drains. If the septic tank is left in poor condition with very little bacterial population and too much sediment, then accept the fact that your drains will be slow for a while. Failure can addresses using a strong restoration product provided mechanical breakage or root intrusion is taken care of first. 

In any scenario, prevention is better than a cure so make use of strainers, and avoid irresponsible use to keep slow drains from happening in the first place. Remember, water is now “liquid gold” when you are dealing with any type of slow drain issue brought upon by a septic condition.

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Causes of Cesspit Saturation

Feb 2nd, 2012
by septic9628.
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You are a home owner and you have a cesspit installed out in your yard. This serves as the waste disposal unit for the entire household. Like the septic system, the cesspit system also needs responsible care and maintenance. When ignored and forgotten about, cesspit system performance can degrade, leading to poor seepage and cesspit saturation.

                As you know, a cesspit system is both a soil absorption system and a septic tank system in one. It is constructed as a deep hole that is generally three to six feet in diameter and is lined with blocks of stones and concrete. The cesspit is also installed to a depth that is ideal for it to reach the soil where the waste if further broken down and purified. The household’s waste directly flows through a solid pipe right into the collecting tank. The sewage stays stagnant in the collection tank for the surrounding soil to absorb it. This happens as the solid waste stay at the top. The drainage trench then takes care of any amount of overflow.

                The main cause of cesspit saturation is the accumulation of gunk, oil, soap scum, and grease on the walls of the tank. This prevents the water from seeping through at the desired rate. Accumulation of water then occurs in the tank. When this happens, the sewage water backs up into the house. This also results in the slow draining of the toilet, sink, and shower drains. Overtime, if this is not given attention and corrected, the walls of the cesspit will be completely clogged and the holes will become non-existent. The entire cesspit tank will then become like a collection tank of sewage. You would then be left with the dilemma of constantly draining the tank every two or three months.

                You should make sure that you start the ideal maintenance of the cesspit right after it has been constructed or pumped out. Doing so will help you maintain good and efficient drainage all throughout your household. It is very irritating and costly to ignore cesspit saturation. You may be able to help a little and temporarily by clearing out the drains in your home but eventually, the main problem should be addressed and resolved. In problem systems, the walls of the cesspit holding tank should be cleaned down at ideal intervals so that the liquid being collected will effectively drain through the surrounding ground area. This way, the tank itself will be rid of the water and only the solidified wastes will be left. You don’t have to worry about the solid wastes because these will be broken down by the bacteria or digesters present.

                As a responsible homeowner, be vigilant in taking care of your cesspit. In your household, use filters in the drains all around your home so that you can be sure that no solid or non-biodegradable wastes will not pass through the drain and accumulate in the walls of the cesspit. If you have solidifies oils or soap scum, just place them in a paper bag and dispose of it in the trash. This will dramatically lessen the gunk that goes into the cesspit collecting tank. As a result, the cesspit will be able to drain faster and hopefully you can avoid dealing with a system that has become saturated. Think of the money that you will save when you always maintain the proper functioning of your cesspit. It will benefit your household, your living environment, and most especially, your health if you do your part in preventing cesspit saturation.

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Why Is There Yellow Grass Over My Septic?

Jan 25th, 2012
by septic9628.
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Having a lush, green lawn is every lawn owner’s dream. Whether it’s the front yard or the backyard it is always a relaxing thing to have greenery around the home. If your septic system is efficiently functioning and a free-flow of effluent is present, then you will have no problem with maintaining the perfect grass. But when you suddenly see patches of yellow grass over the area of your septic system, then be warned. This is a sign of a septic system failure. 

Yellow grass or dead grass on a different part of your lawn could tell you that the area is not sufficiently watered or cared for, but yellow grass over the septic tank area tells you that the system has entered into the beginning stages of failure. This is because the soil that’s supposed to be the leach field or the drain field doesn’t have enough depth to retain water or moisture. Read on for the more specific details of why there’s yellow grass over your septic system:

  1. Failure in hydraulics

The hydraulic of the septic system fails when it cannot manage purifying the wastewater and effluent anymore. This happens when there is a clog or blockage in the system, which prevents the liquids from being dispersed into the surrounding soil. The dispersed effluent is supposed to be further broken down by the bacteria present there. The specific blockage or clog creates an unclean environment for the grass. The non-degraded wastes act as a poison to the lawn with the byproduct gases choking away the lawns ability to create chlorophyll. This can also be evident in the strong smells coming from that area. 

  1. Soil depth inefficiency

Another cause of yellow grass over the septic tank is the top layer of soil over the septic tank is very thin for the grass roots to freely grow. When the grassroots lengthen, they immediately feel the block from the tank below or enter into the leach bed area which is toxic to the grass due to its carbon dioxide and high nitrogen levels. This thin layer of soil also won’t be able to hold moisture that will sustain the roots of their needed nutrients to really stay healthy and lush. The width of the septic tank will also hinder the grass from accessing water from the soil surrounding the tank as well.

This kind of problem can be usually be solved by determining what the issue at had is and then correcting it. If the soils depths are an issue, raise the light areas up with the addition of soils. Gently rake new soil over the depressed or shallow areas so as to allow more depth for the grass roots to exist in. Remember to never dump soil over your field lines, rather, have the soil dumped nearby and rake it over. 

If the soils are fine depth wise, the slowdown of performance within your system needs to be addressed so as to alleviate the pressures forcing liquid or gases to the upper soil levels. If damage exists, the septic tank needs to be emptied during repairs. This is done with a special hose through which the effluent will pass through. Clear the area of children and pets while the repairs are going on. If the system is in need of bacteria remediation, follow manufacturer instructions closely and avoid excessive water use throughout the treatment stage. 

To prevent your grass bed from dying or turning yellow, you should only plant the grass on topsoil that is at least six inches thick. This will allow a large soil allowance for the grass roots to grow and get firmly established. The area should also be free of people and pets so that the grass will have the space and the freedom to grow and spread.  Over time, add more soil to the area until it is more than enough to sustain grass growth. You could also reseed from time to time to ensure a healthy continuity of grass generations over your septic system. It is important for you to maintain your lawn grass healthy over the septic system because their horizontal roots prevent erosion and collapse over the system. 

Yellow grass is a “sign” that something is happening. It’s best to take a very proactive approach when dealing with septic issues and whatever the diagnoses, be expedient in your endeavor to correct the issue. While discoloration of grass may be a temporary issue, not addressing the issue quickly can lead to more severe problems which of course will be much more costly in the end.

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Adventures of a Leach Field Treatment

Jan 12th, 2012
by septic9628.
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You have never thought to have your leach field treated ever since you had the septic system installed. After all, you’re not even sure what the heck a leach field is let alone how to treat it? Your system has already served you for years already without maintaining it at all and it has always been tradition in your family to leave the septic system alone. But now, you regret how you have been careless in treating it. The biggest thing that you have ever done for your septic system was to drop a block of baker’s yeast in to the septic tank. That was it! For you it was the biggest load of treatment that you could ever do to your septic system. When you placed that block of yeast and closed the lid of your septic tank, you smiled, and never looked back. 

                Now, you wait for the septic professional in your area to arrive and help you with the crisis that you are having at home. It is slowly becoming a strenuous glitch in your relationship with your family and neighbors. You have denied the problem for a very long time but since there is nothing more that you can do to correct it; you’ve decided to follow your wife’s advice and call the septic expert at the soonest possible time. Being handy, you have long refused to pay for the septic service so you did your best in setting the drains straight whenever they backed up. This time, everything that you did before, doesn’t seem to take effect anymore. You know that you have to accept the fact that you have to spend some money already to give the proper care that your septic system has been denied all these years. 

                After a few more minutes of waiting, the septic expert arrives. He assesses the system and breaks the news that the leach field is severely failing and the septic tank is already overflowing. The main cause is the accumulated sludge in the septic tank. The resulting gunk paved the way for the biomat to proliferate. The aerobic bacteria in the leach field were overpowered by the anaerobic bacteria and were no longer able to purify the wastewater. Everything seemed to be connected to each other but the root of all these is your neglect in caring for your septic system. 

                The expert tells you that your leach field could still be restored by using a leach field treatment. The strongly advised leach field treatment is using non-pathogenic bacteria to get rid of all the sludge that has overtaken the septic tank and the leach field. It is an all-natural and a very safe leach field treatment so you don’t have to worry about its hazardous effects on your family or the environment. In using the leach field treatment, your household has to stop using antibacterial solutions or detergents to allow the introduced bacterial culture to do their job. It would be better to stop the excessive use of the septic system for a while. You could stop long showers, doing laundry in your home, or using the garbage disposal until the leach field becomes optimal again. It can be a bit of trouble for your household but these things should be done while using the leach field treatment. It is vital for the leach field to get back to normal function because once this component of the septic system fails, the entire system collapses performance wise. This means that you would have to spend thousands of dollars to buy and install a brand new septic system. 

                When everything was set straight again, you heaved a sigh a sigh of relief because there will no longer be an odorous, soggy morning for you and for your entire household. There will be no neighbor to complain about the odors coming from your yard anymore. It will definitely be a brand new septic perception for you this time. Just adhere to your pumping out and inspection responsibilities so that the same dilemma won’t happen again.

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Types of Septic Drain Field Designs

Jan 7th, 2012
by septic9628.
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Once you have purchased a home, one of the most important things that you have to take care of first is the septic system. Not all septic systems are the same. The design largely depends on how you would want it to work for you and for your surrounding environment. 

The septic drain field’s purpose is to keep the waste underground away from humans and the surrounding environment. A septic drain field per se, is a system under the surface that recycles wastewater. It makes use of bacteria to digest the solid waste and return the treated wastewater back to the soil. Usually, about three or four trenches comprise the drain field. These structures that are embedded eighteen to twenty four inches below the ground along with a pipe that is perforated are then covered with twelve to eighteen inches of dumped gravel, which is then covered by about six inches of soil.

If your drain field is well-designed and installed, it will be able to distribute and treat the wastewater to a large area and later, to the subsurface soils below it. This is accomplished by the distribution box and the drain field lines themselves. The surrounding soil then filters the wastewater with the anaerobic bacteria. Any diseases in the wastewater will be neutralized by the bacteria that are present in the drain field. To achieve the ideal septic drain field, the area in which it will be built in should be well assessed and well calculated by professionals. This is to make sure that the space is appropriate and the percolation rate of the soil is ideal. 

You look around your yard now and think of the perfect septic drain field design that’s appropriate. Maybe the following types of septic field designs can help you with your decision: 

  1. Gravel-lined/Conventional Drain field

The conventional design of a drain field is comprised of beds or trenches that are lined with coarse sand or gravel and are buried or embedded one to three feet underground. The perforated drain tiles or pipes are the ones that distribute the wastewater over the gravel layer before it is absorbed by the soil. Here, the gravel layer helps support the drain field, stores the wastewater for peak flow times, separates the pipes from the soil, and distributes the effluent. This drain field design is inexpensive and always available. But only washed gravel is used because the particulates will clog the surface of infiltration and this will eventually become a problem. One of the drawbacks of this design is that there is a high possibility that the soil will become compacted because of the accumulated weight of the gravel. If the soil is not that loose as it was before, then the wastewater will not percolate through it. 

  1. Gravel-less Drain field

This design is known to be affordable and simple. The gravel-less drain field is used in places that consider sewers impractical. The same flow as in a regular septic system happens in a gravel-less drain field. The only difference is that there is no use of gravel in the beds or trenches. In place of gravel, they use foam chips, glass, plastic, shale, expanded clay, polystyrene, fiber membrane, sand, and rubber. There alternatives do the same work as gravel such as propping up the pipes to separate them from the soil and prevent clogging , dispersing the effluent, storing the effluent until it can be absorbed by the soil, and supporting the walls of the trenches. There are variations of the gravel-less system wherein slitted or wrapped pipes that are corrugated are used instead of the mentioned alternatives. The corrugated pipes are made of plastic and have a diameter of eight to ten inches. They are also covered with nylon or geotextile fabric. The effluent is filtered through the fabric. In most areas, the gravel-less is much more preferred because it is more practical, easy to handle, dust-free, simple in maintenance, and easy on the soil.

  1. Chamber system

This design is easy to install and is often known as leaching chambers. The chambers here are comprised of pipes that have open bottoms and are usually made of high-density plastic, brick, or fiberglass. These chambers are in the shape of a dome, fifteen to forty inches in width. They are made of light-weight but strong material. The panels interlock with one another and can be secured with fasteners and screws. Native soil or any porous material suggested is placed around the chambers to add strong support. Each of the chambers has a so-called inspection port for the monitoring of the water levels. The effluent is transported through a 4-inch pipe. The pipes have geotextile fabric wrapped around them. Then, the wastewater is treated by the surrounding soil. 

Whatever design you prefer, you should still maintain your septic system drain fields very well. Learn about the system you have and research what best methods can be applied to your system to keep it running in an optimal state.

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Dealing with an Overflowing or Leaking Distribution Box or D-Box

Dec 27th, 2011
by septic9628.
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You are now living the dream. You finally have a house under your name and a family to share it with. But with this great blessing is a responsibility that is as big as the decision you made and the money you spent—caring and maintaining your septic system. As with any septic system, leaks can, and do, develop sometimes. Since different leaks mean different things, your remediation approach will need to be designed to match the condition. When your distribution box shows leakage signs, you have your first clue which tells you that you drainage system beyond the D-Box is not functioning properly.

                Let’s back up a little. One of the main things that you have to know about your septic system is the location of your distribution box or d-box. This is a main component that is at risk of significant leaks because it is the meeting point of the septic pipes. What if the distribution box or d-box leaks or overflow.

                If you suspect that the problem in your septic system may be caused by an overflow or leak in your d-box, you know that you can concentrate your efforts on restoring flow at and beyond the d-box. Locating the d-box may take time, especially if you have no idea where it was installed before you moved into your home. In finding your d-box to clarify the leak or overflow problem, you need to gain vital information on the design and diagram of your septic system. You can acquire the help of the health department or the county/city office that granted the permit of your septic system’s installation. When you finally locate your d-box and have dug it up successfully, you need to remember the location and then carefully assess the d-box’s condition.

                The leak or overflow in your d-box may be because of the drain field’s groundwater saturation, backing up of the water out into the d-box lid, and drain field flooding. When drainage blockage causes the d-box to overflow, simply sealing its lid or cover is not enough. The saturation of the drain field is most usually the main culprit causing the clog to occur in the first place because of the surrounding soils inability to absorb water rapidly. Remediating the drainage issues can be accomplished and should be instituted quickly since the back-up pressures will have a snowball affect, causing rapid deterioration of the soils.

                If in the event that your d-box is leaking due to a certain degree of damage, you can replace the d-box unit itself or whatever damaged component needs repair. If you do replace the d-box, be sure to install a duplicate unit of the original. Installing a “one size fits all” type unit may cause a low level line that could flood, change the flow of effluent, or balance the flow of effluent incorrectly. Make sure that you maintain the use of the septic system even if you have to replace the d-box. This is possible through a temporary connection.

                Whether it is leaking from or leaking into the d-box, you should make sure that you do not seal the d-box lid or cover permanently. You should check the pipes inside the distribution box and observe if any needs replacement or sealing. Leaks may be brought about by uneven pressures within different pipes. You may want to seek the assistance of a septic professional to get this done. The professional may also be able to provide a preventive solution to the leak or overflow in your d-box. Be sure to thoroughly investigate anything that the professional has to offer service wise and seek third party opinions always.

                It is really very difficult to try and troubleshoot your own septic system especially when you don’t know what the best move is. If you do your homework or get the proper help, you most often will be able to correct the d-box overflow, damage, or leak that you have.

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