I love this guy, straight to the point, total no-nonsense evidence-founded advice. Interviews like this with experienced people are the gold for TH-cam. Thanks Sachs Realty for bringing this content.
I've been blessed. Have a concrete 1000 gallon tank, and a 1100 linear foot septic drain field. Hadn't had the tank pumped out since it was installed in 1999. Had it pumped out first time this year. It took them only 10 minutes to pump it clean as I was flushing both toilets. I asked them how bad was the it. They said was easy. Never had baby wipes, grease from kitchen, paper towel, etc. ever flushed down into system. Take care of what goes into your septic system and itll last a good long time.
A septic system is designed so the solid wastes that settle to the bottom are broken down by microbial bacteria. There are products for septic tanks that supply this good bacteria available at hardware stores. Usually in rural areas. My septic system was designed for 4-6 people on it. There has never been that many people using it and is probably why it was so easy to clean. I only flush bio degradable material down there. Never paper towel. Toilet paper will dissolve in water after awhile.
Inspector this time is called a realtor,he,the realtor got his information for a future buyer,the septic contractor, you could call him a septician, the health department worker is the one that you would name an inspector,,,,!!
I wish that I had my septic system inspected before I bought my house. I've never owned a house before, much less a septic system. I didn't know any better.
I would say the tank was somewhat cleaned. The only way to do a thorough cleaning is to remove the main lid to the septic tank. Around 24" round. Many companies pump through the cleanout because they're too lazy to dig the lid open. If you don't pump from the lid you're basically just pumping out water and not getting the solids out. Make sure your septic company does a complete job
We opted to buy the plastic ( might be other product) lids on our house and will do that on our rental house when it needs more maintenance. If I built a home I would try to install separate gray and brown water tanks.
Correct, we always recommend dig up the 18 or 24 inch lid We also use a rake or blow air in the tank to break up the solids, I don't agree with running water for an hour because leach lines do not take water the way drain wells do, to much water can ruin the leach field
Yes true. I had mine pumped for the first time recently. The septic guy said that I would have to have the opening dug out before he got there so I did (thinking there was only one) when he arrived he said that was the wrong opening and that I’d find another bigger one 3’ further out. We found it but the guy told me that a lot of other septic guys would have just sucked it out of the first one out of convenience
Has construction details on paper then brings you to the actual build. Even the tip on making a probe and locating the fields. The attention to detail is amazing. And the Lord's message at the end, well let's say that's the only TH-cam "ad" I sat through and enjoyed. Thank you for all the information.
Septic system maintenance is very key! Learning what you can and cannot flush is key to keep one working for life. When I was into building heavy i worked with an old timer who installed all the septic and he was a wealth of knowledge. He said a properly maintained system should never need pumped. He recommended Robic cleaners once a year and more often if you use a lot of soaps and caustic cleaners. He said use Organic cleaners where possible and anti-bacterial soaps kill the natural bacteria in the tank so Robic is needed more often. He also said adding things like Milk products or beers will help add bacteria. Most people never maintenance a septic system and just use it until it fails. Several years ago we bought a house and found out later on that the leach field had been removed and had just a tank. Before we used it I had treated it heavy with Robic double the amounts required and hit it every 6 months. House sat over winter so we added Robic before closing the property before winter. 2 years later the tank was full and gound was wet and called the local sewer pumper. He had been at the property many times before and said prior times the tank was full and very sludgy. When he pumped this time the tank was very clean and no solids and no sludge. He was very surprised and asked what i did to the system. Robic and hit it hard. He said keep doing it that it worked very well and it was the cleaned he's seen it. No solids, no grease of any kind. He said drain field not working. Hired in a guy to dig it up and thats when we found there wasnt one....small 250 gallon septic. New drain field and no issue. Future will be a new septic tank per code. Been 7 years now and anuall inspection its still clear and in good shape. Robic still twice a year. No worse deterioration on tank since take over.
I knew a horse trainer who bought a house close to his barns. He had trouble with the septic system from day one. Multiple plumbers came out, starting their inspections inside at the toilets and working back out of the house, looking for the problem. It took a while but one finally convinced him how big his problem was. This plumber finally said "We're gonna have to pull the lid off the tank." They did, no small feat in itself. Under the lid, the tank was full, CHOCK FULL, of condoms. Used rubbers, top to bottom, side to side, god knows how many gallons! Turns out, the horse trainer bought what used to be the local "House of Ill Repute"! Just in case anyone needed to hear that...
A septic pumping company owner near retirement told us that joke but in his version it was a couple living there a long time, the husband being told of the condoms and responding confusedly that he'd never used condoms. Had us chuckling 😂
@@elgringoec No joke, my buddy was fighting with his home owners insurance company for the better part of a couple years. They only relented and paid up when he found a retired sheriff who was willing to make a statement about the previous occupants.
@@slingshotjohnny1 I guess that's the thing about what makes jokes humorous is having a grain of truth! Of course it's happened but it's way out of the norm. The part of your story that's hard for me to understand is how a home insurance company is going to pay for that. There's bound to be a fine print clause about not being responsible for the prior condition of things when you bought them. I've never heard of a homeowner's insurance company paying a policyholder for septic maintenance or for repairs resulting from damaging practices by the policy holder either. I expect the insurance is there to protect against accidents, damage caused by others or freak events, stuff beyond one's control.
Clearly explained and beautifully illustrated. Years ago I accidentally discovered that by introducing an air gap between the spark plug terminal and the high tension wire from the distributor produced a more vigorous spark and noticeably better combustion on an old Farmall engine. The engine ran more smoothly and at higher rpm. My guess was that the air gap at the sparkplug boot compressed the spark duration and increased its intensity. Ran that tractor for years with the spark plug boots secured slightly retracted from the plugs. Possibly could have achieved a similar effect with hotter plugs but the engine ran great so no need to bother.
Many years back we put in an approved septic tank(1000 ) gallon,before having our modular home delivered ,as it was time to pump it out(5years later)the builder backfilled the foundation, covering the pump out cover under 3 ft. Of dirt.The first pump out needed was in the middle of the winter,had to hire a backhoe operator to dig to get to it in the dead of winter to access the pumpout cover,a pricey sum of money,they had to tow the pump out truck to the septic cover another expense ,I'm glad I only had to do it 1x.
Great simple explanation of a 1000 year old process. Gravity drain system. I have to remind my tenants that just because they can flush the toilet it doesn't mean the poo is gone. It's still there including the grease, baby wipes and tampons. How about a video on root infiltration, and cracked and broken drain pipes? If you are living on a septic system, it's a ticking time bomb unless you take care if it. How about a video on an aerobic system? I have talked to several of these septic pump operators and heard some amazing stories once you get past the ick! factor. Thanks.
Thank you for making this video. We are in the process of buying a home. We had a septic tank inspection. It said the tank did not need to be drained, not much detail other than that. It passed. I didn't know you couldn't use a garbage disposal. The home comes with one, it's a shame. Angel from The Bay
Technically you can but you shouldn't have it drain to your septic. I have a grease trap that is off my kitchen and ao I COULD have one but it's not worth the risk. Our drain pipes in the grease trap failed. I had to dig it up and replace rhe broken pipe with perforated pvc. Place new seer rocks on the too and then backfill. And..I didn't make it far enough so it failed and we got a neigh or to come do it again. We don't even drive our riding mower over those lines. Not worth the risk.
@@ArtistCreek Thank you for your reply. We are new to the Septic system so I have been doing lots of research. We also decided after a little scare not to flush TP down the toilets (2) so I bought some diaper garbage bins for TP and baby wipes, sanitary napkins etc. That's a learning curve, but so far so good. The baby diaper bins work really well. Now, to work on some funky smell that comes from the PVC hole next to the hot water and cold water faucet for the washer hose, in the laundry room. Bare with me I am a new home owner and do not know the "Lingo" yet (but I am a fast learner) I ordered an Admittance Valve hoping it will help with the odor? Idk The odor seems to happen when we take a shower. I don't know I have more research to do. I am not trying to call a plumber yet $$$ I want to see what other guys are doing with the same issue. Thank you all who chime in. From the Silicon Valley to the Foothills of the Sierra Mountains (beautiful) MountainAngel
This is a brilliant idea for the realtor, who I am guessing sells a lot of homes with septic. When I bought mine, I spent lots of time googling and I was very lucky to have an inspection firm who was patient and willing to explain how things work (especially since I have a BAT system, which adds 5x the complexity).
Mine is 68 years old, put in by my grandpa when he built the house and it is still running just fine, never been pumped out or cleaned a day in its life
@@thisguy5050 I been reading a lot about it. I guess with care it can be fine. I figure no mater how hard I try some amount of food particles will make it down the drain. And I have to do laundry and wash myself with soap. You ever consider having it looked at by a reliable pro? I'd be curious. Do you add anything? Just very curious. Respectfully
Alot of older systems, installed before regulations, either didn't bother installing a drain field or added an overflow/exit pipe out the end into a stream, swamp, etc. alowing the system to continue "running just fine" even after failing its designed purpose. You may run into issues if you ever try to sell the property.
@@stewbauca2926 has a drain field and no overflow pipe, my grandpa installed it and according to code the drain field is actually smaller than required so that's the only thing that would fail it. Won't ever be selling the family farm so no worries there
Jerry did an inspection for me on a house I bought in Maryland. He told me and my wife the rules…. 1. Don’t flush anything down the drain that you haven’t eaten first. 2. Don’t use powdered laundry detergent. 3. Don’t pour grease down the drain. 4. Only use single ply toilet paper. We never had a problem with our septic system or our drain fields.
@staciegonda1659 I was curious about that as well, so i googled it, and this is what i found. "When cleaning a septic tank, it can be difficult to differentiate powered detergent with grease as the detergent clumps together forming a grease-like substance that does not biodegrade in your system. It is actually possible for powdered detergent to clog the system or block a drain.Jun 2, 2016"
Thank you - That was excellent. I have a septic tank and field and now I know what will happen with an inspection clean out. The other thing not to put down the drain is coffee grounds.
My biggest mistake in using my septic system was to allow my washing machine to empty in it. The detergent would kill much of the bacteria that allowed it to operate efficiently. By piping the washing machine to a seperate dry well, the system operated much better.
I havent had a septic system for almost 5 years now, but had one and a leech field for 11 years. Im just here to see what I might of missed. I learned a lot in those 11 years, and never had an issue.
@@HermannTheGreat I really dont think anything actually. I was told I pumped out my septic tank to much, which was yearly. But to me the $80 a year was piece of mind. And if it was bad, why in 11 years did I have no issues. I may have gone overboard on stuff, or because of the extra things, I made it last. Added a product called shactivate once a year as well. Was it needed? Who knows, cost was $30 a year. I actually detatched my leach field one year, from a decade more of horses and matted weeds so that are could breath like it should. Hard work, yes but once it was done I could see that difference. Did it matter, who knows
Yeah, it might have saved you a ton of money. My friend's family had to move from a home because of costs related to updating the septic/sewer system. @@virgil3241
Live on a hill, sandy soft soil. Septic system was put in about 60 years ago. Never been cleaned or worked on. still working great. Always careful not to put food or grease in it. Use a strainer in the sinks.
I have an older system. The only thing that goes into the septic tank is the toilet. Every other waste water source goes to a separate drain field with no tank. Can't design a septic system that way today, but it is a far superior design. No soaps or grease gets into the tank. The drain field is 60 years old and still working.
The first time I ever took the lid off my septic I learned a lot of things yes I did drain it my house was misused there was a lot of nasty things like condoms ladies little nasty things even underwear no wonder my tube was clogged and it wasn't working I drained it learned that you put leftover milk vegetable juice whatever that creates what you need to keep your septic tank happy even leftover beer keep them little purple flowers growing they're like a mushroom but they look like a large goodie brush they eat everything up they will chop down toilet paper they will chop up turds they will liquefy that's the thing people don't get it you don't put Drano down your pipe if you have a drain pipe take the drain pipe off and clean it don't use Drano that's not good for a septic tank you made your own problem if you use Drano
A stone cement septic tank can last a hundred years if properly maintained with no Drano or other chemicals into it tell the truth sounds like you work for a city Halls of down syndrome telling lies again I hate hearing calls of down syndrome telling lies when you don't even know what you're talking about about septic tanks
And the garden always grows better over the septic leach field that is I know that oh you city folks think that I'm growing s*** food no that food is grown with good nutrients water nutritated sorry about you city folks thinking that accepted tank leach field is a bad thing grow up liberals
And it's so easy to build a new leach field once again don't mess your lease filled up it will last keep your tampons and your condoms and your Grease out of your septic tank and your leashfield will last forever another thing don't park large vehicles on top of your leach field beware of bad tenants landlords
Excellent! We live in Alaska and our septic tank is plastic, not concrete. Also the mean soil temperature is less than 38 degrees F, so bacterial composition is less than at lower latitudes. Our septic lasted 40 years (leach field pipes) in deep silt soil.
My friend bought a home knowing the drain field was failed. He paid to have a new drain field put in but they excavated the old one out and dug way down because they put the new where the old was. He kept half the old lines in a pile...three months after completion he took the old lines and cut them open to see how they looked. He said the internal diameter was down to a few finger width because of the grease. Also all the gravel and earth dug out was grease laden.
That grease comes from washing dishes and from grease in stools. Cooking grease should be poured into say a carboard milk carton. This can then be put in the garbage. Even better would be shipped with cooking oils from commercial establishments or automotive oils.
@@daledavies2334 I notice it depends on the dish washing method - people who wash under a running tap are washing the grease and oil into the drain, whereas washing in a bowl allows the dish soap to break down the fat in the bowl first
My Dad just had to replace his system, he put in the original system when he built the house nearly 50 years ago. It failed last year, tree roots and age, use finally caught up with him. The replacement was nearly $28,000. Something else to think about, lot size. His lot is now full. There is no more room to put in the next system. The company that put in his current system said. If he, or the new owners ever have to replace this system they will need to get a Stage 3 System. When I asked what that is, they company owner said, you don’t wanna deal with that, currently it costs about $60,000 to put in a Stage 3 system. He never did give details. So my take away is, when buying a property with a septic system, know the age and condition of the system, know if it’s the first or only system on the property, and find out if the property has room for a new system. Because odds are if you’re planning on spending anytime with this property or plane to sell the property a new system will be part of the deal. And an advance system could eat up any profits you may be trying to get out of a sale. From what I learned an average home, three bedroom with two baths, will need a minimum of approximately 1/2 acre of ground for each septic system, in addition to the space needed for the house, well, and anything else on the property. If buying a small acreage, don’t buy a lot less than 2 acres, 5 or more would be better when considering things like septic systems, wells, and having room for buildings.
@@marciaewell2661 for the actual field no. But you’ll need room for the house, garage, well, off sets from property lines and all permanent structures, distance from the well and neighbors well, if you have neighbors. And places for future septic systems. All of that requires space, and a half acre lot just doesn’t have enough space. I see many acreages around here anyway are 5.1 acres in size, part of the reason for that lot size is to allow for future septic systems and wells. A 1/2 acre lot is very tight. The systems size depends on number of bedrooms. The more bedrooms, the more people living in the house, meaning a larger drain field. The one at my dads is a mound system, it takes up roughly 110 feet by 50 feet, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the backyard, his is a three bedroom house. The system was of equal size. The front yard has his well in it. So no septic system can be place in front, there is no more room for a third system in back. So when this systems eventually fails, he or whoever has the house will be stuck with having to get a stage 3 system. I have no idea what that is, but I do know it’s roughly 3 times the cost to install. So, word to wise, if your buying a place in the country, buy an acreage of at least 5 acres, anything smaller will bit you in the butt one day. Unless of course, the property is connected with a municipal sewer system. But if the property is too small You’ll have some problems.
our drain field was from 1964 and because of tree roots and age it was time to redo ours We had estimates between 3400$ and 5000$, did some research and replaced our entire drain fieldour selfs for 225$ in a weekend!
@@johngudmundson5020 good for you. Unfortunately, in my area it’s not allowed. The homeowner can no longer put in their own system. It has to be planned and installed by licensed contractors, after the county and state inspectors sign off on the plan. Part of the problem in our situation is this property is on a lake, so the requirements are very stringent. As for own system, I hope you got a permit if it discovered you system was not cleared and given a stamp of approval state can fine you and make you rip it all up. At around here they can. Also, if you ever go to sell the property, it’s a guarantee the banks or mortgage company are going want inspections and certifications on the age and condition of the well and septic system. If they find you don’t have the proper paperwork and certificates it could block the sale or greatly reduce your selling price. They will most likely force you to install a new well and septic system, unless you can can get a contingency for a sell as is. It’s something to think about. But don’t know your situation or the laws regarding septic systems in your area. Just be careful with what you do.
I sure wish that I had seen this video before purchasing my home almost three years ago. I would have know to have a separate septic inspection. the title company insisted that I have the well inspected but no one told me that I should have a separate septic inspection as well. I have been a city girl all my life and I did not know what to look for and neither did my Agent. A week after closing on the home I found out that the property just had two holding tanks. I am still crying to this day today. I never budgeted for having to have the tanks emptied every two months or less. The seller did not fully disclose and no one has helped me in this situation, not even my Agent. Buyers beware. Make sure you work with a knowledgeable Agent.
I have a septic system. When i first moved in 14 years ago I had it cleaned out and we found a huge root ball in the tank. I pulled it out with a shovel and then guy gave me some copper stuff to dissolve any remaining roots. I had it cleaned again a couple years later just to be sure it was ok ( more for inspection purposes). It was fine. A couple years later i had a problem with drainage. i opened it up again and found a grease ball and foamy substance at the tank inlet which was blocking the inlet pipe. i took a hose with a jet sprayer and shoved it down the cleanout hole about 12 ft up from the tank opening and kept blasting it by pulling the hose forward and back until it broke thru. the drainage returned to normal and had to educate the household AGAIN about not putting grease residue down the drain. I havent done anything in over 6 years with no issues. I did just buy some Roebic to put in the system as preventative based on some comments below and the results they got from using it.
Nice Educational Video, with the exception of the Realtor involving themselves with any aspect of the inspection, that is left to the Inspector, the buyer and the seller. As a Brokers, Agents, unless you want to be part a a lawsuit, keep your hands off!! We are real estate experts, not plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc!!
Here in Cowlitz county Washington there is no inspection. Had trouble once, had a friend come over with his backhoe, dig a hole to take three yards of river rock and cover with one foot of dirt, that's how I fixed my drain field 11 years ago.
That's the reality of it. Here in NYS the department of health has made it so ridiculous that many people just leave a failed system in place because code requires these mega sized systems one can afford.
Concrete tanks do have a lifespan. Mine lasted 55 years. The concrete distribution box had collapsed and in replacing it, the sides of the tank ABOVE the liquid had deteriorated to 2 inches thick. I'm still using the original red clay leach field; no issues.
@@flat6fever680 it’s red clay tile, 4” diameter and foot long segments. They abut each other on a gravel bed and the gap between is where the liquid leaches into the gravel and soil.
@@alleyoop5185 Fiberglass may do better, but if you look at anything that is made from fiberglass, the epoxy resin that holds the glass fibers together can (and will) eventually deteriorate. Just look at an old boat or anything else made from fiberglass. Being buried will help reduce the oxidation rate, but chemicals (like bleach in laundry or cleaners) can also cause oxidation. I'd be curious to know how polypropylene tanks do. Might have similar problems to the fiberglass, but at what rate?
Just learned so much from Jerry! Wow... We're in the process of looking for land and some of them require septic systems to be put in. This was all great information!
The septic industry has come very far. Nowadays there are even units that dont require pumping or a drain field. Look up Zero Liquid Discharge or ZLD septic units and see if theyre approved by your local environmental agency. They work by aeration that dissolves the solids, then the liquids are turned to vapor and shot 80 or so feet into the air so you dont have to deal with the smell. The new ones cost less than $200 a year to run. In my opinion itd be a great investment on your new construction, because eventually all septic tanks will have to be upgraded to ZLD units in many places due to excess nitrogen flow into waterways. It can also be put on land that cant pass a perc test. There are pros or cons to anything, but its just something to consider. Good luck with your land purchase!
We had renters who just jammed the drain full of grease for about 8 feet under the house, it was a nightmare to clean out. But they had paid us over $100 grand over the term of their rental so I couldn’t complain too much..
You are not that bright. That should have been covered in your rental agreement. Also, you did not insist on renter’s insurance. You deserved what you got.
Excellent video. I learned alot. I've been in my house 10 years w/a septic system and am have had problems w/1 toilet gurgling when my wash machine at the other end of the house would drain. I've had no back-ups. I thought it was a stopped up vent but the vent was clear. Turns out the D-box and drain field pipes were full of roots. Getting ready to have them replaced. Luckily the tank was fine. Its a standard system and still is expensive to replace the D-box & drain field at under $10K. I don't drop grease down the drain but there is always some residual in the pans after I clean them out in the trashcan. Just hope that residual isn't a problem. Ordered Rid-X to help with it.
Read up on rid X. Two septic cleaners cautioned me against using it. I was skeptical thinking they just wanted more work from failed systems. Anyway, I found that rid-x does indeed help breakdown solids into finer particles but those finer particles mean more solids go into your leach field causing premature failure. Better to keep solids in the tank and have it pumped out regularly.
@@MeltingRubberZ28 yeah if you gonna add something that's the safest and best thing, but you really don't have to add anything. Your bodies own poop has enough bacteria in it to feed the septic biome, but the key is to not kill what's in the biome, so no harsh chemicals as it will kill them
I just cleaned my septic tank. It is 50 years old. There’s no issues. I did the one hour test also and never saw soft ground. I will continue to put root kill down since there are trees in the area and baby the system to the best of my ability. Never ever any grease and always septic safe toilet paper used sparingly.
What a brilliant video! Jerry's just the kind of guy to tell you the truth. BTW, why not three-chamber septic tanks? Are they common or are two-chambers good enough?
Wish I had known all this some 20 years ago when I bought my first house and had to spend $20,000 to have an entire system replaced within 6 months of moving in.. Sued the inspector after 3rd party arbitration with the builder. Only got half back..
Thank you for this video. We are looking for the first time in a state with septic systems. This is so helpful. After hiring a couple inspectors on home purchases that I was not pleased with, I now higher professionals in each field to inspect my homes including an electrician, hvac, plumbing, and a general contractor. It costs a little more but they have always uncovered things that the inspector didn't find.
A good way to avoid drain field failure is also putting in 3 legs and having chambers. They give you more space for drainage and are more forgiving than just pipe with holes and gravel.
Jerry you dropped the ball, didn't you see the inlet and outlet baffles were steel, that means the tank is made of steel. Steel tanks are like our car and they do rust out. I've been in the septic business for over 30 years and I've had 3 customers that fell into their steel septic tank while mowing the lawn, 2 had garden tractors and the third was push mowing. When I do a septic inspection and I find the tank to be made of steel that is an automatic failure and needs to be replaced. I do not want to be held libel in case someone falls in the tank especially a child and the new home owner was not aware of the steel tank because it was not brought to their attention during the inspection. When I do run into steel tank I bring that to the customers attention, it's up to them on what path they want to take.
You are 100% correct. A disaster waiting to happen. I took photos inside of tanks for years to check baffles. And one of the things I found was that the best indicator of drainfield health was a solid liquid level line at the bottom of the outlet pipe. If there was no liquid level line that generally meant that the tank was overfilling and slowly draining down because of a weak drain field. That did not allow a liquid level line to form.
Good eye. I retired from a sanitation and water district wherein I delt with all kinds of septic systems. In the older part of our system we had what is called the small diameter line which connected everyone's tank into the septic system going to the treatment plant. I heard nothing about the fact that a septic tank uses annarobic digestion as opposed to aerobic digestion. It takes a lot longer to digest the waste in a septic tank. Here the leach line is very important and there are different types of those. Now most people use infiltrators which must be place level and can cost a lot to install on a sloped lot whereas a evaporative leach line can be placed on a slope or an evaporative leach bed may still be used. These guys left a lot of information out. Most clogged sewer lines are caused by grease build up inside the inlet baffle clogging the inlet pipe. It's a big problem with businesses that don't have grease traps. Never use flushable wipes.
Great informative video! Please allow me to ask three questions: (1)Wouldn't it be better to inspect the tank before running water for an hour? This would enable the person doing the inspection to see if the water/effluent is below the exit baffle because, if the water is below the exit baffle, it would be indicative of a tank leak. (2) Also, what is your opinion on having a camera scope done on all lines, including the horizontal leach lines to inspect for flattened or broken pipes and/or roots, and the internal effective pipe diameters, inclusive of build-up, to know absolutely sure the condition of the septic system before buying a house. (3) What are your opinions on a septic dye test - is it even worth the money to have it done since a seller could pour bleach down a drain to cheat the styptic dye test and won't show bottom tank cracks ? Again, great video! Thank you!
Thank you, our first time getting a home out in the rural, and new to understanding private septic tanks and drain fields. Now I know what to look for.
Been a multiple home owner over a few decades and never once experienced septic system problems of any kind, might be a result of my being the builder of those homes and the installer of all the systems involved 😂
We have our septic system pumped out every two years, and it is doing great well past twenty years. We also wipe grease out of pans before washing them in the sink.
We have a large bowl in the kitchen sink we use to wash grease off of pans and plates. That greasy dirty bowl of water gets dumped out back. We use small holed strainers in the sinks to trap smaller debris and food, so no food scraps end up in the drain either.
This is an excellent video! I’m also a realtor in Northwest Ohio & Southeast Michigan and recently subscribed to your channel. I appreciate your candid opinions about the current state of our marketplace. I am ready to start a channel and plan on using the style you’ve incorporated. Keep up the great work!
would have been helpful to have a more detailed diagram of the tank components as well as a brief discussion about soil types permeability and percolation .. also with a plot map you'd know where the leach field is as well as the width & length .. still a great video !!
Sadly, the house we bought has an "amoeba" shaped drain field - no dimensions. Neither are there any records on when the system was installed. All this from the county health department. The septic tank was pumped and inspected two years ago (previous owners had done before putting the house on the market). So far, so good....
I have noticed that mine has a white film on top and we have never flushed any grease into the toilets. Its been 11 years now since I've had it pumped out. Im guessing its due to be pumped out. My neighbors have theirs done every other year. How often should i get it cleaned out? A coworker says that he hasn't had his pumped out for 30 plus years.. Thanks for the video!
My parents New England home (on top of a flat hill, with a big back yard) has a 55 y.o. leech field & septic tank, that just passed Massachusetts EPA regs to sell a home in Andover 🤗
I knew a painter who had extra paint, yes he poured it down the drain into the septic system. system failed. when dug up to replace system he had used yellow latex paint that dried and sealed the field. He go the Darwin award from the neighbors.
I live on a septic in Nevada. The previous owner put in a new system in 2016. I am super careful with it. The only thing is cleaning. Sometimes I use a harder cleaner (about once a month) to get the toilets clean. Any septic - cleaning toilets or heavy cleaning, advice? So far so good.
We use Zep if it gets bad but normally use the Organic Citris cleaner. Septic safe for the most part. If you use a Caustic cleaner you need to add bacteria to the tank. Soaps and cleaners kill the Bacteria. Robic liquid bacteria is a good once a year treatment. I've used K37 and K57 for many years with great success.
What about a grease trap for the septic system? In the old days almost all septic systems had a separate grease trap. I have a home built in 1948, it has a grease trap where the kitchen sink drains in before going to the septic.
Hey this guy knows his shit literally he does he asked all the correct questions I mean it I grew up with this.... And don't listen to the darn reality company or realtors!!
Well done ! Thank You for this wonderful, educational video ! There is a Lot to know about septic systems. Most people who use these systems don't know Sh!t about them. Thank You JG
I am also a REALTOR In NH. Your inspector did not do any test holes in the leach field. In our area they dig anyway from 2 to 3 test hole down into in field to inspect the pipe and stone for liquid and the change of color in the stone.
Seen a 80 year old neighbor dig up a 50 year old Redwood septic tank, just to ck it. Covered it up & kept on using it. Said flush yeast down a few times a year.
I’ve heard that lint from the washer can really damage a drain field. Especially all the fleece we are wearing, it doesn’t break down. I have a large separate filter on my washer.
thats a good point, man made synthetic fibres don't break down like cotton or other natural materials, great idea to have a filter, especially seeing how much fluff collects in the dryer!
Thanx, I've learned a lot that'll come in useful someday, maybe. I'm not sure why, but septic systems fascinate me. Maybe cause I got a woopin for not saving grease in an old coffee can then chuckin it when its full or rottin. Scept bacon grease. That makes some things taste a lot better. That and I make a leather conditioner out of unsalted beef fat and bees wax and a smidgen of coconut oil. It works real nice for greasing the patches for my muzzleloaders. Keeps the fouling soft and the fouling comes out with a bit of tow on a worm. P.S. don't feed your grease to your dogs. It'll kill them after A year at most. It destroys their pancreas. My sisters A vet and that's the number one reason they put down dogs. If you don't believe me, that's ok. You know what Google is. Have a good evening
You're going to get grease into your septic tank no matter what you do, if you wash your dishes grease will follow. I use dawn to help cut the grease and Rid x once a month. I also have my system pumped every three years.
Not if you have a separate grease trap. My kitchen sink isn't connected to my septic but I am still very careful to wipe out all grease with paper towels or pour into coffee cans then wipe well before washing. I don't have a garbage disposal or a dishwasher to prolong the life of my system.
Jerry Scarborough is a master of his trade. Very smart man who knows his business. Thank you for teaching us all about septic tanks.
I love this guy, straight to the point, total no-nonsense evidence-founded advice. Interviews like this with experienced people are the gold for TH-cam. Thanks Sachs Realty for bringing this content.
I've been blessed. Have a concrete 1000 gallon tank, and a 1100 linear foot septic drain field. Hadn't had the tank pumped out since it was installed in 1999. Had it pumped out first time this year. It took them only 10 minutes to pump it clean as I was flushing both toilets.
I asked them how bad was the it. They said was easy. Never had baby wipes, grease from kitchen, paper towel, etc. ever flushed down into system. Take care of what goes into your septic system and itll last a good long time.
Thanks. 1 year into property where new septic and field had to be installed. Very educational to keep my system healthy.
Amen to that just did a fix to a 50 year old system nothing in the paperwork matched what we found
So no toilet paper? Do u use the water spray system instead?
A septic system is designed so the solid wastes that settle to the bottom are broken down by microbial bacteria. There are products for septic tanks that supply this good bacteria available at hardware stores. Usually in rural areas.
My septic system was designed for 4-6 people on it. There has never been that many people using it and is probably why it was so easy to clean. I only flush bio degradable material down there. Never paper towel.
Toilet paper will dissolve in water after awhile.
@@Hugh_Manitee I’ve heard that the bacteria in normal poop is like super breakdown so the more we dump, the more better :)
Absolutely one of the best instructional videos I’ve seen on TH-cam. Credit to that inspector.
I enjoyed the video but the face-paced jargon was too much sometimes.
Inspector this time is called a realtor,he,the realtor got his information for a future buyer,the septic contractor, you could call him a septician, the health department worker is the one that you would name an inspector,,,,!!
I watched this on a whim. Amazing. I learned so freaking much. And the way the gentleman explained it was somewhat hilarious.
He’s such a good teacher.
As someone who knows this subject, I can honestly say that Jerry is #1 in the #2 business.
He knows his sh&t.
great to see that septic systems are now making it into my youtube home page.....
I wish that I had my septic system inspected before I bought my house. I've never owned a house before, much less a septic system. I didn't know any better.
That septic guy really knows his stuff
Buying a house, this information is priceless! Thank you.
We have those stainless steel filter baskets in our kitchen sink drain and they basically serve as a garbage disposal. I highly recommend them.
@@martinschulz9381 "garbage disposal" is a misnomer. Who puts garbage in the water supply? WTF?
I just wanted to say this guy is incredible.
I would say the tank was somewhat cleaned. The only way to do a thorough cleaning is to remove the main lid to the septic tank. Around 24" round. Many companies pump through the cleanout because they're too lazy to dig the lid open. If you don't pump from the lid you're basically just pumping out water and not getting the solids out. Make sure your septic company does a complete job
We opted to buy the plastic ( might be other product) lids on our house and will do that on our rental house when it needs more maintenance. If I built a home I would try to install separate gray and brown water tanks.
That’s what I was saying I do septic tank cleaning in New Zealand and we always suck the tank through the lid not the mushroom
Correct, we always recommend dig up the 18 or 24 inch lid We also use a rake or blow air in the tank to break up the solids, I don't agree with running water for an hour because leach lines do not take water the way drain wells do, to much water can ruin the leach field
Yes true. I had mine pumped for the first time recently. The septic guy said that I would have to have the opening dug out before he got there so I did (thinking there was only one) when he arrived he said that was the wrong opening and that I’d find another bigger one 3’ further out. We found it but the guy told me that a lot of other septic guys would have just sucked it out of the first one out of convenience
My guy did take my large main lid off. Unfortunately, the installer never made a very large opening there. It was the same size as the inspection hole
Has construction details on paper then brings you to the actual build. Even the tip on making a probe and locating the fields. The attention to detail is amazing. And the Lord's message at the end, well let's say that's the only TH-cam "ad" I sat through and enjoyed. Thank you for all the information.
I own a septic maintenance company and this is exactly what I would do! great information, excellent advice!
Septic system maintenance is very key! Learning what you can and cannot flush is key to keep one working for life. When I was into building heavy i worked with an old timer who installed all the septic and he was a wealth of knowledge. He said a properly maintained system should never need pumped. He recommended Robic cleaners once a year and more often if you use a lot of soaps and caustic cleaners. He said use Organic cleaners where possible and anti-bacterial soaps kill the natural bacteria in the tank so Robic is needed more often. He also said adding things like Milk products or beers will help add bacteria. Most people never maintenance a septic system and just use it until it fails. Several years ago we bought a house and found out later on that the leach field had been removed and had just a tank. Before we used it I had treated it heavy with Robic double the amounts required and hit it every 6 months. House sat over winter so we added Robic before closing the property before winter. 2 years later the tank was full and gound was wet and called the local sewer pumper. He had been at the property many times before and said prior times the tank was full and very sludgy. When he pumped this time the tank was very clean and no solids and no sludge. He was very surprised and asked what i did to the system. Robic and hit it hard. He said keep doing it that it worked very well and it was the cleaned he's seen it. No solids, no grease of any kind. He said drain field not working. Hired in a guy to dig it up and thats when we found there wasnt one....small 250 gallon septic. New drain field and no issue. Future will be a new septic tank per code. Been 7 years now and anuall inspection its still clear and in good shape. Robic still twice a year. No worse deterioration on tank since take over.
Robic must be a regional brand name. Can you tell us what "Robic" is comprised of?
Oh hey never mind, I found it. It's spelled Roebic. Like a play on aerobic and anaerobic bacterial action.
Cheers.
Which robic? There are so many different ones.
I've seen on TH-cam guy using yeast in tank, thru lid. Lid too heavy for me for sure.
I knew a horse trainer who bought a house close to his barns. He had trouble with the septic system from day one. Multiple plumbers came out, starting their inspections inside at the toilets and working back out of the house, looking for the problem. It took a while but one finally convinced him how big his problem was. This plumber finally said "We're gonna have to pull the lid off the tank." They did, no small feat in itself. Under the lid, the tank was full, CHOCK FULL, of condoms. Used rubbers, top to bottom, side to side, god knows how many gallons! Turns out, the horse trainer bought what used to be the local "House of Ill Repute"! Just in case anyone needed to hear that...
... And then when they contacted the couple who had lived there before the man said, "but I never use condoms." 🤔😂
Well that makes for a good story
A septic pumping company owner near retirement told us that joke but in his version it was a couple living there a long time, the husband being told of the condoms and responding confusedly that he'd never used condoms. Had us chuckling 😂
@@elgringoec No joke, my buddy was fighting with his home owners insurance company for the better part of a couple years. They only relented and paid up when he found a retired sheriff who was willing to make a statement about the previous occupants.
@@slingshotjohnny1
I guess that's the thing about what makes jokes humorous is having a grain of truth! Of course it's happened but it's way out of the norm. The part of your story that's hard for me to understand is how a home insurance company is going to pay for that. There's bound to be a fine print clause about not being responsible for the prior condition of things when you bought them.
I've never heard of a homeowner's insurance company paying a policyholder for septic maintenance or for repairs resulting from damaging practices by the policy holder either. I expect the insurance is there to protect against accidents, damage caused by others or freak events, stuff beyond one's control.
Clearly explained and beautifully illustrated. Years ago I accidentally discovered that by introducing an air gap between the spark plug terminal and the high tension wire from the distributor produced a more vigorous spark and noticeably better combustion on an old Farmall engine. The engine ran more smoothly and at higher rpm. My guess was that the air gap at the sparkplug boot compressed the spark duration and increased its intensity. Ran that tractor for years with the spark plug boots secured slightly retracted from the plugs. Possibly could have achieved a similar effect with hotter plugs but the engine ran great so no need to bother.
Many years back we put in an approved septic tank(1000 ) gallon,before having our modular home delivered ,as it was time to pump it out(5years later)the builder backfilled the foundation, covering the pump out cover under 3 ft. Of dirt.The first pump out needed was in the middle of the winter,had to hire a backhoe operator to dig to get to it in the dead of winter to access the pumpout cover,a pricey sum of money,they had to tow the pump out truck to the septic cover another expense ,I'm glad I only had to do it 1x.
Thanks for the video. I am amazed that it is a realestate channel answering my questions about how all this works.
Great simple explanation of a 1000 year old process. Gravity drain system. I have to remind my tenants that just because they can flush the toilet it doesn't mean the poo is gone. It's still there including the grease, baby wipes and tampons. How about a video on root infiltration, and cracked and broken drain pipes? If you are living on a septic system, it's a ticking time bomb unless you take care if it. How about a video on an aerobic system? I have talked to several of these septic pump operators and heard some amazing stories once you get past the ick! factor. Thanks.
Thank you for making this video. We are in the process of buying a home. We had a septic tank inspection. It said the tank did not need to be drained, not much detail other than that. It passed. I didn't know you couldn't use a garbage disposal. The home comes with one, it's a shame.
Angel from The Bay
Technically you can but you shouldn't have it drain to your septic. I have a grease trap that is off my kitchen and ao I COULD have one but it's not worth the risk. Our drain pipes in the grease trap failed. I had to dig it up and replace rhe broken pipe with perforated pvc. Place new seer rocks on the too and then backfill. And..I didn't make it far enough so it failed and we got a neigh or to come do it again.
We don't even drive our riding mower over those lines. Not worth the risk.
@@ArtistCreek Thank you for your reply. We are new to the Septic system so I have been doing lots of research.
We also decided after a little scare not to flush TP down the toilets (2) so I bought some diaper garbage bins for TP and baby wipes, sanitary napkins etc. That's a learning curve, but so far so good. The baby diaper bins work really well.
Now, to work on some funky smell that comes from the PVC hole next to the hot water and cold water faucet for the washer hose, in the laundry room.
Bare with me I am a new home owner and do not know the "Lingo" yet (but I am a fast learner)
I ordered an Admittance Valve hoping it will help with the odor? Idk
The odor seems to happen when we take a shower. I don't know I have more research to do.
I am not trying to call a plumber yet $$$ I want to see what other guys are doing with the same issue.
Thank you all who chime in.
From the Silicon Valley to the Foothills of the Sierra Mountains (beautiful)
MountainAngel
This is a brilliant idea for the realtor, who I am guessing sells a lot of homes with septic. When I bought mine, I spent lots of time googling and I was very lucky to have an inspection firm who was patient and willing to explain how things work (especially since I have a BAT system, which adds 5x the complexity).
Mine is 68 years old, put in by my grandpa when he built the house and it is still running just fine, never been pumped out or cleaned a day in its life
Hope you're kidding about it never being pumped. You realize poop doesn't disappear.
Good luck
@@jrcastillo2824 nope, bacteria breaks the solids down so it never fills up with solids. Just can't dump anything down that will kill the bacteria
@@thisguy5050 I been reading a lot about it. I guess with care it can be fine. I figure no mater how hard I try some amount of food particles will make it down the drain. And I have to do laundry and wash myself with soap.
You ever consider having it looked at by a reliable pro?
I'd be curious.
Do you add anything?
Just very curious.
Respectfully
Alot of older systems, installed before regulations, either didn't bother installing a drain field or added an overflow/exit pipe out the end into a stream, swamp, etc. alowing the system to continue "running just fine" even after failing its designed purpose. You may run into issues if you ever try to sell the property.
@@stewbauca2926 has a drain field and no overflow pipe, my grandpa installed it and according to code the drain field is actually smaller than required so that's the only thing that would fail it. Won't ever be selling the family farm so no worries there
Buying a house in an area that has septic's and as a city boy whose has never delt with one, i really enjoyed this informative video!!
@Mike Bast Glad you enjoyed watching. 🙏 Best wishes on your new move.
i do water damage restoration - about 30 yrs- problems with a septic usually happen during winter. get your septic serviced before winter
Jerry did an inspection for me on a house I bought in Maryland. He told me and my wife the rules…. 1. Don’t flush anything down the drain that you haven’t eaten first. 2. Don’t use powdered laundry detergent. 3. Don’t pour grease down the drain. 4. Only use single ply toilet paper. We never had a problem with our septic system or our drain fields.
Why not powder?
@staciegonda1659 I was curious about that as well, so i googled it, and this is what i found. "When cleaning a septic tank, it can be difficult to differentiate powered detergent with grease as the detergent clumps together forming a grease-like substance that does not biodegrade in your system. It is actually possible for powdered detergent to clog the system or block a drain.Jun 2, 2016"
Single plane? I would rather sh#% in the woods that I have to wipe my butt with a single ply.
Thought you were going to say, then my wife broke the rules day after day until it broke. Just speaking from experience. Lol
single-ply is the way to go for septic. Or pay a lot for RV toilet paper $$$$
Thank you - That was excellent. I have a septic tank and field and now I know what will happen with an inspection clean out. The other thing not to put down the drain is coffee grounds.
My biggest mistake in using my septic system was to allow my washing machine to empty in it. The detergent would kill much of the bacteria that allowed it to operate efficiently. By piping the washing machine to a seperate dry well, the system operated much better.
Thanks for the tip! And what about bodywash, shampoo, dishwasher detergents?
You can purchase septic safe laundry and dishwasher cleaners. We do, but we still use regular shampoo and stuff.
@@flowersandhomestead_ Lots of people pipe the bathroom showers, washing machines, and dishwashers into a separate grey water system.
You are a cheap skate. There at 3 brands of biodegradable laundry detergents for that reasons.
@@estebancorral5151 I don’t worry anymore because the town hooked me up to central sewage! I recommend Tide!
I havent had a septic system for almost 5 years now, but had one and a leech field for 11 years. Im just here to see what I might of missed. I learned a lot in those 11 years, and never had an issue.
What did you end up missing you think?
@@HermannTheGreat I really dont think anything actually. I was told I pumped out my septic tank to much, which was yearly. But to me the $80 a year was piece of mind. And if it was bad, why in 11 years did I have no issues. I may have gone overboard on stuff, or because of the extra things, I made it last. Added a product called shactivate once a year as well. Was it needed? Who knows, cost was $30 a year. I actually detatched my leach field one year, from a decade more of horses and matted weeds so that are could breath like it should. Hard work, yes but once it was done I could see that difference. Did it matter, who knows
Yeah, it might have saved you a ton of money. My friend's family had to move from a home because of costs related to updating the septic/sewer system. @@virgil3241
Live on a hill, sandy soft soil. Septic system was put in about 60 years ago. Never been cleaned or worked on. still working great. Always careful not to put food or grease in it. Use a strainer in the sinks.
from a septic pumper and installer from 70s who has done transformation from clay tiles to plastic pipe, the happiest day of my life by the way lol
I have an older system. The only thing that goes into the septic tank is the toilet. Every other waste water source goes to a separate drain field with no tank. Can't design a septic system that way today, but it is a far superior design. No soaps or grease gets into the tank. The drain field is 60 years old and still working.
We lived in a place where the kitchen sink and laundry tubs were on a separate line...
The first time I ever took the lid off my septic I learned a lot of things yes I did drain it my house was misused there was a lot of nasty things like condoms ladies little nasty things even underwear no wonder my tube was clogged and it wasn't working I drained it learned that you put leftover milk vegetable juice whatever that creates what you need to keep your septic tank happy even leftover beer keep them little purple flowers growing they're like a mushroom but they look like a large goodie brush they eat everything up they will chop down toilet paper they will chop up turds they will liquefy that's the thing people don't get it you don't put Drano down your pipe if you have a drain pipe take the drain pipe off and clean it don't use Drano that's not good for a septic tank you made your own problem if you use Drano
A stone cement septic tank can last a hundred years if properly maintained with no Drano or other chemicals into it tell the truth sounds like you work for a city Halls of down syndrome telling lies again I hate hearing calls of down syndrome telling lies when you don't even know what you're talking about about septic tanks
And the garden always grows better over the septic leach field that is I know that oh you city folks think that I'm growing s*** food no that food is grown with good nutrients water nutritated sorry about you city folks thinking that accepted tank leach field is a bad thing grow up liberals
And it's so easy to build a new leach field once again don't mess your lease filled up it will last keep your tampons and your condoms and your Grease out of your septic tank and your leashfield will last forever another thing don't park large vehicles on top of your leach field beware of bad tenants landlords
The best septic video on TH-cam
Very detailed any easily put
With on site hands on information
Excellent! We live in Alaska and our septic tank is plastic, not concrete. Also the mean soil temperature is less than 38 degrees F, so bacterial composition is less than at lower latitudes. Our septic lasted 40 years (leach field pipes) in deep silt soil.
My friend bought a home knowing the drain field was failed. He paid to have a new drain field put in but they excavated the old one out and dug way down because they put the new where the old was. He kept half the old lines in a pile...three months after completion he took the old lines and cut them open to see how they looked. He said the internal diameter was down to a few finger width because of the grease. Also all the gravel and earth dug out was grease laden.
Grease has no business in a septic tank.
That grease comes from washing dishes and from grease in stools. Cooking grease should be poured into say a carboard milk carton. This can then be put in the garbage. Even better would be shipped with cooking oils from commercial establishments or automotive oils.
No oil ,grease , bar soap or harsh chemicals like bleach in septic system . Bar soap has animal fat . Wipe dishes with paper towel to remove oil.
@@daledavies2334 I notice it depends on the dish washing method - people who wash under a running tap are washing the grease and oil into the drain, whereas washing in a bowl allows the dish soap to break down the fat in the bowl first
My Dad just had to replace his system, he put in the original system when he built the house nearly 50 years ago. It failed last year, tree roots and age, use finally caught up with him. The replacement was nearly $28,000. Something else to think about, lot size. His lot is now full. There is no more room to put in the next system. The company that put in his current system said. If he, or the new owners ever have to replace this system they will need to get a Stage 3 System. When I asked what that is, they company owner said, you don’t wanna deal with that, currently it costs about $60,000 to put in a Stage 3 system. He never did give details. So my take away is, when buying a property with a septic system, know the age and condition of the system, know if it’s the first or only system on the property, and find out if the property has room for a new system. Because odds are if you’re planning on spending anytime with this property or plane to sell the property a new system will be part of the deal. And an advance system could eat up any profits you may be trying to get out of a sale. From what I learned an average home, three bedroom with two baths, will need a minimum of approximately 1/2 acre of ground for each septic system, in addition to the space needed for the house, well, and anything else on the property. If buying a small acreage, don’t buy a lot less than 2 acres, 5 or more would be better when considering things like septic systems, wells, and having room for buildings.
Can snakes come through our toilets via septic tanks ?
You do not need a 1/2 acre for a septic field for a normal sized home
@@marciaewell2661 for the actual field no. But you’ll need room for the house, garage, well, off sets from property lines and all permanent structures, distance from the well and neighbors well, if you have neighbors. And places for future septic systems. All of that requires space, and a half acre lot just doesn’t have enough space. I see many acreages around here anyway are 5.1 acres in size, part of the reason for that lot size is to allow for future septic systems and wells. A 1/2 acre lot is very tight. The systems size depends on number of bedrooms. The more bedrooms, the more people living in the house, meaning a larger drain field. The one at my dads is a mound system, it takes up roughly 110 feet by 50 feet, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the backyard, his is a three bedroom house. The system was of equal size. The front yard has his well in it. So no septic system can be place in front, there is no more room for a third system in back. So when this systems eventually fails, he or whoever has the house will be stuck with having to get a stage 3 system. I have no idea what that is, but I do know it’s roughly 3 times the cost to install. So, word to wise, if your buying a place in the country, buy an acreage of at least 5 acres, anything smaller will bit you in the butt one day. Unless of course, the property is connected with a municipal sewer system. But if the property is too small You’ll have some problems.
our drain field was from 1964 and because of tree roots and age it was time to redo ours We had estimates between 3400$ and 5000$, did some research and replaced our entire drain fieldour selfs for 225$ in a weekend!
@@johngudmundson5020 good for you. Unfortunately, in my area it’s not allowed. The homeowner can no longer put in their own system. It has to be planned and installed by licensed contractors, after the county and state inspectors sign off on the plan. Part of the problem in our situation is this property is on a lake, so the requirements are very stringent. As for own system, I hope you got a permit if it discovered you system was not cleared and given a stamp of approval state can fine you and make you rip it all up. At around here they can. Also, if you ever go to sell the property, it’s a guarantee the banks or mortgage company are going want inspections and certifications on the age and condition of the well and septic system. If they find you don’t have the proper paperwork and certificates it could block the sale or greatly reduce your selling price. They will most likely force you to install a new well and septic system, unless you can can get a contingency for a sell as is. It’s something to think about. But don’t know your situation or the laws regarding septic systems in your area. Just be careful with what you do.
Wow. What a great video. Breaking down the full description of how it works. Great system if properly used and maintained. Thanks Guys.
I sure wish that I had seen this video before purchasing my home almost three years ago. I would have know to have a separate septic inspection. the title company insisted that I have the well inspected but no one told me that I should have a separate septic inspection as well. I have been a city girl all my life and I did not know what to look for and neither did my Agent. A week after closing on the home I found out that the property just had two holding tanks. I am still crying to this day today. I never budgeted for having to have the tanks emptied every two months or less. The seller did not fully disclose and no one has helped me in this situation, not even my Agent. Buyers beware. Make sure you work with a knowledgeable Agent.
So you did not have the courage to sue your agent? You are an enabler.
@@michellenewman8717 look up vermicomposting. I'm sure you can do it.
why arent you blaming yourself michelle? cowards 24/7 in 2024
I am in this problem right now
Good video on septic systems. Drain field depends on perk and soil type. Where I'm from you need 300' of perforated pipe or 150' of Infiltrator.
I have a septic system. When i first moved in 14 years ago I had it cleaned out and we found a huge root ball in the tank. I pulled it out with a shovel and then guy gave me some copper stuff to dissolve any remaining roots. I had it cleaned again a couple years later just to be sure it was ok ( more for inspection purposes). It was fine. A couple years later i had a problem with drainage. i opened it up again and found a grease ball and foamy substance at the tank inlet which was blocking the inlet pipe. i took a hose with a jet sprayer and shoved it down the cleanout hole about 12 ft up from the tank opening and kept blasting it by pulling the hose forward and back until it broke thru. the drainage returned to normal and had to educate the household AGAIN about not putting grease residue down the drain. I havent done anything in over 6 years with no issues. I did just buy some Roebic to put in the system as preventative based on some comments below and the results they got from using it.
Nice Educational Video, with the exception of the Realtor involving themselves with any aspect of the inspection, that is left to the Inspector, the buyer and the seller. As a Brokers, Agents, unless you want to be part a a lawsuit, keep your hands off!! We are real estate experts, not plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc!!
Excellent information: I worked in the septic business for a while, this guy is right on, all true!
Love how this Septic guy explains things :-)
Here in Cowlitz county Washington there is no inspection. Had trouble once, had a friend come over with his backhoe, dig a hole to take three yards of river rock and cover with one foot of dirt, that's how I fixed my drain field 11 years ago.
That's the reality of it. Here in NYS the department of health has made it so ridiculous that many people just leave a failed system in place because code requires these mega sized systems one can afford.
Wonderful presentation. Very valuable information provided in a very clear and in-depth manner. Many thanks for this.
Concrete tanks do have a lifespan. Mine lasted 55 years. The concrete distribution box had collapsed and in replacing it, the sides of the tank ABOVE the liquid had deteriorated to 2 inches thick. I'm still using the original red clay leach field; no issues.
Curious, do you know if the fiberglass tank lasts any better?
What does the red clay leech field mean? Is that like non porous beneath the gravel? If so is that ok?
@@flat6fever680 it’s red clay tile, 4” diameter and foot long segments. They abut each other on a gravel bed and the gap between is where the liquid leaches into the gravel and soil.
@@alleyoop5185 Fiberglass may do better, but if you look at anything that is made from fiberglass, the epoxy resin that holds the glass fibers together can (and will) eventually deteriorate. Just look at an old boat or anything else made from fiberglass. Being buried will help reduce the oxidation rate, but chemicals (like bleach in laundry or cleaners) can also cause oxidation.
I'd be curious to know how polypropylene tanks do. Might have similar problems to the fiberglass, but at what rate?
@@chadportenga7858 my poly tank showed no signs of deterioration when I checked it last year and it’s been in the ground for 25 years.
Just learned so much from Jerry! Wow... We're in the process of looking for land and some of them require septic systems to be put in. This was all great information!
The septic industry has come very far. Nowadays there are even units that dont require pumping or a drain field. Look up Zero Liquid Discharge or ZLD septic units and see if theyre approved by your local environmental agency. They work by aeration that dissolves the solids, then the liquids are turned to vapor and shot 80 or so feet into the air so you dont have to deal with the smell. The new ones cost less than $200 a year to run. In my opinion itd be a great investment on your new construction, because eventually all septic tanks will have to be upgraded to ZLD units in many places due to excess nitrogen flow into waterways. It can also be put on land that cant pass a perc test. There are pros or cons to anything, but its just something to consider. Good luck with your land purchase!
We had renters who just jammed the drain full of grease for about 8 feet under the house, it was a nightmare to clean out. But they had paid us over $100 grand over the term of their rental so I couldn’t complain too much..
You are not that bright. That should have been covered in your rental agreement. Also, you did not insist on renter’s insurance. You deserved what you got.
Cudos to this realtor for making this video.
Thank you Greg 🙏
Excellent video. I learned alot. I've been in my house 10 years w/a septic system and am have had problems w/1 toilet gurgling when my wash machine at the other end of the house would drain. I've had no back-ups. I thought it was a stopped up vent but the vent was clear. Turns out the D-box and drain field pipes were full of roots. Getting ready to have them replaced. Luckily the tank was fine. Its a standard system and still is expensive to replace the D-box & drain field at under $10K. I don't drop grease down the drain but there is always some residual in the pans after I clean them out in the trashcan. Just hope that residual isn't a problem. Ordered Rid-X to help with it.
Read up on rid X. Two septic cleaners cautioned me against using it. I was skeptical thinking they just wanted more work from failed systems. Anyway, I found that rid-x does indeed help breakdown solids into finer particles but those finer particles mean more solids go into your leach field causing premature failure. Better to keep solids in the tank and have it pumped out regularly.
All you need is to buy a quart of regular yogurt from the store, dump it in any toilet and flush, don't need ridX
@@Stabby__
Good idea. Seems as if those probiotics capsules would also be effective. Drop a few in the toilet every month.
@@Stabby__ seriously? Yogurt is the key huh?
@@MeltingRubberZ28 yeah if you gonna add something that's the safest and best thing, but you really don't have to add anything. Your bodies own poop has enough bacteria in it to feed the septic biome, but the key is to not kill what's in the biome, so no harsh chemicals as it will kill them
I just cleaned my septic tank. It is 50 years old. There’s no issues. I did the one hour test also and never saw soft ground. I will continue to put root kill down since there are trees in the area and baby the system to the best of my ability. Never ever any grease and always septic safe toilet paper used sparingly.
What a brilliant video! Jerry's just the kind of guy to tell you the truth.
BTW, why not three-chamber septic tanks? Are they common or are two-chambers good enough?
Good video you are inspiring to all us blue collar Americans and buissness people alike 🇺🇸
Its cheaper to buy paper towels and wipe your greasy pots and pans out before you wash your dishes then have the headache of a backup
I do this!
I've been doing just that for about 10 yrs and no problems.
Yes my husband is a fanatic about no grease in drains.
Great educational video about septic tank!! Just spent 2,200 to have cleaned and repaired 😢
Wish I had known all this some 20 years ago when I bought my first house and had to spend $20,000 to have an entire system replaced within 6 months of moving in.. Sued the inspector after 3rd party arbitration with the builder. Only got half back..
Thanks for the video, I have one of these and I so miss public sewer!
Amazing video, great knowledge being shared here. Thank you!
I come from the deep fried south and we had grease traps in the system prior to going into the septic tank.
So basically what I got from this is a septic system is touchy, temperamental PITA system that is going to keep this guy in business.
lol, guy these are the jobs and businesses that make people extremely wealthy but nobody wants to do it.
The best I have watched so far, that sunk straight to long term memory. Cheers mate, good job
Excellent info and the inspector was a treasure trove of information!
Thank you for this video. We are looking for the first time in a state with septic systems. This is so helpful. After hiring a couple inspectors on home purchases that I was not pleased with, I now higher professionals in each field to inspect my homes including an electrician, hvac, plumbing, and a general contractor. It costs a little more but they have always uncovered things that the inspector didn't find.
All Ststes have septic systems no?
A good way to avoid drain field failure is also putting in 3 legs and having chambers. They give you more space for drainage and are more forgiving than just pipe with holes and gravel.
You are so correct
Jerry you dropped the ball, didn't you see the inlet and outlet baffles were steel, that means the tank is made of steel. Steel tanks are like our car and they do rust out. I've been in the septic business for over 30 years and I've had 3 customers that fell into their steel septic tank while mowing the lawn, 2 had garden tractors and the third was push mowing. When I do a septic inspection and I find the tank to be made of steel that is an automatic failure and needs to be replaced. I do not want to be held libel in case someone falls in the tank especially a child and the new home owner was not aware of the steel tank because it was not brought to their attention during the inspection. When I do run into steel tank I bring that to the customers attention, it's up to them on what path they want to take.
Thanks for taking the time for this info!
Ewwwwwwwwwww! That'd be a bad day.
You are 100% correct. A disaster waiting to happen.
I took photos inside of tanks for years to check baffles. And one of the things I found was that the best indicator of drainfield health was a solid liquid level line at the bottom of the outlet pipe. If there was no liquid level line that generally meant that the tank was overfilling and slowly draining down because of a weak drain field. That did not allow a liquid level line to form.
Good eye. I retired from a sanitation and water district wherein I delt with all kinds of septic systems. In the older part of our system we had what is called the small diameter line which connected everyone's tank into the septic system going to the treatment plant. I heard nothing about the fact that a septic tank uses annarobic digestion as opposed to aerobic digestion. It takes a lot longer to digest the waste in a septic tank. Here the leach line is very important and there are different types of those. Now most people use infiltrators which must be place level and can cost a lot to install on a sloped lot whereas a evaporative leach line can be placed on a slope or an evaporative leach bed may still be used. These guys left a lot of information out. Most clogged sewer lines are caused by grease build up inside the inlet baffle clogging the inlet pipe. It's a big problem with businesses that don't have grease traps. Never use flushable wipes.
Some used an old car for a tank. Cars were made of steel until plastic became popular
Man Jerry Knows what he's talking about !
Great informative video! Please allow me to ask three questions: (1)Wouldn't it be better to inspect the tank before running water for an hour? This would enable the person doing the inspection to see if the water/effluent is below the exit baffle because, if the water is below the exit baffle, it would be indicative of a tank leak. (2) Also, what is your opinion on having a camera scope done on all lines, including the horizontal leach lines to inspect for flattened or broken pipes and/or roots, and the internal effective pipe diameters, inclusive of build-up, to know absolutely sure the condition of the septic system before buying a house. (3) What are your opinions on a septic dye test - is it even worth the money to have it done since a seller could pour bleach down a drain to cheat the styptic dye test and won't show bottom tank cracks ? Again, great video! Thank you!
9:00 for your first question
Thank you, our first time getting a home out in the rural, and new to understanding private septic tanks and drain fields. Now I know what to look for.
Been a multiple home owner over a few decades and never once experienced septic system problems of any kind, might be a result of my being the builder of those homes and the installer of all the systems involved 😂
@@6by6by6 What state are you in?
We have our septic system pumped out every two years, and it is doing great well past twenty years. We also wipe grease out of pans before washing them in the sink.
Those systems are way different than what we have in Fl. I do commercial lift stations but I do dabble in septic.
We have a large bowl in the kitchen sink we use to wash grease off of pans and plates. That greasy dirty bowl of water gets dumped out back. We use small holed strainers in the sinks to trap smaller debris and food, so no food scraps end up in the drain either.
Not sure it was wise to shake hands at the end!
Same thought... however not sure that the inspector touched anything nasty.
So even the USA had the untouchables. Do not forget. Soap works.
"Gurgle and burp."
That’s ok, just keep your fingers out of your mouth.
🤣😂🤣😂🤣
I must keep this video for reference!!! Many thanks!!
Valuable information, thank you Todd!!
This is an excellent video! I’m also a realtor in Northwest Ohio & Southeast Michigan and recently subscribed to your channel. I appreciate your candid opinions about the current state of our marketplace. I am ready to start a channel and plan on using the style you’ve incorporated. Keep up the great work!
would have been helpful to have a more detailed diagram of the tank components as well as a brief discussion about soil types permeability and percolation .. also with a plot map you'd know where the leach field is as well as the width & length .. still a great video !!
You'd need a 2+ hour video for that. Info is out there though.
Sadly, the house we bought has an "amoeba" shaped drain field - no dimensions. Neither are there any records on when the system was installed. All this from the county health department. The septic tank was pumped and inspected two years ago (previous owners had done before putting the house on the market). So far, so good....
Your vedio of septic system is very informative and excellent report and very helpful to watch. Thank you.
I have noticed that mine has a white film on top and we have never flushed any grease into the toilets. Its been 11 years now since I've had it pumped out. Im guessing its due to be pumped out. My neighbors have theirs done every other year. How often should i get it cleaned out? A coworker says that he hasn't had his pumped out for 30 plus years.. Thanks for the video!
My parents New England home (on top of a flat hill, with a big back yard) has a 55 y.o. leech field & septic tank, that just passed Massachusetts EPA regs to sell a home in Andover 🤗
Jerry did a great job!
Couldn't agree more!
I knew a painter who had extra paint, yes he poured it down the drain into the septic system. system failed. when dug up to replace system he had used yellow latex paint that dried and sealed the field. He go the Darwin award from the neighbors.
I live on a septic in Nevada. The previous owner put in a new system in 2016. I am super careful with it. The only thing is cleaning. Sometimes I use a harder cleaner (about once a month) to get the toilets clean. Any septic - cleaning toilets or heavy cleaning, advice? So far so good.
We use Zep if it gets bad but normally use the Organic Citris cleaner. Septic safe for the most part. If you use a Caustic cleaner you need to add bacteria to the tank. Soaps and cleaners kill the Bacteria. Robic liquid bacteria is a good once a year treatment. I've used K37 and K57 for many years with great success.
What about a grease trap for the septic system? In the old days almost all septic systems had a separate grease trap. I have a home built in 1948, it has a grease trap where the kitchen sink drains in before going to the septic.
Informative. Thank you 😊
This is a very good, informative video. Thank you
Hey this guy knows his shit literally he does he asked all the correct questions I mean it I grew up with this.... And don't listen to the darn reality company or realtors!!
Well done !
Thank You for this wonderful, educational video !
There is a Lot to know about septic systems.
Most people who use these systems don't know Sh!t about them.
Thank You
JG
Wow tks for t the beginning and how to FIND where it's at through the health department!!!
VERY educational video!!!! Well presented and answered every question I could think of. Thank you for this video 👍👍👍
Holy 💩, this was very well done. Thank you for this video🙂
Awesome home tips, thank you Todd.
Glad I service my Septic every 4 years or so
I am also a REALTOR In NH. Your inspector did not do any test holes in the leach field. In our area they dig anyway from 2 to 3 test hole down into in field to inspect the pipe and stone for liquid and the change of color in the stone.
Seen a 80 year old neighbor dig up a 50 year old Redwood septic tank, just to ck it. Covered it up & kept on using it. Said flush yeast down a few times a year.
I’ve heard that lint from the washer can really damage a drain field. Especially all the fleece we are wearing, it doesn’t break down. I have a large separate filter on my washer.
thats a good point, man made synthetic fibres don't break down like cotton or other natural materials, great idea to have a filter, especially seeing how much fluff collects in the dryer!
If possible, use pvc pipe and redirect wash water elsewhere. Also an effluent filter at the outlet of the tank.
Thanx, I've learned a lot that'll come in useful someday, maybe. I'm not sure why, but septic systems fascinate me. Maybe cause I got a woopin for not saving grease in an old coffee can then chuckin it when its full or rottin. Scept bacon grease. That makes some things taste a lot better. That and I make a leather conditioner out of unsalted beef fat and bees wax and a smidgen of coconut oil. It works real nice for greasing the patches for my muzzleloaders. Keeps the fouling soft and the fouling comes out with a bit of tow on a worm.
P.S. don't feed your grease to your dogs. It'll kill them after A year at most. It destroys their pancreas. My sisters A vet and that's the number one reason they put down dogs. If you don't believe me, that's ok. You know what Google is. Have a good evening
You have to be kidding me. You should distinguish between grease and oil.
Good stuff. Thanks
You're going to get grease into your septic tank no matter what you do, if you wash your dishes grease will follow. I use dawn to help cut the grease and Rid x once a month. I also have my system pumped every three years.
Not if you have a separate grease trap. My kitchen sink isn't connected to my septic but I am still very careful to wipe out all grease with paper towels or pour into coffee cans then wipe well before washing. I don't have a garbage disposal or a dishwasher to prolong the life of my system.