Just wanted to add a little info on septic systems. I have owned three homes with septic systems and have countless friends with septic systems, almost every one of them have the lids buried. They are between a couple inches under up to two - ish feet down. On my first house I had risers installed at one of the pump outs (recommended every 3-5 years) it saved the dig up fee or me having to do it. Also all of the systems I am aware of are two chamber systems, first chamber is for the solids and the second is for the liquid to overflow into and settle. The clear-ish (Treated)liquid at the top flows out into the leach field to be absorbed into the ground. Another note is the numerous septic guys I have used have told me that the solids that sink to the bottom in a healthy tank have been digested by the bacteria and get significantly reduced in volume because of it. Butttt pumping is an eventual must and REALLY needs to be done before the tank is full and overflows solids into your leach field. That is when the money starts to flow. Hope this was helpful info to someone.
Thank you!!!!! 💕💕💕💕💕 My dad passed and did everything for my mom! I have 2 brothers but they have their own life.. I'm a girl but with ur advice I know I can do anything!!!!!!!
All you need my great grandpa and my Grandpa are both passed and they were mechanics my moped is broke down I'm a chick it's probably my spark plug I've got to get up under it and I know I can try to do anything I just hope I can accomplish it like they did cuz I'm far from a mechanic however you can do it too God bless
best advice Ive seen on utube , all you need to do is add more bacteria to your tank to let the micobial action working , it actually makes the smell go away , thats been my dads advice to all our customers for years,,,,sewer tanks smell for one reason ,lack of bacterial action
Yeast works great for starches, but that's about the only thing it can break down. It can not deal with meat/veg waste. For everything else you'll need to use a septic tank treatment with live bacteria packet. They look like a giant laundry pod except brown in color. Also, garden compost starter powder would probably work well to as it to would be loaded with dormant bacteria and enzymes that could help break down the solids.
The reality is there's plenty of bacteria in our fecal matter. What doesn't get breakdown very well is oils fats and sugars which all mixed to solidify. If anyone's ever done any brewing they would understand the way yeast reacts to the sugars which then break down these solids somewhat. Essentially making it so it does not form a solid cap across the top of your tank. If it does form a solid line across your tank it could choke out the healthy bacteria that's eating everything else. All your suggestions are valid though.
Lived ina rural area for years,many old timers suggest only use the septic for body waste and have the wash water go into a dry well!Also helps to flush a envelope of cooking yeast occasionally to keep the bacteria active in the tank which helps breakdown the solids.
Yep just have to be careful with dry wells one recently tested positive for legionnaires disease just south of us . The soil must be just right to do that . Many do modern version into plant beds now
I re-routed my washing machine water to bypass my septic tank and go into a leach tank. Haven't had any leach field issues since 2009. Also, I add a bottle of Robeic K-57 directly into my Septic Tank three times per year. Cheap insurance and no costly pump outs......
Good plan I do not do a bunch of load of wash in one day either it will damage the biome in there. If you compost for your garden you know how these things work. I have found 90% of the people have no idea and they use the wrong products including laundry detergent which can turn to rock and bleach etc etc.Been at this location since 1994 and have not have had any problems and not once has it been pumped out and I believe this 1940's house has never been pumped
For those that need written instructions while watching: 2C H2O, 1/4C sugar, 3 packets of fast rise yeast. Do not stir. Let it sit and grow. Slowly pour into first tank, which is where the solids are. The other two lids are for liquid leaching to the drain field.
Thanks for the advice! We just moved into an older house with a septic tank, so this is great information. Just an FYI, though, there IS a proper way to take off gloves so that you don't touch whatever it is you're trying to keep off your hands. ; )
fyi i own 2 homes with septic systems -both built at same time 34 yrs ago-we have raised 2 sons and gone now have grand kids a lot -we have never had tank pumped ever and you can tell in summer by grass that field lines are working properly-have always treated our lines with a commercial treatment that guarantees system if applied as instructed will not mention name but not rid-x-other home i rent out has had field lines replaced twice and pumped several times from people putting grease and everything else down the lines-it all depends how you take care of your system as to how it preforms
Same here. Lived in this home for 30+ years. Replaced aerator pump twice then I heard that it isn't necessary and removed the pump. I have never had my system pumped. After lots of rain or house guests I can smell it sometime. I do use Rid X, curious as to what you use.
It’s such an easy and inexpensive thing treatment I do it in the first of the month. Every 3 months I put in root killer and once a year I put in robiec to treat the bio mat in the drain field
As a septic technician, I assure you this will help, but will not fully accommodate for other type of bio materials Inside a septic tank, this would definitely help but i recommend introducing anaerobic bacteria as source of ways to treat your system properly yeast is only gonna get rid of things that have sugar by products, which is not in all type of bio material, including grease and solid foods. Please understand to do them at a normal standard pumping time which is typically 3-4 years.
Being that septic systems are anerobic, would yeast do anything other than add to the sludge layer? The scum layer at the top is primarily fats that yeasts won't touch. Everything below that is oxygen poor, and yeasts require oxygen. I'm thinking yeast treatment is a placebo at best, and a recipe for a clogged tank or drain field if repeated often enough.
We are a busy family! We have 5 in the house, I can't even count showers, I do 4-6 loads of clothing per week. We are getting pumped today, it has been 6 years.
I like the idea of the double tank cap. I should make one of those for mine. Occasionally I catch a whiff of smell that must be sneaking out of the first tank. I replaced the aerator in the 2nd tank with an air-pump bubbler and the 2nd tank always smells like laundry water, so the smell must be from the 1st tank.
From what I have read this doesn't change the fact that you need to have your first tank pumped out whenever the amount of buildup makes it necessary. If you want to be clever you can construct a scheme to allow you to detect when it needs to be pumped out. One method is to construct a clear sampling tube but maybe you can think of other methods to determine how thick the three layers are (solids, liquid, floating stuff) -- so that only liquids will flow out the exit pipe to the next part of the system.
This is more to dissolve solids that contain sugar or grains . This reduces solids in tank to allow you to go longer between pumps . Essentially there is bacteria in your feces that will also help break down things in the tank. But a lot of people are on medicines that destroy that bacteria as well as unhealthy diets destroys that bacteria. So this is just a booster to try to stove off how often you have to have your tank pumped. I said there's plenty of people that have commented and said they haven't had to have it pumped in 20 to 30 years. I think a lot of people need them pumped due to pouring oil or grease down tank.
Thanks, I just recently set up my septic system and there are only two of us but we are completely off-grid so I wanted to know the best way to care for our system
It doesn't really have to fully rise usually takes about 10 minutes when you start to look like you have a head like you do when you pour a beer it's definitely ready to go
I don't mean to burst your bubble, but additives to a septic tank aren't needed. The sewage eating bacteria will develop just fine on their own. Save the yeast for baking bread. I am a sanitary engineer and septic system designer and inspector, so I have a little credibility here.
My brother worked at a town sewage treatment plant and told me that Dog Food put in the septic tank would help feed the bacteria that eats the poop. Is there anything to that?
The NUMBER ONE thing you can do to guarantee longevity is Don't Flush Toilet Paper , and if you can't bring yourself to bag & trash it , then Don't Use Scented Toilet Paper or anything with Lanolin on it !!
Thanks for the video. First time owning a house with a septic tank. How often should they be pumped out? I finally found the lid to the tank but it’s hard to open. Any advice on how I should open it? And finally how do I know if it needs to be pumped? Previous owner never answered the realtor with that info
Cap Should pull open . May be heavy or stuck. It never hurts to really pump your tank. That's sad finding a long stick and sticking it down in there and see how many inches of hard sediment are in the bottom might give you an idea if you don't feel anything hard in the bottom like sediment then don't worry about pumping it out. You hear people say things like 3 to 5 years but I generally find that 5 to 10 years for most septics but it's your current environment how many people in your house and more.
Roebic K-57 & K-57 or K-570 liquid bacteria works great. Also breaks down bio Matt issues which prevents leach fields from draining. Cheap insurance every 3-4 months. Good video however for using home grown methods.
1. Does keeping the additional cover with the handle inside the riser help reduce smell in your back yard? 2. Does it also pose a danger by traping gas in your tank? Please advise
Gas cannot get trapped cuz it could actually escape out the actual drain but if you look closely at my middle cap you'll see a black plastic topper coming out of it that is a vent. Now those lids you see on the interior are not a solid seal so they do release gases they cannot trap them and build them up in there concrete on concrete doesn't make a very good seal lol
I guess living in colder climates is different; I'm not digging up 2 feet of ground every month especially with 3 or more feet of ice and snow on top. I have, however, put yeast in my toilet, as others have told me it helps; I'm wondering if that helps? 🤔 Any input would help 🙂
Thank you for the video. I have a black pvc pipe with a cap on it I believe it is referred to as the “clean out”? Can the yeast be poured into that? I’m just asking because I believe that everything else is buried and wanted to know if using that would be a way that would work. Thank you for shairing you knowledge. Take care.
Yes but you need a garden hose or many many buckets of water or have water running in your house as you pour it down you want to be able to rinse it all the way into the tank
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 Thank you so much. I planned on running the garden hose/ indoor water while I was doing! thank you! Thank you for the tips and insight :)
QUESTION…..I have a 4” or 5” threaded plug in the pipe that runs from my house underground to my septic… Would it be ok to open the pipe and pour the mixture in the pipe? All my lids are covered with dirt and grass. Thank you.
Yes it will slightly help. Another thing you can check is if your lids are exposed there should be a vent on top of it Make sure it's not clogged up sometimes mud daubers or wasps build nests in it full of mud and may get clogged. Should be a little black rubber cap mounted on top of your concrete caps of your tank. But it's definitely a thing when it rains
There is no exact amount yEast will grow based on the sugar content of the starter. A simple pack is sufficient to start. Or you can use a tablespoon if you have a bowl come out or whatever you have
How often have you had your tank pumped? I live in a home that I inherited from my parents in 2015, They bought the house in 1993, they're was only 3 people living here and they never had the tank pumped, I might add that the two bathrooms are the only things that go into the tank. Now it's just me living here, should I be concerned?
My Pop used to throw any dead varmints he found on the side of the road. Just in the spring. A week dead racoon has all the micro stuff needed to keep the septic healthy. He said even that wasn't needed until he installed a dishwasher and a garbage disposal for Mom.
About 50 years ago I moved into an old farm house with a septic system and a farmer down the road came by and advised me to flush a couple pounds of rotting meat down the toilet twice a year to keep the system going. I’ve never had to have a septic tank pumped out.
I will try yeast , I have noticed a bad order that will help , and I have a question my grandparents had a out house which they used lime, probably hydrated lime , would this help , my leash field smells, I was thinking of Sprinkling some in the area, what do you think.
Lime in an outhouse harden's the top to like a crust. This keeps bugs and other things from wanting to burrow in it. The crust holds down the smell you would never want to use that in or around your septic system it would clog it up
Hey @FrugalHomestead I'm reminded how a simple TH-cam video designed to "Reinoculate" your septic after being damaged by harsh chemicals can draw out every unrecognised "exspurt" from their hiding place. 😉 Could be a drag if u let it be. But your the kind of guy that knows how to flush it on down without any ill affect 😎👍
I'm not sure what you mean by drain off very fast do you mean to clean the water so it can drain off fast? There's not really a chemical that does that This video shows you how to increase the life which will clean it faster. That said over in Uganda you don't have the laws we have here. So I would suggest you look up something called a bio digester. Not only will it clean your waste but what comes out of it is a very good clean natural fertilizer but you can also trap methane that comes off of it and use it as a cooking or heating gas. There's many videos on TH-cam about it
As I mentioned in the video that's up to you The issue with I have with it is that if you've ever had yeast leftover in a pot or a bucket it gets rock hard after it gets wet. If I was going to put it down the toilet I would have multiple hot water items running at the same time like the shower sink to flush it down completely and get it all the way down and out to the tank that way it wouldn't build up on the side of my pipes. It's just a personal preference thing to ensure it goes to the tank
New subcriber, great video, CAN I USED THE WHITE PIPE next to the house before the septip (2 inches wide ) "inspection" if is called like that , iwhen you open that, you can see water passing when flushed the toilet . Since the septic is on the front of the house under the grass
Yes as long as you do the starter version do not dump dry powder down there as it will stick to the side of the pipes as the side of the pipes are damp and over time could cause clogging dropping it in with water running with it mixed in solution makes it float into the actual tank where it will grow.
Thank you, So I could open the shower full cold water, , THEN BE SURE the water is passing thru , (inspection open) , then slowly let the mixed water +sugar and yeast . i have to buy yeast , I will order champagne yeast right?, and let running the shower for 1 minute after all mixed is over , Just to be sure is at the septic tank , Correct, thank you in advance
My grandparents had just 50 gallon barrels for septic, and I remember before that out house was used. But my grandma would take chicken giblets and flush them down the toilet. I’m not sure if this works? I do like the ida of yeast.
@@abdirashidkhalif1748 I can see blood but liquid ashes is a bad idea. Put liquid ashes in a bucket come back in a week and look at how it's all clumped up and like a rock that will quickly clog up a septic system not to mention the line minute can heat up and kill everything
Is this AMOUNT of mixture you describe in the video enough for a 1500 gallon septic tank with 2 adults and 3 teenagers?? I understand the frequency will need to be adjusted I'm just wondering if the initial amount in this vid is enough for a 1500 gallon tank. Thanks.
Rid X sooo expensive! We use the powder once a month, then use the Rid X liquid to scrub the toilet bowl. Sink and washing machine drain out into driveway and yard. No antibiotic hand soaps, no bleach, except in washing machine occasionally.
my tank hasnt been pumped for 25 years. i opened it up and there was harley any smell. last winter i notice it wasnt melting the snow on top. should i be concerned?
As long as you're not putting oils or fats stuff like that down there it should be fine you can follow the directions in this video or use some rid x . Another way to test it is get a long stick and push it down in and see if it's all solid on the bottom if it is you need to have it pumped
Nothing goes in my tank but the bathrooms. No wash machine, no dishwasher, no softener, no kitchen sink. They go into drain tile. My leach field is 50 plus years old. Never a crust on top of tank. No smell. Also run vent pipe from tank. Methane gas eats concrete
Just curious about the fact that yeast turns sugars to alcohol which kills other bacteria? I realize that only a relatively small amount of yeast and sugar were used, like I said, just curious.
You're exactly on track but it turns it's alcohol when it dies when it runs out of sugars to eat... That's why when you add 5 lb bag of sugar or more to a 5 gallon bucket of water then add yeast you end up with loosely a watered down alcohol. But when you do it on a scale of thousands of gallons of water and a continuous source of new sugar bearing materials or new materials to break down You're consistently feeding. Then on top of that water is coming in and out of the system new water comes in lifts the whole level of the tank and then out it goes out the filter to your drain pipe or leach field etc. so any alcohols that are made are diluted and then flushed out.
My problem is that water will not go down after the second tank, into the ground. I tried moving the 2-3 inch rocks out of the way and water still not going down through the clean sand. I’m puzzled! Any help will be appreciated. Thx in advance
I’m going to have a well and septic system put in my cabin up north . I ‘m also going to have a 10x14 bathroom off the side of my cabin . When it was build they didn’t rough in the plumbing.
I have been doing this with brown sugar/ yeast for years, for two people every 6 months.. The last time I had my tank cleaned only 4 inches of thickness on the bottom, a very healthy tank.I quit putting toilet paper in the tank to keep it healthy. It's time for it to get pumped again ...crossing my fingers.
You're overthinking this. You can use as little as one teaspoon. Or as much as two tablespoons. As long as there's a sugar starter it will grow exponentially and considering the American diet is loaded with sugar it's going to grow exponentially in the septic tank as well.
I am a retired plumbing contractor and I homestead in rural North Texas. Septic systems have only one job, mainly, to convert solid waste to liquid. EVERYBODY'S first (septic) tank collects solids and breaks them down into small pieces, the consistency of oatmeal, called "effluent". I upped my system's longevity by passing all my sewage through a "mascerrator" first. That's either a $1,200 chewer / pump or a $75 garbage disposer - your choice. Each has a 3" inlet and 1 1/2" outlet. All sewage arriving at my septic system's first tank is already reduced in size, providing MAXIMUM surface area for both aerobic (first tank) and anaerobic (each remaining tank) bacteria to MORE EFFICIENTLY do their job. End result:. ZERO problems! Also - ONLY sewage goes in my toilets! I have three other systems for grey water, each with its own underground cistern and leach system.
That is 100% correct here in Ohio we call them grinder stations or some people have grinder station toilets. Macerating is of course the correct term. And clearly there is no better way to do it than that as it does half the breakdown job for the bacteria. Thanks for sharing your system definitely sounds awesome
Just cut down on the amount of detergents you use and use septic safe toilet paper. If possible don’t run your washing machine water into the septic. There are literally thousands if not millions of old septics out there that have required no service. My parents has been in the ground for over 60 years. I put mine in 30 years ago. Not one problem. We had to do a septic inspection about 5 years ago which required it to be pumped. I argued against it but you can’t fight the state. They said it would mostly be solids and most likely some laterals plugged. So it cost me $400 for them to pump it and tell me. Wow you had no solids and not one plugged lateral line. The problem is everyone uses to much detergents and bleach these days. You can’t break down solids if your killing half the bacteria with a bucket of bleach everyday.
@@dontfit6380 i dont disagree with anything you are saying but honestly 90% of people do not have know how or ability to divert washer runoff . most wont change detergent amount or buy special toilet paper. that said we make our own laundry detergent. now i ran the numbers for the toilet paper thats septic safe fast breakdown and the laundry detergent that you can buy for septic system based on family of 4 and normal usage the cost would be well over a $1200 increase in 5 years . so based on numbers doing nothing and having it pumped cheaper . i created this video for the people with do the least for best results kind of mindset.it takes into account the single mom working 2 jobs and the family running kids to sports everyday to the elderly couple who cant move that well. you are completely right that there are a billion ways to improve but they require more cost or more time or more knowledge.i hope some read these comments and seek out more info..these are why these comments are so important . thank you for commenting and watching .
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 your video was great. I just didn’t want people thinking they needed a grinder in their waste system. Scott’s toilet paper is the cheapest toilet paper I can find. It is also the best for septic systems. Don’t worry about septic safe detergents. Just get one without bleach and don’t think you need to use as much as they recommend. Start with as little as possible and add more if cloths aren’t clean. No one needs their cloths to smell like a fresh mountain morning. If you or a friend have Costco membership then Kirkland detergents are septic safe and they sell Scott’s toilet paper. Your right most won’t have the ability to divert the water that doesn’t belong in the septic. If most won’t use septic safe toilet paper and limit the detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners then all the yeast you put in your system will make no difference. The yeast is great at breaking down starches but will do nothing for the proteins, fats, oils etc. you need the microorganisms and like the yeast they can’t thrive in the over used chemicals. So if people aren’t willing to maintain their system correctly they may as well figure in a pumping every 10 years or so. Again nothing wrong with the added help of the yeast but it will make no difference if people want to be lazy.
Just pump you septic tank every 3 to 5 years yeast will help break down paper but it all turns to sludge on the bottom of tank if the sludge reaches the outlet tee then stops up your drain field. So pump your septic tank
Actually yeast breaks down sugars and grains . As for pumping do as you please but you should have the filter there at that t so it doesn't go out in your drain field
It's actually more resilient than you think over a thousand gallons of water versus a squirt of Dawn. The same way when you put a cup of bleach in your washer it doesn't go out and kill your entire septic system. You are just watering it down.
@@thefrugalhomestead7873we have a 3 chamber septic tank and my wife bought these bleach tablets for the toilet 🚽 tank so it won’t stain our toilets 🚽. Should I remove those bleach tablets so it doesn’t kill the good bacteria in septic tank
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 no! Lol from making the concoction .... How long before it's ready to pour into tank... Btw .. I did it 2 weeks ago and it already started going down! Gonna do it again!!! Thx for getting back to me
You're welcome to use whatever you want but it's not the same and it's also about 15 times more expensive than this. And if you can't get into yours at all I would be concerned cuz how are you ever going to have it pumped
Mine is buried my house was built in 73 my septic tank isn't like yours its been pumped and yard dug up pipe busted I can't just go out there and open lid pour it in like you can its heavy piece of concrete for lid not easy access
@@janicestapp1088 and just like you pour the story bought stuff down your toilet I also give directions in this video how you can do that as well. But if I'm understanding you right you have an access port just like I do You're just not strong enough to lift it. Which I understand cuz some are made bigger.
Nothing wrong with that question. Yeast when left in a cup will harden to the side like a rock and you literally will have to chip it out you cannot scrub it out. So if some of this gets stuck to the side of your pipe because all you did was one flush it would build up over time so every time you did it it would add more to it making the pipe opening smaller and smaller. So it would probably be fine to flush it and then take a hot shower that way more water goes down the pipe flushing it all the way to the septic tank. When I create my videos I try to make them how shall we say dummy proof. If I tell everybody to go put it directly in their tank nobody's ever going to come back and say I did what you said and it clogged my pipes .lol but yes it would be fine just put it down the toilet flush it a couple times and then run some water
Yeah I've heard of people putting spoiled milk or yogurt down there haven't done much research on it though but my thought is that the life in there would feed off of it
The bacteria that eat feces and urine aren't yeast. I guess if you are diabetic, then the sugars in your urine would be something the yeast could eat. I don't think this would hurt but I also don't believe it will help keeping your septic system work (other than the possibility of the dead yeast providing food to the bacteria that would otherwise be eating your feces and urine).
Yeast eats sugars grains like corn and feeds off CO2 this will help break down the items that fill top of tank that will choke out oxygen and kill bacteria from feces. Hence why your body doesn't break down corn and you see it in your poop.
After you inoculate the tank just flush the " treatment" down toilet when you want to . This type of "treatment" yeast will have a strong H2S odor there are bacteria additives that give off odorless CO2 they are more expensive but how much cost to replace the field and being able to be outdoors
I just recommend putting it directly into tank cuz if you've ever pulled apart a sink that a baker has used yeast can sometimes clog up on the side of the pipes
Dude help!!😂. Been in this house for ten years with no problems. Recently large cockroaches(4)have been coming up the drain in one bathroom(closest to septic). What can I put down the drain to kill roaches but not the beneficial microbes? Thanks!
They were not coming from the septic tank. A couple of them must’ve gone down the drain for water and I just saw them coming out. More then likely, they were coming from the large old tree in back yard. Discovered three vents on roof that had no screen on them. A little extermination in the attic and screened off vents. It's been two weeks and no sight of any👌.
I live on a farm and have septic AND composting toilets. The septic receives only liquid waste, because my toilets flush into a mascerater (think garbage disposal), which turns solids to mush. I also feed that system with yeast as done here. My PREFERENCE is using the composting toilet for solids and liquids. A year's worth of pee and poo compost down to a 1/4" layer in one year. I compost humanure 3 years before using.
We are adding a composting toilet to our tiny house build. We are not going to use our humidor to grow in we're going to use it as a top coat to grow ground cover as we build the backside of our Hill out basically covering with chips and fill and then throwing our humidor on top to hold grass and other items to hold the hillside together. Your setup sounds like the very best setup you could possibly have
@@denisetittle6924 3 years' worth adds up to about half a cubic yard, so I wait until it's worth my effort. I spread it on the pasture where the chickens play.
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 You can make your own buttermilk as well with either vinegar OR lemon juice. Its a nice natural way to add in essential bacteria to keep the process going.
My guy that put in a huge drain field told me to use yeast and pour a quart of vinegar in the toilet too,same with my neighbor told the same.idk and we just have one take and apparently I don't have a clean out ..I know the fellow dug trenches when he put in new drain field.
We have 1+ row house in which toilet is at top room & septic tank is in underground of ground room at below of kitchen. We recently changed our toilet from indian to english toilet aka commode . Before doing we was facing slow water going to hole. But it was since last 1 month. Now after changing to english toilet also we facing slow flush & after full flush small particles of poop + water is coming from floor drain grate which is connected to same hole of commode. Now plumber who worked on it saying your septic tank is clogged, he says water is returning but somehow i am not convinced i know he did bad job on his part but now he is not returning money.. He checked by opening ourdoor pipe which is vertically fitted from top to ground floor on outside wall but he did not tested by putting water from top if its returning in opened pipe. He is now suggesting to open sepetic tank which is quite impossible as its underground. We will need to break kitchen etc to open it Then i started searching for solution & got to know about bacteria who dissolve clogs. Can you advise if your method will work for me or not & how much time should u wait for results ? What about toilet cleaner chemical ones should i use after using your method? Do you have any idea about green gobbler i can read very good reviews about it? Can you check 1 product which is available in india in cheap rate but i am unsure it will work or not. If yes i will share that to check. I have seen you are doing great job by answering everyone so i asked you. Hopefully you will help me out.
Not really sure as you have a slightly different situation. I've never seen a septic tank under a house. I always tell people to use a snake first which is a cleaning tool that goes through your pipes to your septic tank to make sure there's no blockages. Using chemicals to clear blockages can work sometimes but generally not often . Using this method is how you bring your septic tank back to life after you use chemical products or after you run the snake. I hope this helps
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 Thanks for your reply, yes I agree tank under house is kinda weird but it's done some 20 years ago by my father & can't help now. Tbh I don't want to spend much on new toilet accessories & buying snake drain will cost me lot & plumber also said there is nothing in pipe but i am unsure if he is saying truth & also hard chemicals may Destroy new pipes connections so avoiding it. I am thinking to try natural bacteria to dissolve septic sludge but before that I wanted to try your method. I already did yesterday but i cannot see any difference but yesterday night it was horrible smell coming from toilet so i thought it might be started reacting. So far no chemicals used, i really don't understand why water is returning from Nani trap when i do full flush but nothing returns in toilet, can you tell me in how many days i should expect some results with your method?
Just wanted to add a little info on septic systems. I have owned three homes with septic systems and have countless friends with septic systems, almost every one of them have the lids buried. They are between a couple inches under up to two - ish feet down. On my first house I had risers installed at one of the pump outs (recommended every 3-5 years) it saved the dig up fee or me having to do it. Also all of the systems I am aware of are two chamber systems, first chamber is for the solids and the second is for the liquid to overflow into and settle. The clear-ish (Treated)liquid at the top flows out into the leach field to be absorbed into the ground. Another note is the numerous septic guys I have used have told me that the solids that sink to the bottom in a healthy tank have been digested by the bacteria and get significantly reduced in volume because of it. Butttt pumping is an eventual must and REALLY needs to be done before the tank is full and overflows solids into your leach field. That is when the money starts to flow. Hope this was helpful info to someone.
All very true
Not all are 2 chamber. I have a 3 chamber and I have spray irrigation so I have 1, 3 chamber tank and a separate spray tank
That's why install septic riser easy access
Mine is a single chamber tank.
Thank you!!!!! 💕💕💕💕💕 My dad passed and did everything for my mom! I have 2 brothers but they have their own life.. I'm a girl but with ur advice I know I can do anything!!!!!!!
That's right be confident in yourself you definitely can do it
All you need my great grandpa and my Grandpa are both passed and they were mechanics my moped is broke down I'm a chick it's probably my spark plug I've got to get up under it and I know I can try to do anything I just hope I can accomplish it like they did cuz I'm far from a mechanic however you can do it too God bless
There is a good channel. There is also another channel that is very informative too titled "Southern Home Talk"
best advice Ive seen on utube , all you need to do is add more bacteria to your tank to let the micobial action working , it actually makes the smell go away , thats been my dads advice to all our customers for years,,,,sewer tanks smell for one reason ,lack of bacterial action
Exactly. People try to overcomplicate it
@@thefrugalhomestead7873companies manipulate people sir. Common man isn't aware of these information. Thanks for your video
Yeast works great for starches, but that's about the only thing it can break down. It can not deal with meat/veg waste. For everything else you'll need to use a septic tank treatment with live bacteria packet. They look like a giant laundry pod except brown in color. Also, garden compost starter powder would probably work well to as it to would be loaded with dormant bacteria and enzymes that could help break down the solids.
The reality is there's plenty of bacteria in our fecal matter. What doesn't get breakdown very well is oils fats and sugars which all mixed to solidify. If anyone's ever done any brewing they would understand the way yeast reacts to the sugars which then break down these solids somewhat. Essentially making it so it does not form a solid cap across the top of your tank. If it does form a solid line across your tank it could choke out the healthy bacteria that's eating everything else. All your suggestions are valid though.
Get a bidet if you can. The reduction in TP will make a huge improvement in your septic system.
That's prob true
Lived ina rural area for years,many old timers suggest only use the septic for body waste and have the wash water go into a dry well!Also helps to flush a envelope of
cooking yeast occasionally to keep the bacteria active in the tank which helps breakdown the solids.
Yep just have to be careful with dry wells one recently tested positive for legionnaires disease just south of us . The soil must be just right to do that . Many do modern version into plant beds now
I started breathing out of my mouth the moment you lifted the cap off the tank. I definitely felt like I was there with you.
I'll probably have to resort to a clothespin on my nose next time. Lol smell o vision 😆
I re-routed my washing machine water to bypass my septic tank and go into a leach tank. Haven't had any leach field issues since 2009. Also, I add a bottle of Robeic K-57 directly into my Septic Tank three times per year. Cheap insurance and no costly pump outs......
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That is smart. I shall look into it
Good plan I do not do a bunch of load of wash in one day either it will damage the biome in there. If you compost for your garden you know how these things work. I have found 90% of the people have no idea and they use the wrong products including laundry detergent which can turn to rock and bleach etc etc.Been at this location since 1994 and have not have had any problems and not once has it been pumped out and I believe this 1940's house has never been pumped
For those that need written instructions while watching: 2C H2O, 1/4C sugar, 3 packets of fast rise yeast. Do not stir. Let it sit and grow. Slowly pour into first tank, which is where the solids are. The other two lids are for liquid leaching to the drain field.
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Thanks for the advice! We just moved into an older house with a septic tank, so this is great information. Just an FYI, though, there IS a proper way to take off gloves so that you don't touch whatever it is you're trying to keep off your hands. ; )
In garage just outta shot is waterless hand cleaner and sanitizer
Yep, one of the things they teach you in healthcare is how to glove/deglove.
fyi i own 2 homes with septic systems -both built at same time 34 yrs ago-we have raised 2 sons and gone now have grand kids a lot -we have never had tank pumped ever and you can tell in summer by grass that field lines are working properly-have always treated our lines with a commercial treatment that guarantees system if applied as instructed will not mention name but not rid-x-other home i rent out has had field lines replaced twice and pumped several times from people putting grease and everything else down the lines-it all depends how you take care of your system as to how it preforms
Grease is #1 killer of septic
Same here. Lived in this home for 30+ years. Replaced aerator pump twice then I heard that it isn't necessary and removed the pump. I have never had my system pumped. After lots of rain or house guests I can smell it sometime. I do use Rid X, curious as to what you use.
It’s such an easy and inexpensive thing treatment I do it in the first of the month. Every 3 months I put in root killer and once a year I put in robiec to treat the bio mat in the drain field
As a septic technician, I assure you this will help, but will not fully accommodate for other type of bio materials Inside a septic tank, this would definitely help but i recommend introducing anaerobic bacteria as source of ways to treat your system properly yeast is only gonna get rid of things that have sugar by products, which is not in all type of bio material, including grease and solid foods. Please understand to do them at a normal standard pumping time which is typically 3-4 years.
Lots of great info here for community thanks for sharing
Hi i have jus moved into a new house. Not 3 months yet. And my septic tank stinks. What can i do?
@@sueannmcpherson8788 the tank or the house?
@@racedudes4 both. But its coming more from the tank.
Being that septic systems are anerobic, would yeast do anything other than add to the sludge layer? The scum layer at the top is primarily fats that yeasts won't touch. Everything below that is oxygen poor, and yeasts require oxygen. I'm thinking yeast treatment is a placebo at best, and a recipe for a clogged tank or drain field if repeated often enough.
2 adults, 2 small laundry loads per week, 8 medium showers per week over 15 years. Septic pumped about 3, maybe 4 times. No issues.
Not terrible we did once over 12 years. My dad has 4 systems on his property only one pumped in 22 years. Thanks for sharing
We are a busy family! We have 5 in the house, I can't even count showers, I do 4-6 loads of clothing per week. We are getting pumped today, it has been 6 years.
I, for one, am so very happy for you.
I like the idea of the double tank cap. I should make one of those for mine. Occasionally I catch a whiff of smell that must be sneaking out of the first tank. I replaced the aerator in the 2nd tank with an air-pump bubbler and the 2nd tank always smells like laundry water, so the smell must be from the 1st tank.
This happens from time to time on ours our 2nd cap has a vent and when wind right it produces odor we have a bubbler as well.
From what I have read this doesn't change the fact that you need to have your first tank pumped out whenever the amount of buildup makes it necessary. If you want to be clever you can construct a scheme to allow you to detect when it needs to be pumped out. One method is to construct a clear sampling tube but maybe you can think of other methods to determine how thick the three layers are (solids, liquid, floating stuff) -- so that only liquids will flow out the exit pipe to the next part of the system.
This is more to dissolve solids that contain sugar or grains . This reduces solids in tank to allow you to go longer between pumps . Essentially there is bacteria in your feces that will also help break down things in the tank. But a lot of people are on medicines that destroy that bacteria as well as unhealthy diets destroys that bacteria. So this is just a booster to try to stove off how often you have to have your tank pumped. I said there's plenty of people that have commented and said they haven't had to have it pumped in 20 to 30 years. I think a lot of people need them pumped due to pouring oil or grease down tank.
Thanks, I just recently set up my septic system and there are only two of us but we are completely off-grid so I wanted to know the best way to care for our system
Glad to help and it's nice to see people still work in their way off grid. We are headed that way with our new tiny house build.
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 Wonderful, we have our first container home
How much time did you have to wait for the yeast to fully rise?
It doesn't really have to fully rise usually takes about 10 minutes when you start to look like you have a head like you do when you pour a beer it's definitely ready to go
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A WELL COMMUNICATED AND EASY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS! Yay!
Our pleasure thank you for watching
I don't mean to burst your bubble, but additives to a septic tank aren't needed. The sewage eating bacteria will develop just fine on their own. Save the yeast for baking bread. I am a sanitary engineer and septic system designer and inspector, so I have a little credibility here.
Your entitled to your opinion . 👌
As long as you have a healthy digestive system the septic has 98% of everything it needs
My brother worked at a town sewage treatment plant and told me that Dog Food put in the septic tank would help feed the bacteria that eats the poop. Is there anything to that?
@@lewis9888 I have never heard that lol . I'll have to look into it.
The NUMBER ONE thing you can do to guarantee longevity is Don't Flush Toilet Paper , and if you can't bring yourself to bag & trash it , then Don't Use Scented Toilet Paper or anything with Lanolin on it !!
Thanks for the video. First time owning a house with a septic tank. How often should they be pumped out? I finally found the lid to the tank but it’s hard to open. Any advice on how I should open it? And finally how do I know if it needs to be pumped? Previous owner never answered the realtor with that info
Cap Should pull open . May be heavy or stuck. It never hurts to really pump your tank. That's sad finding a long stick and sticking it down in there and see how many inches of hard sediment are in the bottom might give you an idea if you don't feel anything hard in the bottom like sediment then don't worry about pumping it out. You hear people say things like 3 to 5 years but I generally find that 5 to 10 years for most septics but it's your current environment how many people in your house and more.
Roebic K-57 & K-57 or K-570 liquid bacteria works great. Also breaks down bio Matt issues which prevents leach fields from draining. Cheap insurance every 3-4 months. Good video however for using home grown methods.
Do you use roebic monthly?
Every 4 months@@elicob6227
1. Does keeping the additional cover with the handle inside the riser help reduce smell in your back yard?
2. Does it also pose a danger by traping gas in your tank?
Please advise
Gas cannot get trapped cuz it could actually escape out the actual drain but if you look closely at my middle cap you'll see a black plastic topper coming out of it that is a vent. Now those lids you see on the interior are not a solid seal so they do release gases they cannot trap them and build them up in there concrete on concrete doesn't make a very good seal lol
if we flush it through wc and flush a few additional flushes to assure it goes to the tank should be alright isn't it?
I would think so. You could also flush a few times and then have somebody jump in the shower and it definitely should get pushed down
I guess living in colder climates is different; I'm not digging up 2 feet of ground every month especially with 3 or more feet of ice and snow on top. I have, however, put yeast in my toilet, as others have told me it helps; I'm wondering if that helps? 🤔 Any input would help 🙂
Yes it does just flush multiple times to get all way to tank
Thank you for the video. I have a black pvc pipe with a cap on it I believe it is referred to as the “clean out”? Can the yeast be poured into that? I’m just asking because I believe that everything else is buried and wanted to know if using that would be a way that would work. Thank you for shairing you knowledge. Take care.
Yes but you need a garden hose or many many buckets of water or have water running in your house as you pour it down you want to be able to rinse it all the way into the tank
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 Thank you so much. I planned on running the garden hose/ indoor water while I was doing! thank you! Thank you for the tips and insight :)
Just curious. What about bokashi bran. It's for anaerobic composting.
Could be possible
Can it be used in pit latrines as well
Yeah wouldn't hurt
QUESTION…..I have a 4” or 5” threaded plug in the pipe that runs from my house underground to my septic… Would it be ok to open the pipe and pour the mixture in the pipe? All my lids are covered with dirt and grass. Thank you.
Yes but turn on tub wait till water flowing in pipe before pouring it down
Thank you
Great info , Thank you 👍 Easy , nice comments to very helpful. Your helping us from Vancouver Island , Canada 🇨🇦👏👏
Glad to help
HI ...... Doing this would help with the scent correct? I smell my system even more when it rains😭
Yes it will slightly help. Another thing you can check is if your lids are exposed there should be a vent on top of it Make sure it's not clogged up sometimes mud daubers or wasps build nests in it full of mud and may get clogged. Should be a little black rubber cap mounted on top of your concrete caps of your tank. But it's definitely a thing when it rains
I have city water but no sewer system available. Will the chlorine kill everything in my septic?
Generally speaking no but this is a nice way to revitalize your septic system
Yeast quantity please provide information.. How much
There is no exact amount yEast will grow based on the sugar content of the starter. A simple pack is sufficient to start. Or you can use a tablespoon if you have a bowl come out or whatever you have
Yeast and water that's it?.
I am ordering a live bacteria treatment but it would take few more days to get it so i guess i'll use this method for now.
Little sugar but yep
Hi can you give me a ingredient of that video for may safety tank also not clear the brand
Brand does not matter yeast sugar and water
What is the name or link for the yeast packets?
Any yeast is fine but turbo will grow faster
How often have you had your tank pumped? I live in a home that I inherited from my parents in 2015, They bought the house in 1993, they're was only 3 people living here and they never had the tank pumped, I might add that the two bathrooms are the only things that go into the tank. Now it's just me living here, should I be concerned?
Nope should be fine wouldn't hurt to do this to insure it stays good
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 also meant to add we've always used one ply Scott's toilet paper too
My Pop used to throw any dead varmints he found on the side of the road. Just in the spring. A week dead racoon has all the micro stuff needed to keep the septic healthy. He said even that wasn't needed until he installed a dishwasher and a garbage disposal for Mom.
Yep cleaners killing life
About 50 years ago I moved into an old farm house with a septic system and a farmer down the road came by and advised me to flush a couple pounds of rotting meat down the toilet twice a year to keep the system going. I’ve never had to have a septic tank pumped out.
@@gearylhrig1512 yup, raw hamburg
How long does it have to sit for?
If you're talking about in the cup to start it's just as long as you want. Going to start seeing it foaming it's ready
I will try yeast , I have noticed a bad order that will help , and I have a question my grandparents had a out house which they used lime, probably hydrated lime , would this help , my leash field smells, I was thinking of Sprinkling some in the area, what do you think.
Lime in an outhouse harden's the top to like a crust. This keeps bugs and other things from wanting to burrow in it. The crust holds down the smell you would never want to use that in or around your septic system it would clog it up
@thefrugalhomestead7873 Thank you , 😊 🙏
@@grammydayao7581 thank you for taking the time to watch and comment it's appreciated
Hey @FrugalHomestead I'm reminded how a simple TH-cam video designed to "Reinoculate" your septic after being damaged by harsh chemicals can draw out every unrecognised "exspurt" from their hiding place. 😉
Could be a drag if u let it be. But your the kind of guy that knows how to flush it on down without any ill affect 😎👍
Lmao 🤣
Which chemicals can be put in a septic tank to drain off the waters very fast?
I'm not sure what you mean by drain off very fast do you mean to clean the water so it can drain off fast? There's not really a chemical that does that This video shows you how to increase the life which will clean it faster.
That said over in Uganda you don't have the laws we have here. So I would suggest you look up something called a bio digester. Not only will it clean your waste but what comes out of it is a very good clean natural fertilizer but you can also trap methane that comes off of it and use it as a cooking or heating gas. There's many videos on TH-cam about it
How often do I do this treatment?
Depends on the usage as in how many people in your house but a good thought is every 6 months
Will It not work if we flush it in the commode?
As I mentioned in the video that's up to you The issue with I have with it is that if you've ever had yeast leftover in a pot or a bucket it gets rock hard after it gets wet. If I was going to put it down the toilet I would have multiple hot water items running at the same time like the shower sink to flush it down completely and get it all the way down and out to the tank that way it wouldn't build up on the side of my pipes. It's just a personal preference thing to ensure it goes to the tank
New subcriber, great video,
CAN I USED THE WHITE PIPE next to the house before the septip (2 inches wide ) "inspection" if is called like that ,
iwhen you open that, you can see water passing when flushed the toilet .
Since the septic is on the front of the house under the grass
Yes as long as you do the starter version do not dump dry powder down there as it will stick to the side of the pipes as the side of the pipes are damp and over time could cause clogging dropping it in with water running with it mixed in solution makes it float into the actual tank where it will grow.
Thank you,
So I could open the shower full cold water, , THEN BE SURE the water is passing thru , (inspection open) , then slowly let the mixed water +sugar and yeast .
i have to buy yeast ,
I will order champagne yeast right?, and let running the shower for 1 minute after all mixed is over ,
Just to be sure is at the septic tank ,
Correct, thank you in advance
@@Isgood2beKing any yeast . let run 5 minutes use warm or hot water.
I do this same mix....but I mix it in the downstairs toilet! :D
Im sure work fine too .
I’ve heard of throwing spoiled milk down your drain. Is that true?
Could be helpful I think you could do the same thing with a little cup of yogurt .
My grandparents had just 50 gallon barrels for septic, and I remember before that out house was used. But my grandma would take chicken giblets and flush them down the toilet. I’m not sure if this works? I do like the ida of yeast.
People swear by dropping carcasses down but I'm not sure that's the greatest idea because nothing will ever get rid of bones.
@@abdirashidkhalif1748 I can see blood but liquid ashes is a bad idea. Put liquid ashes in a bucket come back in a week and look at how it's all clumped up and like a rock that will quickly clog up a septic system not to mention the line minute can heat up and kill everything
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 wouldnt the bones shink to the bottom.
Is this AMOUNT of mixture you describe in the video enough for a 1500 gallon septic tank with 2 adults and 3 teenagers?? I understand the frequency will need to be adjusted I'm just wondering if the initial amount in this vid is enough for a 1500 gallon tank. Thanks.
Yep plenty
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 thanks for the quick reply. Hoping to save money from buying those expensive ROEBIC products. 👎👎
@@darrenwilliamson7944 very smart plan
As long as the yeast has plenty to eat they will grow or killed out by chemicles or temperatures
Does yeast work also in anaerobic septic?
It definitely would not hurt but to get maximum potential it needs to be aerated
Rid X sooo expensive!
We use the powder once a month, then use the Rid X liquid to scrub the toilet bowl.
Sink and washing machine drain out into driveway and yard. No antibiotic hand soaps, no bleach, except in washing machine occasionally.
Sounds like you got a decent setup
my tank hasnt been pumped for 25 years.
i opened it up and there was harley any smell.
last winter i notice it wasnt melting the snow on top.
should i be concerned?
As long as you're not putting oils or fats stuff like that down there it should be fine you can follow the directions in this video or use some rid x . Another way to test it is get a long stick and push it down in and see if it's all solid on the bottom if it is you need to have it pumped
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 in 25 years theres been a fair amount of oil and fat go
in the tank.
Nothing goes in my tank but the bathrooms. No wash machine, no dishwasher, no softener, no kitchen sink. They go into drain tile. My leach field is 50 plus years old. Never a crust on top of tank. No smell. Also run vent pipe from tank. Methane gas eats concrete
25 years.... it past due for a pumping, guaranteed is full of sludge.
Spend the money dude! 🤨
@@rogermartin404 got pumped out last week.
Can we also use probiotic capsules instead of the yeast in the solution?
It wont grow or work the same probiotics are for digestive health but i see no reason it would hurt it
Id argue if you have good probiotics you should just take them and let the bacteria get to your septic system the natural way! ;D
@@AlkalineGamingHD honestly prob best option
What does the yeast do
Activates the microbiology and your septic tank to basically eat and break down the waste
Number One Tip for a carefree system .... DON'T flush Toilet Paper , especially anything scented with Lanolin Oil on it !!
Bag it & trash it !! 😉👍
Less tp or feminate products would definitely help
That is correct. People think they can flush whatever down the toilet and then they wonder why they have septic tank problems.
Just buy the stores house brand enzymes... works fine for under 5 bucks. ❤
That is always an option
Just curious about the fact that yeast turns sugars to alcohol which kills other bacteria? I realize that only a relatively small amount of yeast and sugar were used, like I said, just curious.
You're exactly on track but it turns it's alcohol when it dies when it runs out of sugars to eat... That's why when you add 5 lb bag of sugar or more to a 5 gallon bucket of water then add yeast you end up with loosely a watered down alcohol. But when you do it on a scale of thousands of gallons of water and a continuous source of new sugar bearing materials or new materials to break down You're consistently feeding. Then on top of that water is coming in and out of the system new water comes in lifts the whole level of the tank and then out it goes out the filter to your drain pipe or leach field etc. so any alcohols that are made are diluted and then flushed out.
will it work for an aerobic septic system?
Yes as yeast will only grow in oxygen
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 TY.
Thank you!
Glad to help thank you for watching
AWESOME INFO. THANKS GOD BLESS.
👍
Three packets of yeast ? Great are they 1 ounce 1/4 ounce 1 pound 200 pound ? what weight are they? Cmon
Go to store and buy three packs. They only come in one size.
My problem is that water will not go down after the second tank, into the ground.
I tried moving the 2-3 inch rocks out of the way and water still not going down through the clean sand. I’m puzzled!
Any help will be appreciated.
Thx in advance
You have a sand filter on your septic? That's not a standard system I'm familiar with
I’m going to have a well and septic system put in my cabin up north . I ‘m also going to have a 10x14 bathroom off the side of my cabin . When it was build they didn’t rough in the plumbing.
Interesting wonder why they didn't rough it in maybe it was just a hunting cabin?
I have been doing this with brown sugar/ yeast for years, for two people every 6 months.. The last time I had my tank cleaned only 4 inches of thickness on the bottom, a very healthy tank.I quit putting toilet paper in the tank to keep it healthy. It's time for it to get pumped again ...crossing my fingers.
Definitely sounds like you got yours under control well
You need to tell how much yeast in grams or ounces
You're overthinking this. You can use as little as one teaspoon. Or as much as two tablespoons. As long as there's a sugar starter it will grow exponentially and considering the American diet is loaded with sugar it's going to grow exponentially in the septic tank as well.
I am a retired plumbing contractor and I homestead in rural North Texas.
Septic systems have only one job, mainly, to convert solid waste to liquid.
EVERYBODY'S first (septic) tank collects solids and breaks them down into small pieces, the consistency of oatmeal, called "effluent".
I upped my system's longevity by passing all my sewage through a "mascerrator" first.
That's either a $1,200 chewer / pump or a $75 garbage disposer - your choice.
Each has a 3" inlet and 1 1/2" outlet.
All sewage arriving at my septic system's first tank is already reduced in size, providing MAXIMUM surface area for both aerobic (first tank) and anaerobic (each remaining tank) bacteria to MORE EFFICIENTLY do their job.
End result:. ZERO problems!
Also - ONLY sewage goes in my toilets!
I have three other systems for grey water, each with its own underground cistern and leach system.
That is 100% correct here in Ohio we call them grinder stations or some people have grinder station toilets. Macerating is of course the correct term. And clearly there is no better way to do it than that as it does half the breakdown job for the bacteria. Thanks for sharing your system definitely sounds awesome
Just cut down on the amount of detergents you use and use septic safe toilet paper. If possible don’t run your washing machine water into the septic. There are literally thousands if not millions of old septics out there that have required no service. My parents has been in the ground for over 60 years. I put mine in 30 years ago. Not one problem. We had to do a septic inspection about 5 years ago which required it to be pumped. I argued against it but you can’t fight the state. They said it would mostly be solids and most likely some laterals plugged. So it cost me $400 for them to pump it and tell me. Wow you had no solids and not one plugged lateral line. The problem is everyone uses to much detergents and bleach these days. You can’t break down solids if your killing half the bacteria with a bucket of bleach everyday.
@@dontfit6380 i dont disagree with anything you are saying but honestly 90% of people do not have know how or ability to divert washer runoff . most wont change detergent amount or buy special toilet paper. that said we make our own laundry detergent. now i ran the numbers for the toilet paper thats septic safe fast breakdown and the laundry detergent that you can buy for septic system based on family of 4 and normal usage the cost would be well over a $1200 increase in 5 years . so based on numbers doing nothing and having it pumped cheaper . i created this video for the people with do the least for best results kind of mindset.it takes into account the single mom working 2 jobs and the family running kids to sports everyday to the elderly couple who cant move that well.
you are completely right that there are a billion ways to improve but they require more cost or more time or more knowledge.i hope some read these comments and seek out more info..these are why these comments are so important . thank you for commenting and watching .
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 your video was great. I just didn’t want people thinking they needed a grinder in their waste system. Scott’s toilet paper is the cheapest toilet paper I can find. It is also the best for septic systems. Don’t worry about septic safe detergents. Just get one without bleach and don’t think you need to use as much as they recommend. Start with as little as possible and add more if cloths aren’t clean. No one needs their cloths to smell like a fresh mountain morning. If you or a friend have Costco membership then Kirkland detergents are septic safe and they sell Scott’s toilet paper. Your right most won’t have the ability to divert the water that doesn’t belong in the septic. If most won’t use septic safe toilet paper and limit the detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners then all the yeast you put in your system will make no difference. The yeast is great at breaking down starches but will do nothing for the proteins, fats, oils etc. you need the microorganisms and like the yeast they can’t thrive in the over used chemicals. So if people aren’t willing to maintain their system correctly they may as well figure in a pumping every 10 years or so. Again nothing wrong with the added help of the yeast but it will make no difference if people want to be lazy.
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 When if there is only 1 person living in the home?
THANKS!
Our pleasure
Just pump you septic tank every 3 to 5 years yeast will help break down paper but it all turns to sludge on the bottom of tank if the sludge reaches the outlet tee then stops up your drain field. So pump your septic tank
Actually yeast breaks down sugars and grains . As for pumping do as you please but you should have the filter there at that t so it doesn't go out in your drain field
Really good video Team Drain Medic ❤ 💪 keep up the great work
👍
wash hands with Dawn? which kills yeast you just put in the tank
It's actually more resilient than you think over a thousand gallons of water versus a squirt of Dawn. The same way when you put a cup of bleach in your washer it doesn't go out and kill your entire septic system. You are just watering it down.
@@thefrugalhomestead7873we have a 3 chamber septic tank and my wife bought these bleach tablets for the toilet 🚽 tank so it won’t stain our toilets 🚽. Should I remove those bleach tablets so it doesn’t kill the good bacteria in septic tank
So will this also help with the leach field? Mine seems to be a bit clogged.
Should make sure no more solids go out there which should help
They make a product that will kill roots in your lines and such for leech bed. No idea if it works or not. Never used it.
How long before using it? U never said
If you're asking how often you should use it I would say 6 months between
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 no! Lol from making the concoction .... How long before it's ready to pour into tank...
Btw .. I did it 2 weeks ago and it already started going down! Gonna do it again!!! Thx for getting back to me
@@roccop913 oh we like to wait about 20 to 30 minutes
How long do you let your yeast and sugar water sit before using it?
Usually about 10 minutes as soon as you see the line of bubbles on top start to grow it's ready to be used
It's important to remember different temperatures will make the yeast grow at different speeds
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 Thanks, I'm getting ready to go pour it in my tank. Thanks for your advice.
As long as it's mixed throughout the water, it should be good to go!
thankyou sooo much bro god bless u
Our pleasure thank you for watching
Just use store bought stuff works just as good and my septic is buried big block not lid like that heavy you cant get to it at all
You're welcome to use whatever you want but it's not the same and it's also about 15 times more expensive than this. And if you can't get into yours at all I would be concerned cuz how are you ever going to have it pumped
Mine is buried my house was built in 73 my septic tank isn't like yours its been pumped and yard dug up pipe busted I can't just go out there and open lid pour it in like you can its heavy piece of concrete for lid not easy access
@@janicestapp1088 and just like you pour the story bought stuff down your toilet I also give directions in this video how you can do that as well.
But if I'm understanding you right you have an access port just like I do You're just not strong enough to lift it. Which I understand cuz some are made bigger.
Correct
I get septic gas problems if I don't treat my tank.
Yep exactly it probably gets worse in the winter.
From Mr LazySepticOwner. Why not just flush the concoction? Thanks!
Nothing wrong with that question. Yeast when left in a cup will harden to the side like a rock and you literally will have to chip it out you cannot scrub it out. So if some of this gets stuck to the side of your pipe because all you did was one flush it would build up over time so every time you did it it would add more to it making the pipe opening smaller and smaller. So it would probably be fine to flush it and then take a hot shower that way more water goes down the pipe flushing it all the way to the septic tank. When I create my videos I try to make them how shall we say dummy proof. If I tell everybody to go put it directly in their tank nobody's ever going to come back and say I did what you said and it clogged my pipes .lol but yes it would be fine just put it down the toilet flush it a couple times and then run some water
He explained that. Watch it again.
spoiled milk i heard works too
Yeah I've heard of people putting spoiled milk or yogurt down there haven't done much research on it though but my thought is that the life in there would feed off of it
soiled buttermilk yes or raw hamburg
The bacteria that eat feces and urine aren't yeast. I guess if you are diabetic, then the sugars in your urine would be something the yeast could eat. I don't think this would hurt but I also don't believe it will help keeping your septic system work (other than the possibility of the dead yeast providing food to the bacteria that would otherwise be eating your feces and urine).
Yeast eats sugars grains like corn and feeds off CO2 this will help break down the items that fill top of tank that will choke out oxygen and kill bacteria from feces. Hence why your body doesn't break down corn and you see it in your poop.
I need updates of your lessons
I'm giving information about septic tank health, if you're interested.
My septic service recommended buttermilk for treatment
Interesting I'll have to look more into that
I have heard people say to use cheese in the septic tank to do the trick.
Interesting I'll have look into it
thanks!
Our pleasure
Someone told me buttermilk is what the used back in the day.
Have heard a lot of people say that. Going to look more into it
Geez! These people sure do eat a lot of corn. 😂
The fact that corn can make it through your digestive system should explain why you need something to break it down in your septics tank. 😅
Sound is from James Butler
What sound and who is James Butler?
After you inoculate the tank just flush the " treatment" down toilet when you want to . This type of "treatment" yeast will have a strong H2S odor there are bacteria additives that give off odorless CO2 they are more expensive but how much cost to replace the field and being able to be outdoors
I just recommend putting it directly into tank cuz if you've ever pulled apart a sink that a baker has used yeast can sometimes clog up on the side of the pipes
Thanks for sharing
You're welcome we're glad to help thank you for taking the time to comment it's appreciated
Dude help!!😂. Been in this house for ten years with no problems. Recently large cockroaches(4)have been coming up the drain in one bathroom(closest to septic). What can I put down the drain to kill roaches but not the beneficial microbes? Thanks!
Most non toxic way is to get a bunch of boiling water and pour down drains lots of it the more the better
Spray bifenthrin
They were not coming from the septic tank. A couple of them must’ve gone down the drain for water and I just saw them coming out. More then likely, they were coming from the large old tree in back yard. Discovered three vents on roof that had no screen on them. A little extermination in the attic and screened off vents. It's been two weeks and no sight of any👌.
@@397coney7 check at 1am at night is usually when they come out.
Thanks
👍
I live on a farm and have septic AND composting toilets. The septic receives only liquid waste, because my toilets flush into a mascerater (think garbage disposal), which turns solids to mush. I also feed that system with yeast as done here. My PREFERENCE is using the composting toilet for solids and liquids. A year's worth of pee and poo compost down to a 1/4" layer in one year. I compost humanure 3 years before using.
We are adding a composting toilet to our tiny house build. We are not going to use our humidor to grow in we're going to use it as a top coat to grow ground cover as we build the backside of our Hill out basically covering with chips and fill and then throwing our humidor on top to hold grass and other items to hold the hillside together. Your setup sounds like the very best setup you could possibly have
@@thefrugalhomestead7873
Ya, me too. I use my composted humanure on pasture lands.
What do you store your humanure in for 3 years? Size and material, please.
@@denisetittle6924
3 years' worth adds up to about half a cubic yard, so I wait until it's worth my effort. I spread it on the pasture where the chickens play.
@@denisetittle6924
I store it in an open pile covered with straw.
7:43 I did while watching your video
Seems like over sharing but ok 🤣
Buttermilk 1/2 gallon every 6 months
I have heard that's a good option. Thanks for sharing
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 You can make your own buttermilk as well with either vinegar OR lemon juice. Its a nice natural way to add in essential bacteria to keep the process going.
I used to use road kill. The fresher the better. Deer are too big!
I have heard that works
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 It does.
8:28 lol 😂 some religions will forbid that
No comment lmao 🤣😂
Grea infromation
👍
I'm from kampala Uganda
Very cool, thanks, man! Also, if you put a tiny dab of vapor rub under your nose you won't smell 'anything else.' 🚬
Lol 🤣 solid tip
My guy that put in a huge drain field told me to use yeast and pour a quart of vinegar in the toilet too,same with my neighbor told the same.idk and we just have one take and apparently I don't have a clean out ..I know the fellow dug trenches when he put in new drain field.
Vinegar is it natural drain cleaner then you add yeast after to revive the tank. Flight of the older guys did it that way
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 ok thanks
We have 1+ row house in which toilet is at top room & septic tank is in underground of ground room at below of kitchen. We recently changed our toilet from indian to english toilet aka commode . Before doing we was facing slow water going to hole. But it was since last 1 month. Now after changing to english toilet also we facing slow flush & after full flush small particles of poop + water is coming from floor drain grate which is connected to same hole of commode. Now plumber who worked on it saying your septic tank is clogged, he says water is returning but somehow i am not convinced i know he did bad job on his part but now he is not returning money.. He checked by opening ourdoor pipe which is vertically fitted from top to ground floor on outside wall but he did not tested by putting water from top if its returning in opened pipe. He is now suggesting to open sepetic tank which is quite impossible as its underground. We will need to break kitchen etc to open it Then i started searching for solution & got to know about bacteria who dissolve clogs. Can you advise if your method will work for me or not & how much time should u wait for results ? What about toilet cleaner chemical ones should i use after using your method? Do you have any idea about green gobbler i can read very good reviews about it? Can you check 1 product which is available in india in cheap rate but i am unsure it will work or not. If yes i will share that to check. I have seen you are doing great job by answering everyone so i asked you. Hopefully you will help me out.
Not really sure as you have a slightly different situation. I've never seen a septic tank under a house. I always tell people to use a snake first which is a cleaning tool that goes through your pipes to your septic tank to make sure there's no blockages. Using chemicals to clear blockages can work sometimes but generally not often . Using this method is how you bring your septic tank back to life after you use chemical products or after you run the snake. I hope this helps
@@thefrugalhomestead7873 Thanks for your reply, yes I agree tank under house is kinda weird but it's done some 20 years ago by my father & can't help now. Tbh I don't want to spend much on new toilet accessories & buying snake drain will cost me lot & plumber also said there is nothing in pipe but i am unsure if he is saying truth & also hard chemicals may Destroy new pipes connections so avoiding it. I am thinking to try natural bacteria to dissolve septic sludge but before that I wanted to try your method. I already did yesterday but i cannot see any difference but yesterday night it was horrible smell coming from toilet so i thought it might be started reacting. So far no chemicals used, i really don't understand why water is returning from Nani trap when i do full flush but nothing returns in toilet, can you tell me in how many days i should expect some results with your method?