Septic Tank Recharge???

Security101

Hey Guy's,

I live in northern Indiana (not that I think it matters - but maybe it does) and have had septic cleanings about 5-6 times over the years.

The first guy came out oh 15 years ago or so at one property and pumped the tank. When he finished that he inspected then I guess "back-flushed" the tank and left the tank full with what he called fresh(er) water. I asked why he refilled it as it made no real sense to me (why would you pump out 1000 gal only to put 8-1000 gal back in??).

He stated he needed to "recharge it" "up here in Indiana" and get the bacteria back working again. I still wasn't sure if it made sense.

I have watched 3 different contractors do this at my properties.

We'll we had them out again this year (last year as well where he added "a $130 cup of root eater" to kill the obvious root's visible from the inspection cover). This year I wasn't able to watch him when he came to the door and stated "last years treatment worked great - I saw no roots"!

Christmas day our stool clogged and the drains were gurgling (I figured the torrential rains and the 8" of snow melting in one day had flooded the field and we'll give it a day to see).

Still an issue today - so I go out and dig up the cover again to see if it's under pressure or full - nope looks normal about 6" below the baffle top.

All of the sudden I look into the inlet side and see a pile of root - what is that doing here - I thought "it had all cleared up"!

I take a hook and try to grab it, and that's when it began to roll - into I'm not exaggerating a full size hog in size. Close to 4' long and 24" diameter.

OK, so I'm a pretty smart guy - I got a root problem and upon further inspection with a mirror the inlet has what looks a 3-4" waterfall of root coming out and I cant see the inlet itself.

Few questions:
Anybody heard of leaving the tank almost full after a back flush? (sounds like good money - $160 to pump - but only dump 100gal at the treatment center)(is there a "cross contamination issue" between jobs - you know "my stuff in your stuff" kind of thing??)

Is there any way he could have missed that root issue whilst cleaning/inspecting?

I'm going to probably have to replace the inlet pipe (there is a big tree there and we know it's an issue). Do I need or have to install a outside trap for easier cleaning of the pipe? Sounds like a good idea if plausible, as now to relieve the pressure I have to open the trap in a my daughters newly re-modeled bedroom.

Any guidance would be appreciated as you guys do this all the time...

Thanks
Jim

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cleveman

I think the only reason to leave water in the tank is so that the tank won't pop out of the ground in wet conditions.

There is no reason to have to recharge a tank, unless what you're flushing down the toilets is sterile.

I think he should have caught the root ball. never had root problems, but never had a tree nearby a system.

Chris Johnson

I was told to get the bacteria working again either put some liver in the disposal or throw the neighbors cat in the tank...either works equally well

With a root that big I would wager the guy opened the lid, didn't look like it really needed a cleaning, closed it up and said all good, here's your invoice.

Call him on it, watch him stammer around and get your money back

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Chris

Security101

Wow what a mess I found.

The entire first baffle was full of roots and that was the major issue as it had the inlet blocked - problem solved.

The septic guy apparently didn't know there was another cover 5' from the one he has been using (we didn't know either - but we're laymen)

Upon some more Googleing I determined there must be another one closer to the inlet and dug that up and found the problem.

My guess is when he pumped, the roots in that first area just laid down against the wall as they were attached at the inlet. because that baffle was in between the hole he was using and the inlet he couldn't see it.

If he had said there was probably another hole we would have dug it up too so he could examine it.

Oh well, it's working now and all is well (but I don't know what to do with the huge piles of roots - anybody want to come pick them up, you'll need a small pick-up)

Thanks for your help folks, let me know if you have any security questions...

Jim

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odellconstruct

most 1,000 gallon tanks have 2 access points , on concrete units they use rebar for handles to make it easy to find them with a metal detector .. im suprised the guy didnt know this he must not have ever installeda unit just a driver thats does the sucking prob was told that he only is to do ''visable inspections "

Security101

I believe he's the owner, but no biggie now...

Jim

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