| Author | Content |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
May 31, 2007
7:33 PM Post #3558961
| I noticed while i was showering that bubbles were coming up in my toilet and even in my sink. I have never had this happen before and I am worried as I cannot afford to have my septic tank pumped. What can I do? |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 1, 2007
12:48 AM Post #3560295
| No personal knowledge here...but I googled bubbling toilet and found a number of things, these two are fairly representative of the few that I looked at (but you may want to repeat the search and spend a bit more time going through the results). Here the problems were either the septic needed pumping or there was a clog/partial clog somewhere in the system.
[HYPERLINK@en.allexperts.com]
[HYPERLINK@www.askmehelpdesk.com]
If it is the septic, my thought is that you really can't afford NOT to have it pumped. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 3, 2007
8:43 AM Post #3568893
| Well, I imagine from what I read, that I have a partial blockage. Before the bubbling started, I noticed that the shower drained slowly. I am surprised that Draino or some such drain cleaner was not recommenced nor even mentioned. |
claypa
West Pottsgrove, PA
(Zone 6b)
June 3, 2007
10:20 AM Post #3569136
| Septic tanks use bacteria to digest the sewage. Drain cleaners can kill the bacteria and you'd be worse off than before. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 3, 2007
10:30 AM Post #3569172
| claypa's right, you have to be careful what you put into the septic. Probably better off with the good old snake! You're also not supposed to use the drain cleaners to clear toilet clogs, so if that's where the blockage is that's another reason not to use them. Also, depending on where the blockage is, the drain cleaners may not really be able to get there--they're useful if you've got a blockage that's fairly close to the sink/tub itself, like hair or something creating a clog a few inches down the drain. Once you get a lot farther away like in the pipes leading out from the house, the drain cleaner wouldn't be effective anyway because it's going to get diluted out by all the water in the pipes in between. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 3, 2007
4:16 PM Post #3570145
| Well, I'm glad to see that I don't put the things down the drain that you're not supposed to. I don't think my spousal unit flushes cigarette butts either. If he does, I might flush his butt.
I am going to start with my good old fashioned plunger and work from there.
I haven't used draino for years, last time was for a clog in the trap of the kitchen sink which it cleared up. But I know how to use the plunger much better now and haven't had a serious problem since. |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
June 8, 2007
12:16 AM Post #3589678
| A real man or women would go out with a shovel and clear out the septic tank. No need to call someone. LOL. Shop vac would work. |
claypa
West Pottsgrove, PA
(Zone 6b)
June 8, 2007
12:42 AM Post #3589748
| Sure. A thousand gallon septic tank (IF it's small one) and a twenty gallon shop vac... no prob.
We'll use your truck. HAHAha... |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 8, 2007
7:01 AM Post #3590098
| I am a real woman, which is why I will call for help.
by the way, what would you do with the contents of the septic tank if you suctioned it out yourself?
I live in the mountains; maybe it would just run downhill into my grumpy neighbor's yard.
The problem definitely seems to be the tub. It just doesn't drain well when I'm showering. We're working on it. I had a lot of plumbing replaced last year, so I'm not sure what's going on. Very worrisome. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 8, 2007
10:05 AM Post #3590624
| I've never known anyone who would pump their septic tank themselves, it may be a lot of money to have someone else come and do it, but some things are just not worth doing yourself! |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
June 8, 2007
1:34 PM Post #3591459
| How much does it cost to pump out a septic tank? I don't think it would be worth it, I was just joking around. You can buy pumps that will pump sewage for a hundred bucks. Only reason I know that is a bought a sump pump and in the directions it said it could pump sewage or thick liquids. If you had a open field I guess you could just pump it out on the field. It would probably decompose pretty fast.
Just a thought. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 8, 2007
8:05 PM Post #3592743
| I knew you were kidding. The thing is, I live on very steep mountainous property and I have a horrible suspicion that I have no field. EEEeeek! |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 8, 2007
9:28 PM Post #3593007
| I wasn't joking--I had septic a number of years ago and around me everyone got them pumped, a big truck would come and they'd pump it out and take the nasty stuff away. I think the main reason was to have somewhere to put the gross stuff, where else are you going to put it if you pump it yourself? I wouldn't have wanted it pumped out all over my yard and I guess my neighbors felt the same way. I didn't live there for very long and that's been my only experience with a septic system so I guess I just assumed everyone would do it that way. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 9, 2007
8:09 AM Post #3594204
| I got mine pumped right after I bought the house about 20 years ago. This is the first problem I've seen, but this house was built in 1960 and very little code requirements were in place or inspected. |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
June 9, 2007
10:34 PM Post #3596860
| 20 years without pumping out a septic tank is a long time. Learned that on dirty jobs. They said something like every 5 years is about right. |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
June 9, 2007
10:35 PM Post #3596863
| I love Dirty Jobs. I get such a kick out of that show. lol |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 10, 2007
7:34 AM Post #3597475
| I had a septic tank guy tell me once that if the drain field was dug at exactly the right angle, and people didn't put things in there that they shouldn't like grease, it should work unfailingly for a very long time. |
summerkid
Kankakee, IL
(Zone 5b)
December 16, 2007
12:54 AM Post #4299504
| Especially if you find a way to compost some of that stuff that normally goes down the toilet. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
December 16, 2007
9:22 AM Post #4299964
| And exactly how is that done and which items going down the toilet do you refer to? |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
December 16, 2007
2:33 PM Post #4300859
| Just use a strainer in the tiolet. That's a worse idea then shoveling out your own septic tank. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
December 17, 2007
12:06 PM Post #4303914
| I don't think so. |
jazzzy704
Fenton, MI
(Zone 5b)
February 23, 2008
10:35 AM Post #4576905
| CorHH1 are you being "funny" again. What some have referred to are bacteria that eat sludge/fecal matter
and paper. A product manufactured under the name Roebic makes such bacteria "Eating" products. You can find them at any H.D., Lowes or ACO or ACE or lots of septic , sewer, plumbing shops. They are cheap compared to paying for fixes. they should be part of a general maintenance schedule for any one with a septic tank. Good Luck. And i would go on line about you septic pumping out schedule of every 20 years!! I believe it is possible but just incase you should Google it and get some answers!!
I have done plumbing for 25+ years!!
Julie |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
February 23, 2008
8:33 PM Post #4579284
| A 1960's house with orginal spetic field? That's a long time for that to be working right. 20 years between pumping out the tank strikes me as a long time to go. You could try the bacteria stuff and it might help. Odds are stacked towards the poster having the tank pumped out and from there I'm sure they'll know if the problem is solved or not.
This post was a long time ago so I actually wonder what she did? |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
February 23, 2008
9:35 PM Post #4579563
| Nothing. The problem stopped.. I'm not even sure there is a field. However, I will follow jazzzy's advice.
I think in the last 3 months, there was only bubbles coming up in the toilet once. Nothing since. That one was rather violent and I wonder if it dislodged a partial blockage. |
jazzzy704
Fenton, MI
(Zone 5b)
February 24, 2008
12:20 AM Post #4580196
| Good Wood.
I know when you can't afford it you just can't. But the fecal eating "stuff" You have to afford. It may give you a few more years! Google it and find out!! My friends had to get a whole new septic field because the fecal matter was so high it over flowed the tank and kept the ground wet and soggy the "field" was ruined from years of this abuse and they had to have a new field put in as well as pump out and MOVE the tank. It cost a fortune. So be careful to understand the consequences of NOT affording it.
Sometimes it's better to take out a loan or get a second job than let maintainance go for so long as CorHH1 says!
Good Luck
Julie |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
February 25, 2008
1:38 PM Post #4586553
| It's on my shopping list, thanks |
jazzzy704
Fenton, MI
(Zone 5b)
February 25, 2008
11:40 PM Post #4589029
| OK Wood ! Good Luck I hope it works out to your benefit!!
Julie |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
February 26, 2008
12:05 AM Post #4589117
| The only product of this kind I have ever heard of is Rid-X. Is it any good? |
jazzzy704
Fenton, MI
(Zone 5b)
February 26, 2008
11:04 PM Post #4594047
| Yeah i think it is the same thing!! |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
February 27, 2008
7:59 AM Post #4595017
| Oh Goody! Thank you all so much for coming to my rescue. Wouldn't this work best during the summer when the ground and water going into the septic tank is warmer? |
jazzzy704
Fenton, MI
(Zone 5b)
February 27, 2008
11:57 AM Post #4595942
| Well any time is no good. You only have to put it in your toilet at night when you have had your last flush of water going through. Just to make sure the stuff gets into the septic and gets wet enough to activate the bacteria and then it will grab hold and start to degrade the matter. i would do it once a month for at least 6months. it may prevent a pumping out!!
Julie |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
February 27, 2008
10:59 PM Post #4598845
| Oh great! My spousal unit is a night owl who goes to bed at 4 a.m. |
