Cleaning out a DIY septic tank
Sorry if im not using the correct term. We have an RV dump setup. Years ago i was told its (2) 50 gallon drums welded together with holes drilled in it. Worked great for over 10 years. I think we ...
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wopachop wrote:
Sorry if im not using the correct term. We have an RV dump setup. Years ago i was told its (2) 50 gallon drums welded together with holes drilled in it.
Worked great for over 10 years. I think we finally clogged it up. It will only take around 10-20 gallons now before overflowing. Even if i wait over a month between dumps. In the past i could wait 1 day and continue dumping/flushing.
There is an ABS threaded cap to keep debris out. Im thinking about drilling a hole in that cap and installing an automotive valve stem so i can pressurize the setup and hopefully blow out the clogged holes.
Looking for a quick fix. Probably should have dumped some type of breakdown chemical down there months ago. Years ago.
Im a cheapo and dont want to pay someone to come clean it out. Not even sure if you would call it a septic tank. The man who installed it is no longer with us. So im not sure how big the holes are. How many holes. I do have an endoscope but not ready to sacrifice it just yet.
Think air pressure is worth a shot? Also considering a hose adapter. Blast it out with pressurized water. The schrader valve seems cleaner and easier. More control on pressure and no worries about backflow. I think there are still a few unclogged holes towards the top of the tanks which allows me 10-20 gallons of space. If i used a hose adapter i could leave the hose on and walk away. With the air pressure it might seep out the holes in a few seconds and never clear the problem area.
If you're not in a huge hurry, there's a product called Bio-Clean that literally eats the stuff that is probably blocking your system. It does take a few days to work, so it's not a quick fix, but it isn't expensive either. I used it to clear a clogged basement drain last year. Took about a week of adding the stuff to the open end to work it's way through about 15 feet of sewer pipe. After a week, I could blast water through it with a garden hose. Can be used for maintenance, as well.
There are all sorts of similar products out there, I'm sure.
