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The very popular general plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, pump problems, questions and answers discussion Forum
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Author:
nicksid (OH)
I live in a bi-level home on a septic system. Every 9-18 months the main drain from the house to the septic tank clogs up and I have to call Roto-Rooter to come out and ream out the drain. Is there something I can do permanently resolve this issue, or at least get a warning that the drain is about to clog so it doesn't flood my lower level family room? The drain pipe runs under my deck so replacing the drain pipe would not be a reasonable solution. Thanks.
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Author:
dlh (TX)
unless you know exactly what is causing the problem there is no way for us to tell you how to correct it.
have a camera inspection done, make sure they can record it before they start, and see if there is anything in the line that is causing your problem. it may very well be one spot that is offset or allowing roots to enter or it could be back pitched. if it is back pitched the line just may need to be replaced but there is no way we can tell from here what needs to be done
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
Wheelchair
Septic Systems, are a private sanitation system and will vary from house to house. Poor construction could be a cause, but what you place in the drains could be another issue. How many members in your house? Do you have trees and shrubs near the drains? Is the rooter clearing the drain or is your tank being emptied each time the line plugs?
So many questions... so few answers.
Best Wishes
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Author:
nicksid (OH)
If I get a camera inspection, how do I make sure they can record it?
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Author:
nicksid (OH)
There are only two people living here. There are no trees near the drain or the septic tank. The tank is not emptied each time, as I have lived here for thirty years and the tank only fills up about every three years. We are very careful about what we put down the drain: normal waste, toilet tissue, no chemicals. Are there any chemicals I could use periodically to keep the drain clear?
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Author:
dlh (TX)
ask them and let them know that you will not pay if you do not get a recording. make sure you are there when they do this!
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
LemonPlumber (FL)
do you have an inspection point ?co that you could remove to see how the septic system and drain piping is handling heavy water use times?If water begins to stand in the drain you may need to have the problem with the tank or drain field corrected.what did the person who snaked it say was causing your reoccurring problem???
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Good Luck. Insulate your hot piping, although costly, it will pay you back every day.
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Author:
hj
Tell them you want a tape or DVD of the inspection. They should offer it without you asking. If they do not have the technology to record it, call someone else. I seldom see everything I need to during the "live" inspection. It is more enlightening when I can view it on the big screen and back up to review when necessary.
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Author:
hj
I know of companies that have "stock tapes" in the truck showing major problems, and when the customer is not there to watch, or maybe even when they are, they slip that tape in. They do this hoping that the customer will agree to let them "repair" the problem, at a substantial fee. I have looked at some of these tapes after the service company has left, and told the customer that the recording does not look anything like his system.
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
hj
Chemicals do not help to any significant degree, and if they are too powerful they will kill the septic system. The tank should NOT have to be pumped every two or three years if it is a healthy one. My last house was only pumped after about 15 years and then only because I was selling it. This one has been in 10 years without pumping. Just yesterday I had to dig up a sewer which was getting plugged every few months. It had a gash in the top of it that the installers probably made with the backhoe. Instead of cutting the bad piece off, they put a fitting on it that covered a couple of inches of the gash, but left about 5 inches exposed. Roots had a field day growing into, and around the pipe. The roots inside the sewer were as dense as a tree trunk, and I had to chop the ones outside away so I could cut the pipe off and install a new fitting.
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