Rid-X. does it work?

[vash]

I have never had a septic tank. so I dont know anything. I like my stuff piped away. not sure a septic can handle my "fiber-fridays".

I do see the commercials. just wondering. snake oil?

[craigster59]

It works. I knew a guy who used to pour it into a raw chicken and then place in his septic tank. Said it got it to working quicker in breaking down "material".

I've also heard that you sometimes need to replenish the Rid-X if someone has been taking antibiotics as it can kill the "material eating" bacteria in the septic tank.

[flipper35]

We use it now and then. Septic guys say it looks like it works. Used it all the time in CA. Never had to service that septic system when checked.

Here in WI we have to have it pumped every 3 years regardless. Ours never needs it but the law says we do. We also have a garbage disposal with the septic system with no issues.

[rfuerst911sc]

Yes it works , it's basically just bacteria that promotes bacterial growth in the tank . The bacteria is what breaks down solids into liquids .

Yeast cakes , sour milk , raw chicken etc all add bacteria . Healthy bacteria is a vital component to keep a septic system working .

I would recommend to anyone new to septic systems to have the tank pumped out . This gives you a baseline on the tank . The septic guy will tell you how much he pumped out , that tells you what size tank you have.

Generally they are 500/1000/1500 gallons . Ask him how often the tank should be pumped out . Some folks say never , some say every 3 years . Personally I have it pumped out every 10 years .

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Here in WI we have to have it pumped every 3 years regardless. Ours never needs it but the law says we do. We also have a garbage disposal with the septic system with no issues.

That's what I do also....small charge for a 3 year cleanout. Then it's done and no worries.

[Dixie]

It's more important to use cheap, single ply, septic compatible toilet paper. You want that paper to break down fast. Having the expensive stuff plug up your drain field isn't good.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by vash

I have never had a septic tank. so I dont know anything. I like my stuff piped away. not sure a septic can handle my "fiber-fridays".

I do see the commercials. just wondering. snake oil?

Did you guys move to a more rural area where you have a septic tank?

Another reason my pops uses a bidet, and I'm considering one cause we are both on septic.

His leach field had to be redone due to tree root intrusion. The installer suggested at grade clean outs where the line's perf pipe started so he can put a product in that kills the small roots as they enter the line. Once the root gets a 1/2" or so all bets are off, so he does it once every 3 or 4 months. Will try to do it before they leave for a day or so as to no dilute it with additional usage after treatment.

Mine does not have a clean out to introduce such a product but I've considered digging, finding the line and installing one.

[E Sully]

It works. It does not eliminate but reduces need to pump out. Usually added every few months.
My friends father and his partner actually made millions as one the the first dreaded telemarketers selling his version Septic Helper nationwide, along with his contact lists.
Years back he got tired of the telemarketing regulations and sold out to his partner and invested in commercial real estate.

[cabmandone]

I typically put some in my septic tank (flush it) twice each year. You're supposed to put it in when the system won't be in use for something like 24 hours so I typically put it in when I'm going on vacation or taking a long weekend trip.

You can do roughly the same thing by flushing yeast which I did a lot of while I was brewing.

[Chocaholic]

Have had septic systems for decades...never an issue and never a need for additives. Trust me, your fiber-fridays are not a problem (for the septic system).

[masraum]

We bought a house with a septic system a little over 4 years ago. At the time we were told "don't use Rid-X". I was told that you could flush yeast down the drain (cheaper and did the same thing, supposedly). I was also told that you could use road kill or a dead chicken. We haven't done any treatment (our septic will probably die next week, now that I've said that).

There is some info in the following thread that I posted when we bought this place.
https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1073916-water-wells-septic-systems-what-should-i-know.html

[Googam]

Our current house has septic. Had no idea how they worked. The owners were no help. Called the first phone # in the book. AAA Septic Services. My new best friend. He opened it up to give me a lesson. If you've never seen 1,000 gallons of poop & pee, you haven't lived. He reported it was in fine condition, mostly liquid with limited solids & draining cleanly to the distribution box. Leave it alone. If it's causing any problems, you'll know. That was 12 years ago.

Rules: No wipes, no clogged toilet chemicals, grey water drained to a seperate system (dishwashers/washing machine). He said Rid-X is OK, but not needed if you follow the rules.

[vash]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

Did you guys move to a more rural area where you have a septic tank?

.

no. still with plumbing down the street.

I passed on any house with Septic since I had zero clue about them. I dont like troubles. I also passed on any home without a cooktop vent that ducted to the outside, or would be a pain for me to do so.

added to the list: BAMBOO.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Googam

Our current house has septic. Had no idea how they worked. The owners were no help. Called the first phone # in the book. AAA Septic Services. My new best friend. He opened it up to give me a lesson. If you've never seen 1,000 gallons of poop & pee, you haven't lived. He reported it was in fine condition, mostly liquid with limited solids & draining cleanly to the distribution box. Leave it alone. If it's causing any problems, you'll know. That was 12 years ago.

Rules: No wipes, no clogged toilet chemicals, grey water drained to a seperate system (dishwashers/washing machine). He said Rid-X is OK, but not needed if you follow the rules.

ROFLMAO! It's certainly something. I have no idea what shape ours is in. I've popped the top before. It doesn't smell good, but it doesn't smell as bad as I expected.

Originally Posted by vash

no. still with plumbing down the street.

I passed on any house with Septic since I had zero clue about them. I dont like troubles. I also passed on any home without a cooktop vent that ducted to the outside, or would be a pain for me to do so.

added to the list: BAMBOO.

Certainly don't want anything weird in Cali where the state could suddenly decide to outlaw you for some reason.

Bamboo, LMAO! When we sold our old home I left some bamboo in the back yard. It was trying to spread into the yard, but it just got mowed and wasn't a problem. It was however also spreading into the neighbor's yard because it was close to the fence. The folks that we sold the house to tore it out.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by masraum

We haven't done any treatment (our septic will probably die next week, now that I've said that).

Right? I can hear the roots entering my leach line right now! Dam!

My relator was on the ball requiring a full flush and inspection of my tank during escrow. Mine is about 50 years old and is a concrete unit so the inspection of it empty was a really thorough way to confirm it was sound. Do not think the leach line is original though as there are marks on some old railroad tie like timbers denoting where the lids are and the line leaves the box. The 16x16 inch timbers are old but not been in place since the tank was installed. There are a bunch of those timbers up here from old railroad structures like trestles, bridges and such from the gold rush era.


This is what remains of one we jeep to once every couple years called the Borland Trestle. Dam amazing how they got such huge structures constructed back in the day.

[Bugsinrugs]

I had mine pumped out last year. I dug out the access ports since they are 3 feet under my lawn. I did not have the courage to lift the covers off the tank. Too scary. I let the pump guy deal with that. He said my system is fine and healthy. I do it every ten years. About $600

[Googam]

Don't mean to over kill this thread, but..........I complained to the realtor about buying a house with a septic system. He said "Get a jar & put in $50 a month. That's the amount you will not pay to the County for monthly sewage fees". Didn't, but $7,200 goes a long way to dealing with any future problems.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Dixie

It's more important to use cheap, single ply, septic compatible toilet paper. You want that paper to break down fast. Having the expensive stuff plug up your drain field isn't good.

If your system is designed right and pumped even semi regularly that’s not a problem.

Teenage boys and three ply and yet no issues…

[cabmandone]

My advice is, poop in a paper bag and toss it in the neighbor's yard. Never have to worry about septic problems. Angry neighbors, now that's a whole different story.

[stevej37]

I had mine pumped four years ago and it cost $250
I had dug out the cover and it was a job finding it and clearing the nearby tree roots.
The guy suggested letting him install a resin riser to make access easier next time. He did if for another $200

Now, it's just a matter of four screws and it's ready to be pumped. Next year I'll call them to pump it again.