tell me about drain fields

iwannausername

So we have The Truck out to pump our septic tank yesterday, he tells the wife "looks like you need a new drain field, be $2000, I can do it next week". Wife says OK.

Now, we have our tank emptied every 12-18 months, its not been over flowing, ground isn't squishy or stinky.

Do we really need a new drain field? What are the signs of needing a new one?

Something about the way the guy said it made me and the wife both think that maybe he just needs $2000...

garanch

You can do it yourself for much less. You will need to rent a ditcher and buy a few supplies but nowhere near $2000 worth.

minitruck83

Did he drive the truck on top of the drainfield?



(That seems to be a specialty of them in Fl.)


[V]


Allen

Marc1301

Was the tank full up to the lid with water before he pumped it?

Have you had slow emptying drains, or a gurgling sound in your shower drains recently?

NO septic tank needs pumped more than every 3 to 5 years, unless there is an issue.

Too many variables involved, and now it is empty so you can't check it yourself.

Another biggie is do you have a lot of large trees close to your DF?
2K is too high in this market,......hell they aren't putting any new ones in due to construction.

Get 3 more opinions before you do anything.
You can do it yourself easily, but if you get caught without permits, you will be nailed to the wall over a drain field in Florida.

dan kelly

send fishkiller41 an email..i`m surprised he hasn`t posted on it, he specilises in irrigation, but a drain is a drain after all. it could save you a lot of $$$.

rsnyder55

I'm wondering how would he know you would need a new drain field (I presume you mean the leech/leach lines) just from pumping the septic tank if it wasn't full and wasn't backing up?

fishkiller41

Get a few more opinions, for sure. If your washer drains into your septic, i would suggest U dig a nice trench leading to a Big hole(one u can lay a PLASTIC 55Gal drum in. Fill it w/rock and run a 2" pipe from the washed drain to the rock pit.You'll get 1/3 less liquid in your septic tank, and NO MORE DETERGENT OR BLEACH. That's what is prob. messing up the enzymatic action of your septic system.

tomahawk

check it yourself, if you know where they are your in good shape, if not look and see where the grass in your yard is the greenest in strips...then drive a rod down about 12 to 18 inches..if water squirts out when you pull out the rod then they are failing or there is not enough of them..if not your in good shape..the ground is taking the water,,if you pump your septic before the solid level ever reaches the outflow i doubt you have problems with your field..in any case..if you do add on to your existing field..with sand pitts or extra drain field...you can have this done for around 500.00 tops[;)]

GuvamintCheese

Sounds like you might need a new wife.

countryfarmer

Mom and dad went 30 yrs before they needed to pump out the septic tank and put new lateral lines in. The only reason they needed new laterals then was the pipe had collapsed part way. Defiantly put the washer on its own line and keep it out of the tank. Under normal use a tank should only need pumping out every 10 yrs or longer around here.

chiligunguy

Most sept pumper guys will tell you, you need new drains if when they pump your tank water runs back into the tank from drain feilds. tThat doesnt mean they need repalced all the time. Have you had alot of rain lately, could be the ground is just satuarated. Could be alot of things, if you don;t have standing water or sewer smell in yard or feild then you are prob ok. Did he say sludged up feild?

dongill

Sounds like he was looking for a sucker! Do not use that guy!

Alpine

quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
Was the tank full up to the lid with water before he pumped it?

Have you had slow emptying drains, or a gurgling sound in your shower drains recently?

NO septic tank needs pumped more than every 3 to 5 years, unless there is an issue.

Too many variables involved, and now it is empty so you can't check it yourself.

Another biggie is do you have a lot of large trees close to your DF?
2K is too high in this market,......hell they aren't putting any new ones in due to construction.

Get 3 more opinions before you do anything.
You can do it yourself easily, but if you get caught without permits, you will be nailed to the wall over a drain field in Florida.


Marc is spot on. If you don't have any squishy spots in the field, you don't need a new one.

MFinn

This time of the year, when we get lots of rain I got a spot in my yard that gets kind of wet, I wonder if I could just rent a ditchwitch and run some 4" pipes from the wet spot to make it drain better? Or do I need to dig the old ones up and replace them??

storm6490

sounds like you are getting jewed.

get another opinion

if it is trashed do it yourself.

good luck!

Johnnylikesguns

Someone asked if it was full. A tank is always full the outlet is very neer the top. So hang onto your $2000.

barto

I put in my drainfield in 1979 & the only time it has EVER been pumped was in 1990 when we built our present house, as required by law.
Pumper guy said it was clean as a pin (albeit a rather smelly pin).
Question-Why are you having it pumped?
If it's backing up you may well need some drainfield work but if not, I don't see any other reason to pump it (except to help stimulate the economy, mebbe).
[:p]barto[:p]

select-fire

quote:Originally posted by cartod
Sounds like you might need a new wife.


Or one that doesn't do 5 loads of clothes at the same time. Your system is being overloaded with water. It will back up if too small or if it has rained and saturated the ground. Ease up feeding it water and see how it reacts.

MMOMEQ-55

Seems mighty expensive. My whole septic system for a 3 bedroom house was only $1,600.00. This guy wants to charge you 2k for just the drain field? Normally you should only have to have it drained every 10 years or so. That is if it is working properly.

Marc1301

quote:Originally posted by Johnnylikesguns




Someone asked if it was full. A tank is always full the outlet is very neer the top. So hang onto your $2000.





I was referring to "slap-full" to the access lid,.....they aint that high![;)]

Mine is probably about 6 to 8 inches down, and of course a 90 elbow with a drop pipe. But we all know that is simply to take the grey water from below the surface,.....the level is still set by the outlet pipe of course.

I had to put a new field in a few years ago due to large live oaks. Totally filled up 2 of my runs for about 10 feet, and also filled the D-box with spider roots. Water up to the lid.
I caught it from a gurgling noise in the shower drain, and then popped the top the next day. Had a friend of mine dig the trenches, and put in the new A-frame style sections. He did all the digging with his equipment, and got me all of the material for 500 bucks. I put it together, and covered it up.

The kicker was I had another run of the old round pipe in gravel that had never had water in it since the house was built. It was running uphill![:D]
And that installation was inspected!

Gander

Here is a site that should answer your questions on septic and drain field questions.

http://www.septicprotector.com/

Johnnylikesguns

Where you located?

Maybe I could help you install a new field.

I've operated heavy equipment for over 40n years.

we_dig_it

Iwannausername, Ive owned and operated my own grading co. since 1986. Weve also installed septics full time since then. You can email me at sigsiddy@verizon.net I know everyone is wanting to help but your getting some misinformation. Holler if I can help, Billy