septic tank blues

OK, I know this is a longshot, but the knowledge base here on NCKA is amazing, so I figure it's worth a try.

We live in the hills between Los Gatos and Scott's Valley. We've got a septic tank, and it's never given us any trouble until now. We got it pumped about 3 months ago, and just did so again yesterday---both time by Able (http://www.ableseptic.com/index.php).

Obviously, there is a problem, and most likely it's at the point where the tank is supposed to drain into the leach field. There is PVC pipe there, and it's not in good shape. It also looks like the tank has shifted slightly, and that could be the source of the problem.

In any case, Able says the thing to do is to dig up a 3' x 3' area between the tank and the leach field, replace the overflow pipe, and install a cleanout. That makes sense to me. But, they want $1750 to do the work, which seems excessive. Not that I really want to, but I think I could dig it out myself in an afternoon, and $1750 will buy a lot of kayak fishing gear...

Is there anyone else that you'd recommend for work like this, as I'd like to get another estimate? Also, if you have any other thoughts or experience, let me know. Thanks.

NwM

I just finished having my tank pumped after 20 years. The outlet pipe was made of concrete and it had partially eroded away so the septic crew replaced it with a PVC. If your leach field is OK then the problem is most likely in the outflow from tank to field. Yes, $1,750.00 is excessive and you can do the digging especially since the earth should be soft after the last rains.

I had a similar issue.  I dug it out myself, then asked for a price for just the pipe work.  They did it for $300.  And I backfilled.  All is working fine, but after seeing the small amount of pipe work they did I should have done it all myself.

Your biggest concern should be that their recommended fix doesn't fix the problem and you'll need to replace the leach field.

Good luck!

I'd DIY it.

The $1,750 doesn't really surprise me, but I'd ask them for a breakdown of labor, parts, mob/demob, etc. You might find some room for negotiation or slicing/dicing the job between DIY and contract.

Remember no tampons, sanitary napkins, diapers, heavy paper items in the toilet or lots of stuff in disposal. Do you have a home warranty they may cover it too.

But, they want $1750 to do the work, which seems excessive. Not that I really want to, but I think I could dig it out myself in an afternoon, and $1750 will buy a lot of kayak fishing gear...

I'd pay 5X the amount not to have to do that work myself, especially at this time of year.  You do it yourself and get injured, sick, or laid up - then wut?  B counting your $1750 savings while recuping at home with a sprained back, or barfing and crapping your guts into a sparkly clean and secure septic tank. Instead of OTW. 

Haggle the guy down 12% for all-in services, agree that's a good, discounted price, then gear up for RCG and prepare to bone down.  $1750 amortized across a decade is like 3 cents a day or some similar Sally Struthers-type number. 

Or, you can pay a couple of guys from Home Depot parking lot to do the labor intensive part of the job then do the plumbing or other skilled work yourself. I saved a ton of money that way when I did some renovations around the house

OK, I know this is a longshot, but the knowledge base here on NCKA is amazing, so I figure it's worth a try.

 Not that I really want to, but I think I could dig it out myself in an afternoon, and $1750 will buy a lot of kayak fishing gear

Not only gear purchases but think of the kayaking endurance you will build up by digging. You might look up outlet pipes septic and see the pvc layout for outlets. Pretty simple install. If I had known I would have done it myself but the septic guy gave me a good price, $180.00 and without seeing it done I had no idea of how to do it. Pay for knowledge.

Leach fields are usually pretty shallow. As long as ground is not hard (should be soft this time of year) you can dig up fairly quickly. If ground is over saturated it could also cause backup as fill can only accept so much moisture.

Sounds like your leach field has "died" and needs replacement or addition.  Do you have any treas near the leach field?  The roots will often make their wat into the pipe & clog it up.  From experience ... had it happen to my house in Florida.  Cost a LOT more than that to replace the LF.

Had the toilet backup into the bathroom while someone was taking a shower when the grey water system sump came on. A school of turds swam down a flight of steps and took up residence in the living room living room. This all came about because the house was used for a party and too many people had used the facilities  which overloaded what we would discover to be septic field pipes chocked with redwood roots (In Cazadero) Field dug up, pipes replaced, cleanout installed to the tune of $4000.00. Now I ask you... do you want this to happen in your house?  Get the work down and suck it up.

Thanks for the replies.

NCKA has once again inspired me to go the DIY route. We've done lots of digging around here, so I think I know what I'm getting into in that respect. And once it's dug up, if it looks like too much to handle, I'll call a plumber for the pipe install---let me know if you've got any plumber recommendations. And, best of all, my 20-something son is around and I can probably bribe him to do most of the hard work for a small fraction of $1750. The only negative is the timing, with RF and salmon seasons opening...

 
  If you can expose the outflow pipe, you might as well call roto - rooter to send camera down the leach field line to inspect it.  We had a toilet backup then had the main line under house inspected, and found root intrusion into the line 2 feet out front the septic tank.  The old Tera cotta pipe had no chance against the on slot of roots!
  Bottom line since you have to open the outflow get the system inspected save trouble of digging it up again later.
 

  If you can expose the outflow pipe, you might as well call roto - rooter to send camera down the leach field line to inspect it.  We had a toilet backup then had the main line under house inspected, and found root intrusion into the line 2 feet out front the septic tank.  The old Tera cotta pipe had no chance against the on slot of roots!
  Bottom line since you have to open the outflow get the system inspected save trouble of digging it up again later.

When they were here, I chatted with the Able guys about how they would do it. Their approach is to put a cleanout in the overflow line so that you can run a camera thru the leach field even after everything is covered up. That sounds like a smart approach.

After it's all exposed, we'll know a lot more, but I'm pretty confident that the problem is right at the overflow.

Prior home in campbell, we were on city system.  Got backed up once, retained a service name escapes but the fellas came out stick in my mind to this day.  Like a turd stain on a rug.

"Smitty" was a HUUUUGE fellow.  Not sure how he fit into small spaces but he no doubt showed ample plummurz crack when under the kitchen sink
His supe, "Bubba," another character.  What he lacked in girth he made up for with grit. 

They wrenched and wrenched, finally popped the cleanout located in anterior curtilage.  Upon breach, it f'ing GEYSERED and GURGLED and they delightfully screamed and danced "WOOHOO" as if celebrating around a shitty maypole on the 4th of July or something!  My uproarious lafter only mitigated by gagging  and running away. 

When geyser subsided they pulled out the camera.  Fed it in and laid eyes on a rootball occlusion so dense looked like a damn WIG!  Snaked it out, to once Again, "WooHoo"s, high fives and fist bumps all around.  Not with me but a third guy showed up by then.

Watching Smitty and Bubba perform that task with such glee tot me life lessons worth > $1.7K.  I only wish my son was of age to have witnessed it  . . .

Sure you aint wanna plop down dat cheddar, and just go fishing instead?