You are going about your daily routine --
taking a shower, using the bathroom, making breakfast, using the
garbage disposal etc. You notice that the plumbing is moving a
little bit slower than usual -- you may even begin to notice a
foul smell coming from the drains - then it happens. After a
brief stop to the restroom you notice the garbage disposal,
toilet and other items have made their way into the shower
floor!
In a panic, you realize that the septic
system is full and you can't remember the last time (if ever)
you had the septic tank pumped. You pick up the yellow pages and
dial a septic company to come and pump the tank. You are
relieved to see the shower has drained and that your plumbing
nightmare is over -- or so you think!
You go about your life and forget about the
septic nightmare you just experienced. You get back to life and
your daily routine and it happens again. There in the shower is
that familiar sludge! Yuck. What is happening?
What are leaching fields exactly? Well, the
leach fields are underground gravel beds that receive all of the
fluids from the septic tank. Fluid runs to a distribution box
and then to these gravel beds. After a number of years tree
roots, or sediment begins to clog the gravel beds and perforated
pipe. Eventually these lines become so completely stopped up
that the liquid has nowhere to go but back into the tank, back
up the drain pipe and into the lowest level of your home.
So, what do you do about this?
A number of companies on the web will
attempt to sell you chemical products that they claim will
repair your trouble. In my opinion you are wasting your money.
Once the leach fields are in this sort of shape you will most
likely need to consider replacing the leach fields.
If you are handy -- and extremely brave,
you could attempt to resolve this on your own, but you should be
warned that this is a nasty job with lots of smells and
disgusting sludge. If you can get over the smells and a little
mess then it's time to get started.
Rent a backhoe from your local equipment
yard and begin digging at the outlet side of the tank. Once you
have uncovered the outlet pipe, cut the pipe with a pvc saw. If
you have clay pipe I think it's just easier to break off the
clay pipe completely and insert a new solid PVC or SDR35 drain
pipe. Once you have inserted the new pipe into the tank you can
mortar it in.
Now, contact the local septic tank
manufacturer and ask for a concrete distribution box and lay the
box level a few inches below the outlet pipe. You now have a
place from which to start your trenches. Now, begin to dig your
trenches at 3' to 4' below the distribution box. You will want
to make your trenches to the original plan in order to install
the same amount of leach area.
Now, fill the trenches with 3/4' to 1'
gravel and lay your perforated pipes level throughout the
trenches. Backfill with at least 6" of gravel over the pipe and
cover with a soil seperator.
Now, you are ready to backfill!
I have given you the very basics but I
think you can get the idea. It's not rocket science but you want
to make sure you talk with your local Department of
Environmental Quality before starting your work. In some cases
you will be required to scrap all of this and hookup to the city
sewer system if they have expanded service to your area.
If you are not up for this work (not for
most people) call on a licensed septic installer and get your 3
estimates. Make sure you ask about what kind of condition they
will leave the area when they are done. If you want to save a
little money you can take care of the clean up yourself.
I hope this helped in some way. Good luck
to you!
If you are looking for a Kansas City plumber please call us
at 913.724.3950 or complete
our service
request form.
