I have found that by adding air to the system, seems to help. Of course to add the air you need to pump out the contents first.
I couldn’t find this procedure reccomended by looking for it using google. Do you have a link or other resource that discusses this? Thanks in advance.
Yesterday’s home had the Insink-Erator device which the AHJ failed. The septic tank leach failed too.
http://www.egr.msu.edu/age/aenewsletter/1_march_april_05/loudon4_05.htm
http://www.egr.msu.edu/age/aenewsletter/1_march_april_05/bae_newsletter_michmap.jpg
Will Additives Help My Septic Tank?
By: Dr. Ted Loudon
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by septic tank owners. The short answer is that there is no scientific evidence that conclusively proves that additives are beneficial. However, additives which greatly add to the biological actions in the septic tank or those which tend to kill off the biological activity to control odor can result in excess suspended solids flowing out of the tank to the drainfield.
A septic tank is a buried vault that accepts the flow of raw sewage from the home and is large enough that the sewage has a chance to spread and the flow velocity become nearly zero. On the average, wastewater is in the tank for 2 to 4 days. This gives plenty of time for solids that are heavier than water to settle in the tank and those which are lighter than water to float to the top and be skimmed off by the outlet baffle. A tank that is working normally will result in an outflow which is relatively low in suspended solids. There are commercially available screens which can be added to the outlet of the septic tank to prevent excess solids leaving the tank. These screens have a large amount of surface area and as solids build up on them they tend to slough off and drop to the bottom of the tank. Screens are considered to be a more reliable means of protecting the downstream components of the systems such as the soil absorption system than using additives. Generally screens have a large enough surface area that they do not require servicing any more often than the frequency of pumping the tank.
Septic tank additives that are advertised as products that will eliminate the need for removing settled solids from the tank are to be avoided. If these products are actually effective in meeting the stated claim, they undoubtedly result in excess suspended solids flowing out of the tank and into the drainfield where they will cause premature clogging and possible failure of the drainfield. Some additives may actually contain chemicals that can pollute groundwater.
There may be special circumstances where biological additives for the septic tank are warranted. These special circumstances may be where homeowners are required to take antibiotics on a continual basis, where there is someone in the home who is on chemotherapy for an extended period of time, or where dialysis takes place. Wastewater from these conditions can greatly reduce the population of normal organisms in the septic tank and may be a condition where enhancing the organism population through additives could be warranted.
The best advice is to use the septic tank normally, spreading clothes washing throughout the week rather than doing it all at once and minimize other hydraulic loads.
Extensive use of a garbage grinder adds both hydraulic load and excess solids to the tank. Studies have shown that where an adequate septic tank volume (1,000 gallons or larger) is present and where outlet effluent screens are used, the use of a garbage grinder is not necessarily detrimental but it does increase the rate of solids built up in the septic tank requiring more frequent pumping of the tank.
The frequency of septic tank pumping depends upon the size of tank and the number of people using the tank. For a 1,000 gallon septic tank utilized by 4 people, the normal recommendation is to pump the tank every 3 to 5 years. If the number of people in the house drops to 2, then the septic tank pumping interval can be extended up to 6 or 7 years with a 1,000 gallon tank. Many newer homes have tanks of 1,500 gallons capacity or larger. With larger tanks, they are commonly built in two compartments and the septic tank pumping interval can be extended proportionately.
There are many good web sites for additional information. A fairly detailed review of septic tank additives (pdf) and the research that has been done can be found at the National Small Flows Clearinghouse
Did he say why he failed it?
In-Sink-Erator makes disposers specifically for homes with septic systems, which that one seems to be. They work quite well.
Of course, I can’t tell from the picture whether or not it is installed properly.
I hate to interupt a good squabble, but one should not judge the effectiveness of a septic SYSTEM treatment by what is in the tank. Most additives are highly recommended by the tank pumping companies because they keep the tanks clean and easy to pump. The additives do this by not allowing the solids to properly settle. Therefore, your leach line is having to deal with solids that it is not designed to handle and may eventually fail. It is only a question of transmisivity of the material surounding the leach line and time.
Heres the facts. Do you research and you’ll see that here is the real deal lowdown on septic tank treatments.
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Chemicals do more harm than good. Dont use chemicals to treat a failing or failed system.
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Bacterial products DO WORK. Septic treatment plants use them and so do hundreds of thousands of major treatment needy companies such as pulp, farm, glue and chemical processing plants. Find a potent product and buy it if your blocked up. Replacing a drain field can run 30k in some states. Dojt let the pumper talk you out of atleast trying bacterial remediation before you go replacing the field.
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Our crap contains coliform suitable to breakdown what we produce and in the early 1700’s, that was sufficient. With the invent of antibacterial soaps, bleaches, detergents, cleaners, medicines, paints chlorine form the tap and everthing else we use that kills bacteria, septic tanks can no longer function liek they should and you NEED to make sure you have bacterial addidtive in order to ELIMINATE…YES ELIMINATE pumpouts and avoid a clogged and congested drainfield that stinks.
Thats the facts… The rest is opinion without merrit.
Sorry What I read is you tell us your opinion, Facts that need some verification to prove what you say ,until then I am sorry but I think you are full of the stuff that makes septic tanks work quite well than you,
This is proving my statement
http://www.egr.msu.edu/age/aenewsletter/1_march_april_05/loudon4_05.htm
and that is the facts
…Cookie
Who’s facts sir?
You have offered only unsubstatiated opinion and no supporting evidence and then you tell us to do the research to prove your assertions. I have researched this issue and independant studies from more several universities do not support your FACTS.:roll:
He is just another sales person trying to push his product.
Fortunatly NACHI HIs are smarter then he is .
He put his web site on this post
http://www.nachi.org/forum/showpost.php?p=235627&postcount=17
Cookie
Thanks Roy,
What a surprise-NOT. Probably a relative of RR.
Who is RR I don’t remember reading any of his stufffffffffffFFFFFFFFFFF.
… Cookie
Coming from a large Mormon and Catholic family that don’t know what birth control is, I literally have hundreds of relatives in Idaho, Utah, and Texas who are now, at my recommendation, using bioorganic additives. All of them have reported at the various family reunions that their septic systems are working better than ever and require less yearly maintenance and more time between pumping. Perhaps it only works for my family members. Anyone wanna join? Let me know and I’ll get our membership package to you with all its requirements, including the annual membership fee of $99 but, for a limited time only, available to readers here for just $29. And there are hundreds of benefits. :mrgreen: