Response to Sewage Backup, FAQs-2

Q&A on Cause & Remedy for Septic or Sewer Backup

Sewage Backup Related to Outdoor Septic Failure Evidence FAQs

Cave-in Near Septic Tank followed by Sewage Backup Indoors

My (septic system) has been backing up but it is almost entirely clear water coming up in the toilets. occasionally I have one shower stall that gets some brownish/clear water with some small particles -- everything else is totally clear.

I have put in high quality emergency and maintenance cultures and the problem started to go away

-- but now it has come back after three days of no problems (and almost no rain). Can anyone give me a hint on what is likely happening and what the next step should be?

Usually within 45 minutes of an occurrence the water goes down and by the next morning our family of four (three bathrooms) can use water normally. The system was revamped prior to our moving in 12 years ago.

There is a large leach field and two tanks, one a very large holding tank that I am going to check tomorrow, but which after 10 years had only water in the bottom to the leach field line.

This tank has a direct feed from one bathroom which doesn't come up as much as the others. The other tank does not show up on any prints but I have been told that it is there -

- it has not been pumped but this is the first (and sudden -- two weeks -- problem after years of no problems. We use no chemicals, only biodegradable cleaners and bacteria cultures.

We have a 27 foot above ground that caved and drained about 8 weeks ago that is close to the large tank. Hopefully this provides enough info for someone to offer some input? Thanks On 2018-04-11 by Anonymous

by (mod) -

Most likely there's a blocked main drain or a failing septic system. The backup is of course unsanitary, risking disease no matter how nice the backup water looks.

Watch out: do not open, lean over, or try to enter a septic tank unless you're trained and equipped to do so, and even then, not working alone. Simply leaning over a septic tank can leave you overcome by fumes, falling into the tank, and then dead.

I agree that once a plumber confirms that the main drain piping is not clogged the inspection continues at the septic tank.

Take a look at CLOGGED DRAIN vs SEPTIC PROBLEM

then see SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS -

Sewage or Septic Backup through Floor Drain FAQs

How do I fix sewage coming up through the basement floor drain?

My basement floor drain is backing up from septic line, how do I fix that? On 2018-01-10 by Greg

by (mod) -

Greg

First: You need to have the septic system inspected to figure out if the problem is a clogged main drain (cleared by a plumber with a drain auger) or a failed septic system (more trouble and cost).

You might start by just having the drain line cleared. But

Watch out: if the root cause of this sewage backup is a septic system failure (sewage is backing up into the building from the septic tank or septic system) then a more thorough diagnosis and reapair of your septic system is needed.

Be sure to read SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS

There are retrofit floor drain traps that will prevent backups but that won't fix the underlying problem and the backup may simply come up out of the lowest nearby plumbing fixture like a shower drain or a toilet.

See the detailed suggestions found at

CHECK VALVES on DRAINS, SEWAGE PUMPS, SUMP PUMPS

and at

FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS