Septic System Failure Signs-FAQs

Index to all Q&A about Indications that the soakbed is failing
Partial septic failure: just some lines
Piping failures in septic systems
Septic failure vs service needed
Sewage backups mean septic failure?

Septic System Piping / Venting Failure FAQs

Is it possible to identify what's blocking or clogging a drain or septic system?

Can you find things in septic or drains that caused it.. Landlord is blaming me On 2017-02-14 by Maria DeFalco

Answer by (mod)

Yes often, Maria, if the plumber uses a sewer line inspection camera the cause of blockage can be seen.

 

What's the purpose of a hole in the effluent pipe where it enters the septic mound?

When inspecting the pipe into the mound system . the pipe entering the mound has a hole that flows back into the tank . Is this normal or is it a leak?'

Just to clarify , the pipe coming off the pump, into the mound , has a hole on the bottom , is this for pressure? or did my pipe spring a leak? On 2015-11-04 by ted

Answer by (mod)

I'm not sure and am not familiar with this design detail; if the hole looks drilled or man-made it is probably deliberate, perhaps to prevent water from standing in a pipe that could then be exposed to freeezing?

How is the effluent returning to the tank: surely not simply running through soil or a soil trench. That'd sound like a problem.

But if your effluent delivery pipe is a drain-back design that intends the effluent from an uphill mound to flow back to the pumping chamber at the septic tank after the pump turns off, that could work provided that during the pump-ON cycle effluent isn't being sprayed out of that hole where it shouldn't go.

Why won't my septic system drain if its vent tube caps are closed?

My septic system won't drain if vent tube caps are on what would cause this? On 2016-11-06 by Nick

Answer by (mod)

If you mean that the drainfield pipes will not drain unless Vince are opened in the field I suspect that the septic tank is back flooded or at an abnormally high level, or is blocked.

Septic Failure vs. Just Needs Service FAQs

How much should I allow for replacing a whole septic system in Wexford Ireland?

I am looking at an very old property in Wexford, Ireland which has not been lived in for at leat ten years.

I want to put in an offer but I am worried as the auctioneers says the septic tank would need replacing. Other people have said it may just need a service/clean etc.

It it totally overgrown with briars and it is impossible to even see it. I am afraid that the cost or replacing it will be very high. I want to put an offer in for the property but don't know how much to offer as the cost to replace the system may run into thousands of euro. Thanks, Aine On 2016-10-03 by Aine O'Sullivan

Answer by (mod)

Aine

I would assume, if the septic tank itself has failed, that you may well need an entirely new system: septic tank, drainfield or absorptino bed, and, depending on the kind of septic system that was installed, there may be need for more parts and equipment: a pumping chamber, pumps, piping, distribution box, etc.

So in my OPINION smartest would be to get a local septic engineer on-site to give you a ballpark estimate - someone who knows local soil conditions and who also knows how to outline the capacity or size of septic tank and drainfield you'll need.

Nobody with any sense would guess that that from just the little that you know about the system so far

A quick online search for "septic engineer in Wexford ireland" will give you a list of local companies or nearby ones such as Pat Kehoe, TPW Systems, and Kelly Environmental.

Daniel Friedman

Partial Septic Drainfield Failure: Just some Lines Q&A

Some drainfield sections are getting no effluent, how do I adjust this?

Hi, my leach bed is divided into two sections. I've noticed that there is no drainage coming out of either drain pipe from either section.

However, there is clear water ( looks like drinking water) flowing into the 9th (have a total of 9) d- box. It is not flowing into the box through one of the pvc pipes but from a smaller hole in back of the box with a black plastic ring around the hole. Any ideas why? On 2016-08-26 by Tony

Answer by (mod)

Tony:

Check the D-box to see how those eccenctric holes in the outlet pipes are adjusted; you may want to send effluent into half of the total drainage lines at a time, letting the other field section rest for 5-10 years.

by Tony - Backflow into the D-box - there are 9 of them in my septic system

Thank you for responding. This is where my confusion lies. I have 9 D-boxes and each has a changeable elbow.

I believe some are placed incorrectly because I have no drainage at all coming out of either section of the leach bed. However, it appears to be flowing back into the last D-box.

by (mod)

Backflow into the D-box or one of them suggests that that drainfield line is saturated and failed, or has become blocked.

You don't want to see effluent leaking out of the very end of the drainfield trench - that'd be a different type of septic failure; rather the effluent should be dispersed into soil along the length of the trench.

I'd stop sending effluent into the failed line and I'd suggest using one or several of the other lines, accomplished by adjusting the flow control in each of your nine D-boxes. Use the page bottom CONTACT link if you'd like to send photos for further comment.
Daniel

What does it mean if one septic drainfield trench is "dry" ?

when inserting a probe into the drain field/ leachfield, if the gravel is dry, does that mean that the drainfield is bad or could it mean that the d-box is clogged? thanks! On 2014-06-12 by iris

by (mod) - here are the possibilities

If the whole drainfield trench to its very bottom is dry the drainfield may still be working - depending on the wastewater effluent load and when effluent was last sent into the fields.

And if your septic system uses an alternating bed design it may be that the "tested" or "probed" trench is simply not currently in use.

But it can also mean that the distribution box or D-box is out of level and not sending effluent into that drainfield line

Or that a septic pipe has become blocked upstream or ahead of the point where the probing was done

OR (in my opinion most-likely) the probe was an in adequate and unreliable test of the septic field, especially when used alone, and also in mhy OPINION risks damaging a septic or sewer pipe.

You'd need more onsite and more expert inspection, starting at the septic tank and D-box.

See SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS

Can we Use Trenchless Sewer Line Replacment to Fix a Broken Drainfield Pipe and Pass Mass Title 5?

I believe a section of Orangeburg pipe in my septic leach field has been broken. Can I have Roro Rooter Co. replace all of the

Orangeburg pipe by pulling in a new perforated plastic pipe and still comply with Massachusetts Title 5 ?

They would dig two small (2x3 foot holes one at the beginning and one at the end of the leach field. They would run a video camera into
the leach field to inspect the piping.

They would then shove a plastic rod into the pipe and then hook onto a 5 inch boring head and pul this head through to destroy the old Orangeburg pipe.

Once the boring head has created a new tunnel, they would pull a new 4 inch perforated pipe onto the existing leach field thus solving the broken pipe
problem.

Can this system be done and still comply with Massachusetts Title 5 laws ? On 2014-07-03 by Anonymous

by (mod) - Title 5 does not explicitly require specific design materials for septic installation or repair

Anon,

It seems reasonable to me that replacing broken septic system piping can be a successful repair that would let your system pass a Title 5 inspection.

But you will want to call your local building department about the Massachusetts Title 5 approval question when you have more details of exactly what's proposed.

After all, if the repair isn't adquate in scope its likely that your system will simply fail again - in my OPINION It's always less expensive to "fix it right" the first time.

Be sure to read TRENCHLESS SEWER REPLACEMENT 

The authorities may approve the solution you propose if the design is credible, since Title 5 does not explicitly require specific design materials so much as it requires proper drainfield capacity, layout, height above seasonal high water table, and evidence of working - or of failure.

Indeed there is a whole industry of trenchless pipe replacement, though I've not read any studies of applying that technology to perforated drainfield piping installation. Perhaps you can obtain (and refer to me) citations or documentation of the procedure for review.

I would also make a careful cost comparison of this approach vs. a complete conventional drainfield replacement. A drainfield that is so old that orangeburg (clay) pipe was still in use until now is likely to be at or past the end of its life for more reasons than collapsed pipe, such as salt, grease, or biofilm clogging of the soils surrounding the drainfield trench.

It would be unfortunate to pay for this procedure and then have to dig up and install the whole field anew anyway on discovery that it is in failure.

Please see added detail about your question including some research citations we've posted at

DRAINFIELD RESTORATION APPROACHES 

Sewage Backups May Indicate Septic Failure FAQs

Our septic system backed up into the bathtub, so we pumped the tank and jetted the lines. The backup occurred again in just a few weeks

We had our septic backing up in the lowest bathtub so we had the tank pumped in early August. The found the T (that's suppose to keep objects from going down the fill lines??) floating in the tank.

They replaced the T, pumped out the tank, and jetted the lines (with a pressure washer).

Within a few weeks we noticed that when we do laundry, some of the rinse water was coming up into the loest bathtub (the water drains from the washer into the same bathroom lines as the lowest bathroom). I know the water coming up is from the washmachine because theree's lint in it.

I had someone come out again to pump the tank & they found that the tank was all the way full to the top.

I've been told the easiest way to fix this is to find the end of the fill lines where it might be clogged and add about 50-75 feet of septic drainfill chambers that end in a deep hole filled with gravel.

The person that was to do this work over a week ago has told me that he's been unable to buy the "envirochambers" needed. Can't tell if he's just putting me off or if purchasing the supplies really is an issue.

Does this proposed "fix" sound like the answer? And, where can envirochambers be purchased in Georgia? On 2014-10-25 by rlau1955@gmail.com or 678 886-1503

by (mod) - Pumping a septic tank and jetting the drainfield lines won't fix a failed drainfield, the "environchamber" fix is a proposal to install a new drainfield

It's evident that your septic drainfield has failed and needs replacement.

The chamber type "repair" that has been suggested to you is simply an alternative type of septic drainfield, described

at NO-ROCK SEPTIC GEOTEXTILE-WRAPPED PIPE 

also see GRAVELLESS NO-ROCK SEPTIC SUPPLIERS Leach Field Septic Systems Products Directory List

as that can help you and your contractor find a source but

Watch out: there's no "free lunch" - before installing a chamber system septic field you will want to undersand the soil percolation rate and the number of feet of chamber needed to be sure that can work at your site.

Also be sure to read

NO ROCK SEPTIC SYSTEM LIFE 

Septic system for house and shed backs up into the shed - install a check valve?

We have installed a septic system for our house and shed, connecting them with a y junction. We are finding that some of the effluent from the house is going up the y junction for the shed and smelling. What can we do for this? Are there y junctions with a flap to stop this? On 2016-01-18 by kristel

Diagnosis & repair suggestions by (mod): first diagnose the problem

Sounds like there may be one of several different problems:

1. An improperly sloped drain lines
2. A blockage at the sewer line past the Y junction or at the septic tank,
3. A failing septic system that shows up as a flooded septic tank and either a blockage enroute to the drainfield, or a failing drainfield.
4. Similar to #3, the septic drainfield is failed by flooding from groundwater that then runs backwards flooding the septic tank and sewer line

Watch out: so you need some further onsite investigations to diagnose this along the lines I suggested. I would NOT simply try to install a check valve before we know what's wrong. Otherwise you risk simply deferring a septic system failure or problem until you have a sewage backup in the house or onto the yard surface.