septic water overload??
#1
02-08-05, 05:32 PM
septic water overload??
First time to post here. We moved into our house last May. It is 13 years old and on a septic system. 1000gal tank. The tank was pumped a few months before we moved in. A few days ago I suddenly found our toilets were bubbling while taking showers and then would overflow when we flushed them, mainly right after a shower or when my daughter and I flushed both toilets at pretty much the same time. the water level is also low on them. My husband dug up the lid to our septic and it appears full (this in less than a year.) We were going to call to have someone pump it, but my dad who has had a septic system for years said no, your field is just saturated right now. Our whole yard is wet and spongey due to unusual amounts of rain for the winter. He said that along with frozen ground is the problem and pumping will only help for a few days and then it will fill back up. He says wait for it to dry up some and it should take care of itself. In the meantime we are conserving our water use as much as possible. Does this sound right, or are we looking at bigger problems? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
#2
02-08-05, 05:41 PM
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Your dad is right on.
It's not a permanent problem and it will cure itself as the gorund thaws and dries out.
Good luck!
Mike
It's not a permanent problem and it will cure itself as the gorund thaws and dries out.
Good luck!
Mike
#3
02-08-05, 06:15 PM
Thanks for the reassurance, by the looks of the weather,limited toilet flushing and super quick showers(which are difficult with a 12 year old girl in the house) are going to be on the agenda for a little while longer....sigh........Welcome to rural life 
#4
02-19-05, 08:17 AM
We have had the same problem. It's a pain. This is where the sump pump helps. A line connects to the septic out line and into an underground barrel. In there is the pump. It pump water way out yonder but we only use it when the ground is saturated, like a few months in the winter/spring. It helps. We have a timer switch in the house.
I am thinking that if I put a check valve on the outer side of the septic out line, beyond where the line to the pump connects, it wuold prevent water from the field flowing back and be more effective.
I am thinking that if I put a check valve on the outer side of the septic out line, beyond where the line to the pump connects, it wuold prevent water from the field flowing back and be more effective.
#5
02-19-05, 01:29 PM
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Hi scrapmom and Shakuhachi,
-That checkvalve on the 'out' line sounds like good idea, I'm surprised more people don't do it.
Do it Right - Do it once.
-That checkvalve on the 'out' line sounds like good idea, I'm surprised more people don't do it.
Do it Right - Do it once.
#6
02-20-05, 07:13 AM
Originally Posted by nomind
Hi scrapmom and Shakuhachi,
-That checkvalve on the 'out' line sounds like good idea, I'm surprised more people don't do it.
Do it Right - Do it once.
-That checkvalve on the 'out' line sounds like good idea, I'm surprised more people don't do it.
Do it Right - Do it once.
I couldn't believe last spring when I had the tank pumped. We heard a water fall in there with all the ground water from the feild coming back into the tank.
#7
02-22-11, 08:56 PM
septic water overload? leaking pipe?
We just started having a little problem here....when we run the dishwasher or do laundry...we have water seeping out of the ground near our driveway. It is not above our septic tank at all. We do use a lot of water. We live in a 3 bedroom house, and we are a 5 person family. We moved here in 2003, and have pumped our tank every three years. In fact we just did last spring. Any ideas on what our problem might be would be appreciated. I can only think it has to do with septic water overload. Thank you!
#8
02-22-11, 09:06 PM
Super Moderator
Probably leach field is bad. As with all the other post you should not get water out of the ground. I brand new leach field can become damaged if the baffles in the tank dont work, or if the tank is not emptied. Solids get out and clogg the field and water cant seep in the ground.
Now id you did have a running toilet and possible overloaded the field then have the tank pumped. Fix any and all leaks in the home. Restrict water use and by the time the tank is filled again in a few weeks the field should be back to normal.
Mike NJ
Now id you did have a running toilet and possible overloaded the field then have the tank pumped. Fix any and all leaks in the home. Restrict water use and by the time the tank is filled again in a few weeks the field should be back to normal.
Mike NJ
#9
02-23-11, 08:55 AM
Thanks Mike for the reply.....hmmm...You think we should have our tank pumped again? We did pump one year ago. I don't believe there is a leak in our home. Our toilets and showers all work fine. We have a septic tank for solids and one for liquid i think, and a sand filter and septic pump....then a drainfield. What is a leach field? We do use water....maybe too much. I am limiting how much we use now. We are trying to figure out what to do next. So....this is what we have done. We dug around the area that was the most muddy. Got down to a pipe and that is where it seems to seep out sometimes like after we run the dishwasher or do laundry. It doesnt seep all the time. It doesn't seem to be near our house or coming from our house. It also doesn't look to be wet by the two tanks. We opened the tank and it isn't quite full maybe 2 -3 feet down. Water is on the top. If this info brings any other conclusions let me know. I am very appreciated to whatever other information you might have MikeThank you!
Thank you!
#10
02-23-11, 09:40 AM
So...ok the leach field is the drainfield...i just figured that out. So we don't have a running toilet. hm...nothing seems to be backed up in the house. We use a lot of water..maybe overloaded. Maybe we should get it pumped again...see what he says. Do you think that would be the best thing to do? Our next door neighbor is having probs with his running toilet, and water spraying out of his yard into ours
Do you think his septic issues could be related to ours? Our alarms are all fine...and seems to be working. Lots of info here... There is no water above our drainfield either...just to the left of the septic tank about 5 feet from it. Crazy
Do you think his septic issues could be related to ours? Our alarms are all fine...and seems to be working. Lots of info here... There is no water above our drainfield either...just to the left of the septic tank about 5 feet from it. Crazy
#11
02-23-11, 10:41 AM
ok so i have been reading up on drainfields...trying to understand them. Could ours possibly be clogged...and if so does that mean we need a total replacement, or could we unclog them? If they are clogged maybe we should try rid x? The ground is very saturated right now due to lots of rain over the last 2 months.
#12
02-23-11, 10:45 AM
Super Moderator
You have a mound system. Read here for some information. Then post back with any questions.
Septic Mound Systems as Components of Alternative Septic Systems
Mike NJ
Septic Mound Systems as Components of Alternative Septic Systems
Mike NJ
#13
02-23-11, 10:49 AM
Group Moderator
It is possible that your field has failed (clogged) but you could just have a broken pipe which would be pretty inexpensive to fix by comparison. I would dig to find the source of the water bubbling up in your yard.
There are ways of reclaiming a failed leach field but Rid X is not one of them.
There are ways of reclaiming a failed leach field but Rid X is not one of them.
#14
02-23-11, 08:00 PM
well...my husband went digging some more...still have not figured it out yest. By the time we do I think the whole septic system will be exposed. The the greatest conditions to be digging. We have 3 inches or more of snow, and still accumulating. I guess we do not have a mound system according to my hubby. It is a pressurized system of some sort. Apparently I am still learning about these things. Water seems to fill up the hole we dug once a day or so. We always seem to miss it when it happens, but it is quick. My hubby went to the bathroom, and after he flushed he came out and it was full. He thinks it fills up after the septic pump goes on. I have been limiting the water use right now a lot. Dishes are stacked up etc...anyways I will let you know what we find out tomorrow. Any other ideas or things we should do let me know. I appreciate your input!
Wendy
Wendy
