Saturated and new to Septic system !... 
Animal
11 y
5,143
Hi,
I'm from England and moved to Canada and bought a house with a septic system. I've never even been close to a septic before and never known anyone who's had one so new to me completely !!!
I've not been in the house for long so all money is tied up in the move :(
The septic was pumped before we bought the property but in the past 2-3 weeks when the pump in the basement kicked in (from toilet, shower, washing machine) it backed up into the tub upstairs.
I had the septic pumped and it was full to the brim. When it was being emptied the guy said we had a saturated bed as clear water was flowing back from the bed into the 2nd half of the septic.
The septic is now full again and backing up into the tub again when the pump downstairs starts up. We've stopped using the shower and toilet downstairs to try and help ease the problem.
I've read through the leach field rejuvenation document and think I know what to try as no way I can afford a new bed and struggled to pay for the $300 to have the tank pumped.
My plan (and correct me if this is wrong please) is to do the following
1. wait until all the snow has gone and stopped raining and after a couple of weeks I'm hoping the bed has dried out a little to continue
2. Pour 4 gallons of Hydrogen Peroxide into the 2nd tank.
3. 1 week later. Use Septic Seep.
Do I need to do 2 & 3 ?
I'd like to not have to pump the tank again as that'll add another $300 I don't particularly have.
I asked at the local pool store about Hydrogen Peroxide and got a big no that they stock it. May be a Canada thing but I'll try a couple of other places also.
Any help in this would be great as at the moment my wife is NOT a happy bunny and talking about moving and we've only just moved in !
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- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,676
This is a reply to # 2,166,567I feel for your problem, bro.
No - - - do not add the chemicals to your 2nd tank. You need to add the chemicals directly into your D-Box. This means modifying the exit pipe & exit baffle. See the photos I have provided on my own septic tank. Now is a good time to add risers to the input & output side of your tanks, and to add a riser to your D-Box to make maintenance easy. See "Photo of the new Exit Pipe."
http://tinyurl.com/Septic-Solutions
Get prepared to blast the lateral pipes with high pressure water, if necessary.
As I am finding out, once the field clogs up, there are more problems to come. I have already established that if a new field is required, it should be done using the Infiltrators:
http://www.septicsolutions.net/store/Infiltrator.htm
And every D-Box must have a riser.
This is the last resort fix.
Some additional steps to do now: Filter water from your washing machine to capture lint. Add a gray water system for your washing machine, sinks & showers.
Adding a Grey water System
===========================
This is required to get the washing machine, sinks, showers, dishwasher & water softener out of the septic field. All of these send sodium to the leach field which results in “Hardpan” clogging of the leach field. Hardpan can be the primary reason for clogged up leach fields according to some experts.
This just came in today from vageek:
Inexpensive Drywell Kit to dispose of gray water, many thanks to vageek at the Curezone:
https://www.thenaturalhome.com/drywellinstallation.htm
Grizz
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... crxess
11 y
4,635
This is a reply to # 2,166,617Advertisement
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Follow Grizz treatment advice to help rejuvenate your field once it has had some Drying time.
Definitely need to go into water conservation mode.
Military showers - Get wet - soap up- rinse
Yellow is mellow - don't flush
Scrape all dishware, wash in large plastic tubs in the sink.
Dump the tubes outside afterward.
Absolutely minimize what is going down ANY drains.
NO Laundry at home for now, unless diverted.
Clear water running back can actually be a bit of a good sign. Heavy Rain/Snow fall and mild temperatures could just have everything saturated - High water table.
A few weeks of good weather (may) aid in bringing things back to useable.
That will be the time to Attack the field and get everything flowing better.
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,406
This is a reply to # 2,166,739Thanks. The bed seems to have dried out a little as nothing seems to be backing up into the tub anymore.
We are away this coming weekend so it wont be getting used at all for 4 days so that will help also and then when I'm back, I'll get onto the other tasks that need doing.
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,406
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,469
This is a reply to # 2,166,617Advertisement
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I've made some frames out of treated wood around my 2 tank covers and have a paving slab over the top of those so I don't need to dig up every time.
At the moment I think the bed has dried out some as it doesn't seem to be backing up into the upstairs tub any more (fingers crossed)
I was looking at putting a temporary elbow in the outlet of the 2nd tank to pour the chemicals down to save me looking for and digging up the D Box.
I'll look at the Drywell kit also but that link doesn't ship to Canada
The washing machine drains directly into the washroom sink so I'll put an old pair of stockings over that outlet for a temporary fix.- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,352
This is a reply to # 2,168,185Good progress. You can use a plastic 50 gallon barrel drilled with a lot of holes as your graywater drain. Then set that into your soil. If you do a lot of washing, then several 50 gallon plastic barrels can be used. If you have a garden, direct the output of your gray water into your garden.
Grizz
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,352
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... crxess
11 y
4,635
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... carsc
11 y
4,611
This is a reply to # 2,166,567Advertisement
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When doing my clean out I called multiple pool companies looking for Hydrogen Peroxide and they all said they didn't carry it. Then I found a pool company that said they had Baquacil Oxidizer. Turns out Baquacil Oxidizer is Hydrogen Peroxide (27% if I remember correctly).- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,493
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,346
This is a reply to # 2,167,112Closest I've found is a place selling 15% @ $55 a gallon.
I'm guessing that's not strong enough.
If I'm struggling to get this, should I go straight for the septic seep ?- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,543
This is a reply to # 2,168,450If you can't get hydrogen peroxide, maybe you can get the next best thing:
sodium percarbonate
Sodium Percarbonate is extremely effective the 1st time it is used.
See my on-line doc for details:
http://tinyurl.com/Septic-Solutions
Septic Seep is for breaking the hardpan, and peroxide or percarbonate is for breaking up the biomat.Two completely different subjects.
Grizz- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,271
This is a reply to # 2,168,462Thanks - I'll have a search for that also.
I was going to hopefully clear the hardpan and also breaking up the biomat as not sure which is causing the biggest issue.
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,351
This is a reply to # 2,168,468found a supplier with 17% at $33. going in the right direction but no 30% yet :(
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,345
This is a reply to # 2,168,533That's $33 for 5 gallons ! Just emailed them to see if they stock 27 or 30%.... Not hopeful.
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,345
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,382
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,351
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,271
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,543
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,273
This is a reply to # 2,167,112Good news. I've found a place that will give me Hydrogen Peroxide 25% @ $54 or 35% @ $68 for a 5 gallon drum. Just need to provide photo id when I buy it and give them a heads up when I want it so they can prepare it.
Should I go for the 25 or 25 ?
I'm going to wait for my bed to dry out for another 3-4 weeks and then throw some of this down and follow up with septic seep 3-4 weeks after that.
That sounds like a plan to be going on with ?!- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... carsc
11 y
4,567
This is a reply to # 2,168,745Advertisement
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I tried to post a link from the state of Alabama but curezone won't let me. I'll summarize. It basically said they weren't certain but it appears as though H2O2 (Hydrogen-Peroxid) will help clear lateral lines but not to put it in the actual tank (probably because it's not as useful there). Add it to the lines. Also, the recommended rate is 1% per square foot of leach field area. I would think the 35 would be better. You'll get more bang out of it, and have a higher concentration, but still a lot more dilute then what they suggest. By their calculations it would require an extremely large quantity of H2o2. I used 4 gallons in my lines which wouldn't even be 10% of what they are recommending. But it turned my dark grey effluent to almost clear overnight. I would imagine it cleaned out the lines pretty well too. I also don't think you need to wait 3-4 weeks. I would imagine a week at the most and you'll be good to go.- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,532
This is a reply to # 2,169,044They are correct. Do not put those chemicals into the tank. They go into the D-Box to feed the laterals. You don't want to destroy the bacteria in your tank.
Grizz - Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... crxess
11 y
4,711
This is a reply to # 2,169,044Imagination is a good thing, but not to be trusted.
When applying Oxygen treatments you will notice a lot of Bubbling back. Every bubble/Belch/Burp is Lost performance of the application.
You want the Oxygen pushing into the field, not out the end of the pipe.
Upon realizing what was happening to mine, I picked up (2) 4" expandable pipe plugs(Lowes) and after pouring the mixture/+water I capped the pipe.
According to Deck cleaning services the mix has about a 6-8 hour work life.
I Ran about 40 gal.(for my line lengths) with the mix to minimize free space in the lines and force the oxygen to fine exits from the pipe.
After 6hrs. I removed the caps and there was no back pressure of water pushing back.
When treating, we are flooding the field - a lot of water in a short period. So, even though it seems to be draining it needs time to dry out and time for some anaerobic bacteria to die off.Advertisement
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- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,437
This is a reply to # 2,169,239CRXESS,
Excellent post! I have added your message to the chapter, "Hydrogen Peroxide Option."
Grizz
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,437
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,532
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... carsc
11 y
4,567
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,346
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... Animal
11 y
4,280
This is a reply to # 2,167,108That may be it. I'll call round and try again. Thanks for the pointer.
Expand 19 messages, 21 to 39 of 39 Animal
11 y
4,828
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,493
- Re: Saturated and new to Septic syst... grizz
11 y
4,676
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