septic/grease clog??

JHinCA · #1 11/14/10, 11:32 AM

A few months ago there were several occasions when the kitchen sink was draining slowly and I poured lots of boiling water down it which cleared it right up. That made me believe it the problem was grease. I don't pour grease down the drain. Most goes to the animals. However, I am sure that some gets down there from rinsing pots and pans.

Fast forward to today--our septic is backing up. DH says that it is coming up out around the lid of the tank. He believes that there is a filter between the tank and the leach field that may be clogged with grease.

Is there something we can do or is this a job for the experts?

TIA
Jean

edcopp · #2 11/14/10, 11:54 AM

Get the tank pumped out. It is full and not working properly. Then have the leach field checked out to see if it is leaching right . If not some other work will be needed. Start with the pump out.

SpaceCadet12364 · #3 11/14/10, 12:18 PM

Do you use anti-bacterial products of any sort?

Many people don't stop and think about how a septic system NEEDS its bacteria....and they use alot of various anti-bacterial soaps and such.

Probably too late to avoid a pumpout at this point....but, once you get it pumped and checked, get rid of those anti-bac products.....and is a good idea to put stuff like Rid-x down the toilet every once in a while.

**Cabin Fever** · #4 11/14/10, 06:43 PM

If you have an effluent filter in the outlet of your septic tank it should be serviced (ie, cleaned) every six months to a year. If the filter has not been cleaned in a longer period of time, it could very likely be clogged which would cause a backup of wastewater into your home. The clogging could be from grease, lint, hair, etc.

JHinCA · #5 11/15/10, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the replies. I agree that we should get it pumped. It has been only 3.5 years and with only 2 of us here full time, it shouldn't need it yet, but clearly something is wrong.

We don't use anything antibacterial other than a little clorox very rarely--once in 6 months, maybe.

Thank you CF for the term "effluent filter". Cleaned every 6 months!! It has been 3.5 years. Fortunately the water is not backing up into our home but only into our back yard.

Hoping that it will turn out to be the effluent filter and not the leach field--

Jean

Missy M · #6 11/15/10, 02:56 PM

Make sure you don't use powdered detergents. It will plug your drains, I know from experience.