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Septic tank care

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2016-02-15          194527

I was told this past week to put lime in septic tank to clean up grease and other solids build up. This from a person who has company that installs and pumps them. They also have many rentals on septic tanks and said if the lid is off dump a 40 pound bag in there. If you are flushing it use like a half a tea cup so you do not clog the lines to the tank.

I had been using Rid-x for years. The lime sure will cost less. Your thoughts?


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DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2016-02-15          194530

If you have good percolation in the leeching field, proper grade and no high water table issues the system kinda takes care of itself. In 18 years only pumped twice in my case.

Have seen whole system failure in only a couple years where the homes have bad percolation and high water table.

If your system required select fill in the field you probably need extra precaution. It sure is costly if it can be prevented.

I wonder how much water PH has to do with it as well?
....

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yocsr1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 182 Terre Haute, Indiana
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2016-02-16          194539

I use septic helper from Miller Products - 1-800-627-2171 and have never had to pump it out in 40 years. I'm on clay and water comes to the top in spring. I have 12'x12'x12 pit with a sump pump to keep the ground water down so septic will still work. ....

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WillieH
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 543 New England
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2016-02-16          194541

Wow Dennis, you're either REAL lucky or I just have all the bad luck ! :-)
I have two separate systems at my house, both put in around the 1950-1960 era by my father at the time. The greatest pipe at the time was the creosote orangeberg. The dingaling that back filled form him, never bothered to remove the boulder from the fill, so in time, the orangeberg was not only moved with ground movement, but crushed by the weight of the boulders.
Then one day, everything came to a screeching halt when the giant willow tree at the end of the leaching field uprooted. The root diameter was about twenty feet, and sucking every bit, though some 150 feet downstream from the tank. We did you rid-x for many years, with great digestion. Then one day, there was no more "movement" if you will. What I found afet digging up the system, was as mentioned the pipe issues, and other factors such as the various nettings of fine roots from other trees that found the moisture thru broken lines. In any event, the tank was friggin solid, pressurized to the bottom of the lid. When the pumper showed up, and I lifted the lid, I literally needed my backhoe to chain lift, as the suctioned was incredible to the solids. He took his spoon and worked that sludge for almost two hours, until he felt comfortable that he could get a good mix of water back into the tank. He then suggested the looksee downstream. I dug it up and replaced everything, but the tank, and filtered the backfill accordingly. His recommendation, was even if a good system, it needs to be religiously pumped every three to five years, depending on use of course. By no means am I saying his word is gospel, after all he is in the business and needs repeat business for survival, but a variety of factors do enter the picture that would ultimately dictate frequency of pumping out. Every system is different, every household is different, every yard is different - and local codes are different as well.
That was about eight years ago now, and had it pumped once since - all looked GOOD!
Not sure if I would try lime though without a lot of research in my neck of the woods - boney, dirt over bedrock 4'-5' down.
"If it were not for bad luck, I would have no luck at all!" The story of my life. HA!

Best,
Willie H. ....

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2016-02-17          194562

Willie you tell bad news very well! I think there must be the truth or a very well established line the system needs to be pumped about ever 3 to 5 for they say the same here. kt ....

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