Septic Question

[country_wife]

For the resident septic expert:

Once a septic tank/leach field has been clogged with lint, is there a cure? If so, what?
Thanks!!

[Cabin Fever]

You might be able to restore some of the drainfield's ability to infiltrate water with a "TerraLift" treatment. This machine injects high pressure air into the soil around the drainfield trenches. The pressure can crack and fissure the soil in and around the trench allowing water to percolate through the soil again. Here is a website that describes the process: http://terraliftinternational.com/terralift/index.html

For others, this would likely never had happened if the septic tank was pump on a periodic basis.

[country_wife]

CF:
Thanks for the info..I will check that out. The tank has been pumped twice in the past three years. Could it be just draining slower than before thanks to heavy rains and a high water table?

[country_wife]

I forgot to ask..what about stuff like Break-Thru? Could that help?
http://www.herchem.com/products/drainwaste.html

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by country_wife

CF:
Thanks for the info..I will check that out. The tank has been pumped twice in the past three years. Could it be just draining slower than before thanks to heavy rains and a high water table?

Absolutely!

Dig or auger a hole near the drainfield. I'm not sure what type of field you have....trench, bed or mound....but do not dig right into the system, do it off to the side. Dif down a maximum of four feet. Let me know if the soil is saturated in the upper four feet or if water starts to fill the hole.

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by country_wife

I forgot to ask..what about stuff like Break-Thru? Could that help?
http://www.herchem.com/products/drainwaste.html

In my experience, "No." Before you start throwing money at the problem, you should first find out what the problem is. For instance, you may have a diaper plugging the line between the house and septic tank. You may have a crushed pipe leaving the septic tank. You may have a clogged vent stack in the house. You may have root bound drainfield trenches. All of these items, and more, can cause water to drain slowly.

[country_wife]

Thanks for the info, CF!! I found the problem...a tree root in one of the pipes. All fixed...cut out the tree and the roots and installed a new pipe. Not the most fun job I've ever had to do!! (Where's the smiley holding it's nose?)