can you help me out? I'm going to buy an old farm house with septic

[NMDemDist2]

system

any things to watch out for? any maintence tips?

thanks in advance!

[FreakinDJ]

1. Easy on the Bleach

[NMDemDist2]

2. good tip, as I use bleach for LOTS of stuff

can you be more specific? I am clueless

[JuniperLea]

6. bleach kills the enzymes that break everything down

you want those little critters happy and healthy...

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. Avoid flushing conservatives down the toilet - they're loaded with crap

[kestrel91316]

26. Enzymes aren't alive and so can't be killed. Bleach kills the microbes

that do the breaking-down. NO BLEACH in septic systems. Use hydrogen peroxide, or else divert the bleach water.

[JuniperLea]

29. FCOL! A figure of freaking speech!

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/E/Enzymes.html


So it makes them not work... jeez... kills the effectiveness then... whatever.


Sometimes I think posting on DU makes people loose their minds and become argumentative for the sake of being contrary...

[kestrel91316]

30. Don't take it personally. I tend to jump all over anything that smacks of

scientific ignorance (it being a fundie/RW trait).

[uppityperson]

25. non-chlorine bleach, non-chlorine cleanser only

no food grinder thingy on your sink (aha, garbage disposal, had to think a minute). Get it checked before you buy it, get it pumped before you move in (know you are starting with an empty tank).

[JuniperLea]

3. Have it tested before you buy

Make sure it is big enough for the number of people who will be living there, use septic tank friendly TP and keep up with the enzyme treatments. Make sure you know where the leach field is...

[wildeyed]

17. I have heard that septic friendly TP is like sandpaper!

Don't know from personal experience.

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. Great for woodworking if the rash gets too bad..........

[morningglory]

28. Some say Scott Tissue is the best. If there are a lot of females in the

house, they should dispose of their TP in a wastebasket instead of down the tank.

[GreenInNC]

4. well also?

Getting water from a well? If so, get it tested. Not only for water quality but also to make sure there is not too much wear on the parts.

[NMDemDist2]

32. nope we have a co-op water n/t

[MuseRider]

5. Use natural products for cleaning.

Be certain to have it pumped out, find out how big your tank is and ask the septic people how often you should do it. Be careful of the laterals too, don't drive heavy trucks over them.

[Faygo Kid]

7. Please rent/buy "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House," with Cary Grant

Not only will you see one of my all time favorite movies, you will gain great understanding of your purchase. Please do this, and let me know how you like it!

[AlinPA]

8. Use Rid-X every month. Do not skip . Also, every 6 months ,

flush down a couple cakes of crumbled household size yeast (the soft kind).

[MADem]

20. Yep, that is excellent advice, I second your recommendations n.t.

[Arkansas Granny]

35. My folks used Rid-X in their septic tank on a regular basis. In

over 20 years time, it worked perfectly and never had to be pumped. For what it's worth, before we got indoor plumbing my Dad used Rid-X in the outhouse and it worked the same way to break down waste. We had the freshest smelling outhouse in the neighborhood.

[NV Whino]

9. A bit off the subject but...

If you are on a well, remember it takes electricity to run the pump. Electricity goes out, you can't flush the toilets.

But other than that, septic systems are usually trouble free. Adding enzymes to counteract bleach or cleanser use is definitely a good idea. Gotta do that to mine soon since I use mostly bleach for cleaning these days.

[pinto]

10. Ask about the maintenance history and BIL swears by enzyme

treatments at some regular interval - I don't know the particulars. Congrats and good luck AZDem!

[KT2000]

11. Put a clause in the conttract that

specifies that the septic system checks out OK for the sale to go through. Where I live replacement is about $20,000 because of new rules. Your area may be different but likely still costly.
Make sure not just the tank but the drainfield is OK.

[The empressof all]

12. Make sure nothing goes down the toilet

Only waste and toilet paper. You need to let your guests know this too. No condoms, No tampax, ....none of that.

I've also been told that you need to be careful what you put through your disposal. I only put vegetable waste through mine now....no animal protein if I can help it.

Have it thoroughly inspected and get it pumped as recommended. (Based on the size of your tank)

Know where your drain field is. Be careful when you dig around it. It isn't hard to damage a pipe with digging.

[wildeyed]

18. I have been composting most of my kitchen scraps.

I noticed that I almost never use the disposal anymore.

[Poppyseedman]

13. Get a septic guy out to inspect how FULL it is.

A buddy of mime bought a house and within 6 weeks he had a backup because the septic tank was full.

Cost him a nice penny to get the crap sucked out.

I believe under normal use it needs to cleaned out every 5 years.

I imagine if the WH had a septic system the tanker to pump the crap out would have to make a daily trip:crazy:

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. Get the washing machine off the septic system, pronto!

I learned that in my very first house. Drain that thing into it's own separate system. It will croak a septic system like nothing else................

[stellanoir]

15. Wows

you found a place that quickly. . . still voting for the most graceful of transitions for you regardless of your plumbing. :)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

21. Everything you need to know and then some.....

http://www.roebic.com/index.htm

ON EDIT: Make sure you check this page as well....

http://www.roebic.com/catalog/bacteria.htm

[Deb]

22. I would find out how it is made

if you also have a "dry well" and exactly where everything is located. The original septic to our old farmhouse was layed-up field stone. (Basically a deep hole lined with rocks) It worked for years before we needed to replace it. Banks here have turned down mortgages for this type of septic if they know about it, even when it passes the tests.

Our kitchen and laundry are hooked up to a "dry well" so the detergents won't harm the good bacteria in the septic. Most of the older homes here were set up this way.

[Redstone]

23. Don't put anything down the drain (except soap) that you wouldn't

put down your throat.

Really. Keep the system clean of chemicals; it relies on bacteria to work.

Redstone

[politicat]

24. Do a shake test on any TP you buy

And remember, fold, don't crumple. Crumpling just makes pointy bits that make the TP feel rough and sandpapery.

Take 6 sheets of TP, put it in a quart jar with a lid, and fill 2/3-3/4 with water. Shake 5 seconds. If the TP becomes shreds, it's truly septic system safe.

I can tell you right now that the heavier, quilted TPs fail this test, as do any that say "feels like cotton". But you don't need those anyway. They're actually rougher than the very flat, smooth stuff (like Shitbegone and the recycleds) because they're micro-perfed, and that creates roughness. The stuff made from recycled newspaper is the best for septics, because it breaks up really fast and is easy on the bum. If the drains clog, use ammonia and hot water and a plunger to clean them, not drain cleaner.

Scrape your scraps into the garbage and don't use a garbage disposal any more than necessary. Make your own dishwasher powder (if you have a dishwasher) from 1 part non-phosphate laundry powder, 4 parts baking soda and 4 parts borax. Cut your laundry powder with baking soda and borax, too. (like 1 to 1 to 1) Obviously, paper towels, fem stuff, baby wipes, hygiene wipes, etc do not go into the septic system.

Fix leaks. The more water going into the system, the harder the critters have to work. So try to keep the gallons per day number at half the rating. (So if it's rated for 500 gallons per day, try for 250. That rating is a max, not an average.) Low flow shower heads, sink aerators, etc.

If you're on land where you can, divert your shower and washing machine water to your garden. (This is relatively easy if you know where the pipes are and have access to them.) Make sure your garden and your septic system aren't using the same leach field, though. If the leach field gets waterlogged, the critters won't be able to do their job as effectively. When it rains heavily, cut your water consumption. Conversely, if you're in a really bad drought, make sure that your tank and leach field aren't getting too dry.

Find out when it was last cleaned. Figure 5 years per person-year (so 2.5 years for 2 people, every year for 5 people, etc.) Make sure the sellers have it cleaned before closing or have had it done within the past few months.

Good luck!

[papau]

27. Tank will have a field that must "perk" correctly or you have smelly marsh

good luck - they can last near forever if treated correctly

But I have seen the addition of a new load - say a larger washing machine - cause the field that was working to give up the ghost.

[NMDemDist2]

31. thanks all! and we ended up with a newer mobile with 1000 gallon

septic on it (for only two of us!) and in NM they MAKE the sellers dig it up, inspect it and pump it out when selling a property :woohoo:

but all your suggestions will be taken to heart, I'll be using vinegar and biodegradable cleaning products (which I have been already doing for the majority anyway)

thanks again, but don't be surprised if I have more dumb questions :evilgrin:

[paparush]

33. Check for grey water lines...

Lines running from sinks, tubs, washing machines out into creeks or dumping out into pastures...we actually ran some grey water lines (we were always VERY careful about what we put down the drains) to keep water OUT of our creaky old septic tank.

[NMDemDist2]

34. i am hoping to use the grey water for my garden

but that's down the road.

the septic is a 1000 gallon system that's only 18 years old so I should be in good shape AND New Mexico law mandates that the sellers have it inspected and pumped out before the close of escrow.