Septic Pumps ARGH!
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
You have gotten extremely lucky with yours Morris! Usually thats not the case with a lagoon system. And usually the treatment of a lagoon isnt as good as a person thinks, although sometimes they can have OK treatment (nothing compared to a field/pump out with a tank though, theres just no comparison)
My parents have had a pump out system in there house since 1988 or 1989 and have only replaced a switch (CHEAP!) and have never had a freeze up. My grandparents (mile and a half away) had a lagoon, and it always needs maintenance.
Simple is not always the best way to go, as I have found out from working on alot of these systems. Gravity fed systems can freeze, plug up just the same as any other system not installed correctly. Ive actually found that gravity fed systems freeze up more because alot of the times the slope is wrong, and they either freeze or plug up with crap (literally!)
You couldnt pay me to have a lagoon system out here though, Id take a good quality pump out system, with a top notch pump anyday. Lagoons are a thing of the past, and im not much for the nostalgia!
If you ever need advice to get your rental properties systems done up right so they dont freeze or back up, lemme know!
My parents have had a pump out system in there house since 1988 or 1989 and have only replaced a switch (CHEAP!) and have never had a freeze up. My grandparents (mile and a half away) had a lagoon, and it always needs maintenance.
Simple is not always the best way to go, as I have found out from working on alot of these systems. Gravity fed systems can freeze, plug up just the same as any other system not installed correctly. Ive actually found that gravity fed systems freeze up more because alot of the times the slope is wrong, and they either freeze or plug up with crap (literally!)
You couldnt pay me to have a lagoon system out here though, Id take a good quality pump out system, with a top notch pump anyday. Lagoons are a thing of the past, and im not much for the nostalgia!
If you ever need advice to get your rental properties systems done up right so they dont freeze or back up, lemme know!
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15,014
Likes: 35
From: Semper Fi tell I die!
I had two floods in my basement this week. The first one we thought maybe the flapper valve was leaking. The valve needed replacing. So I thought maybe with the toilet running continous. That it maybe leaking around the seal of the toilet. After new seals and valve a second flood. This time we saw it coming up the sewer line. Checked my back flow valve in the basement and it was seeping back. The valve came un hinged.
So checked the tank It was up in the collar. 8" frpm the wirng.
So today in this downpour had it pumped out.
My tank alarm never went off and the pump not working.
The septic guy notice that the wirng was in the collar and was just mereted . Pulled them up and found them all corroded. He said these should coated with heat shrink or mounted in a box outside the tank.
The guy who installed my tank took a short cut.
So maybe a warning to you guys that live on farms and acreage. Check how your tanks are wiried in so you can prevent the problem I'm having.
Now I have to dig the wires up and mount an external box for wiring.
Sheldon take note of this for your business. When installing a septic tank wire them outside with a plastic box, so wires can be checked and service and no risk of corrosion.
So Now I have to fix this and possibly have to replace my pump.
AARGH!
So checked the tank It was up in the collar. 8" frpm the wirng.
So today in this downpour had it pumped out.
My tank alarm never went off and the pump not working.
The septic guy notice that the wirng was in the collar and was just mereted . Pulled them up and found them all corroded. He said these should coated with heat shrink or mounted in a box outside the tank.
The guy who installed my tank took a short cut.
So maybe a warning to you guys that live on farms and acreage. Check how your tanks are wiried in so you can prevent the problem I'm having.
Now I have to dig the wires up and mount an external box for wiring.
Sheldon take note of this for your business. When installing a septic tank wire them outside with a plastic box, so wires can be checked and service and no risk of corrosion.
So Now I have to fix this and possibly have to replace my pump.
AARGH!
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Cherish that, your one of the few!
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 12
From: Saskatoon SK Canada
My parents haven't really had much trouble with the pump out system. I remember before we got the new system you had to pump out the water manually. We had an electric motor mounted to a little pump. It had a little hose go into the tank and then had enough hose to reach the trees. Just the old home built tank had started to collapse.
They now got one of those round cement ones. They had a problem once with the wires as they got corroded. They had just used morrets and left them uncovered in the tank. It has only froze up once. We took the cover off the output and have never had a problem since.
They now got one of those round cement ones. They had a problem once with the wires as they got corroded. They had just used morrets and left them uncovered in the tank. It has only froze up once. We took the cover off the output and have never had a problem since.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,423
Likes: 0
From: Colonsay Sk. Canada
We have had a lagoon, except for one pump replacement (which really isn't part of the system), never had a lick of trouble. In some cases simplicity is key
What kind of Mentally handicap person can't set a slope?
What kind of Mentally handicap person can't set a slope?
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,402
Likes: 1
From: Delisle/Vanscoy, Sk.
You know I never had any other problems with my septic sewage tank. Just the guy meretted the wires in the collar of the tnk and they corrded. No heat shrink or tape over them. I now got a box and pipe for the wiring to be all connected outside. So now I should not have a corrosion of the wires.
The wires should of been sealed with heat shrink in the collar. Now the wire will be in a plastic conduit to a sealed box.
Yet to test the pump and alarm. If they are screwed then I will replace them. Not holding my breath on that. I think they will get replaced.
The wires should of been sealed with heat shrink in the collar. Now the wire will be in a plastic conduit to a sealed box.
Yet to test the pump and alarm. If they are screwed then I will replace them. Not holding my breath on that. I think they will get replaced.
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Too litte of a slope, well the problems are obvious, too large of a slope and the liquids rush past the solids causing a clog.
Getting a slope perfect is extremely important, especially on a gravity system.
Getting a slope perfect is extremely important, especially on a gravity system.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
For some people yes.
Simple isnt always the best thing. Think where we would be if people thought of simple electronics, no FTE!
Simple isnt always the best thing. Think where we would be if people thought of simple electronics, no FTE!
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 97,551
Likes: 2,005
From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Cold Lake, AB
Our wiring is in a nice little box outside the tank. Didn't even have to ask for it to be done that way. Probably the contractor we hired had something to do with it. Apparently he is the only guy in town you want to get to do a septic system.... But you just never know. So far so good. Sheldon, how often do you recommend a septic tank be pumped out??