Septic Blocked - Inlet seems to build a new crust

Help please!

My septic system is giving me the sh!ts, it should be the other way around, the balance of power is out of whack at my place...!!

OK, I believe I have a standard type septic, concrete tank with an inlet pipe & an outlet either side of the inspection lid...

Some years ago I had my tank pumped. Things wouldn't go down as we would hope and we had people coming for dinner. Phew, that sorted that, but ever since strife of one kind or another...

My current problem is that when there is no-one at home for a few days the inlet pipe seems to build a new crust/layer which has the impact of a blockage. I have borrowed a friends (also a plumber) home made long handled plunger and with a lift of the lid (IO Inspection) and a push down the pipe, I am working fine again...

This seems to happen after only 2-3 days of idle time...

I have fixed my outlet pipe recently, it had a bend/minor kink - since this, the run off is working fine when the inlet is not blocked...I have no blockage on the outlet side...

The tank was last pumped approx 18 months ago...

I have tried different toilet papers thinking maybe some float better than others, but I am not sure what I am looking for so maybe I haven't tried the correct one...

My plumber friend/neighbour is also unsure of my situation...

Any suggestions please

Reply to
StewMcK
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Help please!

My septic system is giving me the sh!ts, it should be the other way around, the balance of power is out of whack at my place...!!

OK, I believe I have a standard type septic, concrete tank with an inlet pipe & an outlet either side of the inspection lid...

Some years ago I had my tank pumped. Things wouldn't go down as we would hope and we had people coming for dinner. Phew, that sorted that, but ever since strife of one kind or another...

My current problem is that when there is no-one at home for a few days the inlet pipe seems to build a new crust/layer which has the impact of a blockage. I have borrowed a friends (also a plumber) home made long handled plunger and with a lift of the lid (IO Inspection) and a push down the pipe, I am working fine again...

This seems to happen after only 2-3 days of idle time...

I have fixed my outlet pipe recently, it had a bend/minor kink - since this, the run off is working fine when the inlet is not blocked...I have no blockage on the outlet side...

The tank was last pumped approx 18 months ago...

I have tried different toilet papers thinking maybe some float better than others, but I am not sure what I am looking for so maybe I haven't tried the correct one...

My plumber friend/neighbour is also unsure of my situation...

Any suggestions please

Reply to
StewMcK

Wonder if it is a fatty type deposit. My cleanout guy once showed me a crusty deposit and told me to switch to liquid laundry detergents. You also have to watch putting kitchen fats and oils down drain. My wife even wipes pots and pans with paper towels, which go in trash, before she washes them.

Frank

Reply to
Frank

good advise

Reply to
Picklesheimer

Had a similar problem many years ago but it would not block the inlet but would restrict the flow. It was a crusty fatty type of build-up. We were advised to stop using powdered detergents. Never had the problem after that. I have heard that powdered detergents have a lot of non-soluble filler that can cause blockages. Liquid detergents use water as a filler or diluter.

Reply to
EXT

To all that replied or thought about it, thank-you!

After a period of extensive testing liquid detergents, I have not had another blockage...Yeah!!!

If I ever get bored with life or have an abundance of free time, I have kept some dry powder to test further, but hey, I am currently miles in front thanks to some great advise here!

Cheers,

Stewart

Reply to
StewMcK

...

First I've heard of the dry detergent theory. I can believe excessive fats, etc. See story I responded to Pop w/ about experience w/ detergents here. May be something there but not that I can see w/ the particular brand used (which was religiously used to the exclusion of all others so that might have some bearing).

The problems recently have had that seem somewhat similar in symptoms are owing to tree roots having found ingress as they have grown over the last 50 years and now are impinging. They put out long strands and the last time it was pumped and opened owing to an intermittent clogging there was a layer of fine roots floating on the surface that would get in front of the entrance pipe on occasion. More often than not, it would be in a position that wasn't a problem, but every so often it would somehow manage to get close enough. The pushing w/ a cleanout would have had the effect of moving the root mass and it would have cleared up for a while...

I installed a perforated line around the edge of the tank buried about

6" just below the level of the tank lid and filled it w/ the copper sulfate root killer. Seems to have helped as has now been 3-4 years since last episode...

If the problem were to reappear, might investigate the possibility you have a roots problem, too....

Reply to
dpb

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