What a fun job...

[stevej37]

My place has a septic system with drain field. It's always worked perfectly and never needed any attention.

One of my summer projects was to have the septic tank pumped...the last time was over 15 years ago.
I started the project over two weeks ago...trying to locate the septic tank cover. I started with just a shovel...lol.
There is a huge maple tree next to the tank and roots were everywhere. I used an axe, root shovel, and a hatchet to finally uncover it.

The septic pumper is coming here tomorrow. This will be last time for me to do this job. Next time will be hired out.

[masraum]

sounds like fun. Our lids are exposed at the surface which seems weird, but at least would make the job 100x easier.

[stevej37]

^^^ I used some angles from the basement to find the line of where the tank could be. My problem was the distance from the basement.
My first dig hit the tank...but the wrong end of it. The cap was about 4 ft to the other side.
The roots were the worst part.

The tank is about 12 inches below the surface...and the cap about 8 inches.

[stevej37]

Here's a pic...If anyone wants one of the cover off...let me know.

[wdfifteen]

^^
No thanks. I've seen it.
You might want them to install a riser so the top of the tank access is at or above ground level.

[stevej37]

^^^ I'm wondering if my tank is too old to have that done?
(older style)

[Evans, Marv]

When I had mine pumped, I found out my wife's cousin had flushed a whole bunch of disposable diapers down the toilet when they visited. That was after asking them not to. The guy who pumped it said their motto was, "No turd left behind."

[stevej37]

^^^ Not good...for the drain field.

[Evans, Marv]

The diapers never made it into the second chamber, but I was pissed when I found out.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I'm wondering if my tank is too old to have that done?
(older style)

I don't think any of them would be too old. A riser is just a collar that sits on top of your septic tank around the tank cover and extends the access to the cover up nearer the surface. The old concrete ones weren't visually objectionable to my mind, but new plastic ones can be unsightly so you may want to pass.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yeah...I'll prob just cover it back up after it's pumped.
Was thinking of what I could use to cover it and resist roots and be able to dig out next time. (and still grow grass)
I have no ideas.

[oldE]

Our concrete septic tank was retrofitted with a plastic access riser almost 10 years ago. The wife planted mint around it.
When the guy put the riser in place he used a small pail of concrete mix to cement it into place.
Should have done it years before.

Best
Les

[wdfifteen]

The concrete slab you see under the pavers is the cover of the riser. The square concrete "thing" you see is the riser itself. It sits on top of the septic tank, which is about four feet below the top.

[stevej37]

^^^ What keeps the water from not flowing into the tank?....a plastic liner? Or is that a pre-formed liner?

I'll ask the pumper guy tomorrow about a riser. That would prob be the easiest way.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ What keeps the water from not flowing into the tank?....a plastic liner? Or is that a pre-formed liner?

I'll ask the pumper guy tomorrow about a riser. That would prob be the easiest way.

The pond has a liner, so it is isolated from the septic tank riser. The septic tank itself has a concrete "cork" in it that limits the amount of groundwater that gets in.

[stevej37]

Ok....one last question here for you guys that have a septic/drain field system.
How often do you have it pumped? Figured for two people.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

^^
No thanks. I've seen it.
You might want them to install a riser so the top of the tank access is at or above ground level.

Bingo! What we did at our last pump out...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

The concrete slab you see under the pavers is the cover of the riser. The square concrete "thing" you see is the riser itself. It sits on top of the septic tank, which is about four feet below the top.

Clever disguise...good job!

[Bill Douglas]

Comparing this thread with the dog bite thread . I think I'd rather get bitten by a dog.

But good luck.

[stevej37]

I marvel at whoever designed the first septic/drain field system.
If built correctly..it can last a lifetime with hardly any maintenance.
No smell..no upkeep..no monthly cost.