Snaking out a leach field

[gear junkie]

Don't run into many septic systems out here. Do leach fields need to be snaked out?

[drtyhands]

The end is capped,gunna have to suck it out Ben.

[gear junkie]

I know but the pipe is perforated and has poo water coming out. Seems like roots would have a happy home. Or maybe the purpose of the leach field is to get rid of the poo water, no matter how it does it-roots sucking it out included?

[drtyhands]

The end is capped,gunna have to suck it out Ben.

That was sposed to be dry humor..................Ben:o

If a leach system is not working you have lost perculation somehow.Solids could be in the feeder lines.Ground water could be up.Aggregate could be contaminated.

Whatcha got?

:)

[drtyhands]

I know but the pipe is perforated and has poo water coming out. Seems like roots would have a happy home. Or maybe the purpose of the leach field is to get rid of the poo water, no matter how it does it-roots sucking it out included?Under no circumstance should solids be contaminating the field.Pump the tank,somethings wrong with it.The field is for liquifer only.

[JCsPlumbing]

drtyhands is pretty much right on. My dad has been a Septic contractor for 30+ years. They've recently come out with a sort of home treatment plant to restore lines. Jury is still out though as I have no experience installing or seen any one that has. Pretty much, if the lines have solids, grease, or roots they shouldn't be snaked or jetted. We end up repairing them when people have done that. Corrugated usually gets torn up. Hope this helps.

[Ace Sewer]

Nothing like high clay content soils to ruin my day. I seen frozen lines to fields, frozen fields, failed fields, slow fields leading to frozens. And infiltrators... the worst idea since orangeburg. Oddlly, now that I think about it, I have yet to see root problems in fields. Generally I jet the laterals, if no improvement it's time to get a hoe. Seen some good done with hydrogen peroxide. There is too much to tell. What do you have?

[Ace Sewer]

Never seen corugated laterals here JCs; here it is either 4" pvc drilled every so often, or ocaisionally a 'pressure distributed' system; 2" drilled much smaller and less often with a pump behind it. Or just a 55 gal drum with holes knocked in it set in mining tails:eek:.

[JCsPlumbing]

Nothing like high clay content soils to ruin my day. I seen frozen lines to fields, frozen fields, failed fields, slow fields leading to frozens. And infiltrators... the worst idea since orangeburg. Oddlly, now that I think about it, I have yet to see root problems in fields. Generally I jet the laterals, if no improvement it's time to get a hoe. Seen some good done with hydrogen peroxide. There is too much to tell. What do you have?

I've seen people screw up the lateral lines when cabling/jetting but maybe you're more carefu or talented.:clapping: We have red clay, sand rock, blue clay of doom etc. Never seen a frozen lateral line problem here. Have seen roots solid for 20' or more. Also seen grease turn into concrete for a pretty good distance. Usually on older peoples houses. You know, grandma that used to cook. But she NEVER poured grease down the drain.:)

[JCsPlumbing]

Never seen corugated laterals here JCs; here it is either 4" pvc drilled every so often, or ocaisionally a 'pressure distributed' system; 2" drilled much smaller and less often with a pump behind it. Or just a 55 gal drum with holes knocked in it set in mining tails:eek:.

4" Drilled PVC would be much more durable. Probably could use a snake/jetter on that. Seeing more and more of the 2" low pressure systems. Here they have to be managed by a licensed operator every so often. In NC, Septic systems constantly evolving. The state hadn't been that involved in the past but now are really getting revved up on it. My father has to go to continuing ed now and hates it. Costs 3 times as much as my Plumbing License continuing ed. He also REALLY wants to go to a pumper show but we just can't get away. I too have seen the 55 gallon drum. Years ago we had to "make" lateral lines with cinder blocks. Now that was an SOB.

[Pete M]

Clogged leach fields are a real issue in some areas.

The primary cause of septic system failure is bio-mat. It's a slimy substance that accumulates in the soil beneath the leach lines, clogging up the soil pores and hindering drainage.

Septic system requirements are changing due to repeated pressure by the EPA. Many localities now require "certified systems" that force tougher compliance requirements for new installations and replacements. You're beginning to see more and more systems with Alarms, Filters and Aerobic Conversion Kits.

An Aerobic Kit is an aftermarket setup. There's an air pump that sits outside the tank which pumps fresh air through a 1/2" PVC pipe into an air diffuser (bubbler) . The diffuser sits at the bottom of the secondary tank. The effluent is continually churned so even the smallest solids settle to the bottom of the tank.

Bacteria additives are also added periodically through the diffuser and mixed in during the bubbling process. The aim is to switch the system from anaerobic to aerobic bacteria. Aerobic (air dependent) bacteria is much more effective than the normal bacteria. The tanks don't smell as bad any longer because of the air and aerobic bacteria. The end result is much cleaner water leaving the tank and aerobic bacteria finding its way to the leach field and consuming the bio-mat. Leach fields are being rejuvenated after 3-6 months and lasting longer. At least - that's what they say.

[All Clear Sewer]

A cable will brake the pipe as the cutter will snag on holes. And if it`s clogged a cable wont do it anyway. You have to JET em out to brake up the bio-mat. The bio-mat will be as thick as 1/4" under the pipe at the openings of the holes. It takes time to JET it out right, you cant just turn the jetter loose. It takes a little working it back and forth.
Hope this helps ya ;)

[gear junkie]

This was a hypothetical question.

[All Clear Sewer]

So what?? you were just testing us??? ;)

[gear junkie]

Not testing cause I didn't have a clue about it.