InspectAPedia ^TM

Signs of a Clogged Septic or Graywater Filter SepticAPedia © Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com Signs of a clogged septic filter Signs of a clogged graywater filter Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm. This document discusses the diagnosis and repair of clogging of various types of septic effluent filter systems and graywater filter systems to protect the septic drainfield or drywell system from damage. These simple septic filters, such as greywater filters, washing machine filters, and filters at the effluent outlet of a conventional septic tank are all designed to protect the septic effluent absorption field or leach field. Septic filters are placed either in the septic tank at the outlet tee or in a separate chamber outside of and close to the septic tank. Graywater filters may be placed at the inlet to a drywell or graywater disposal system. Washing machine filters are often installed at the clothes washer outlet hose. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical content suggestions, questions, or critique are invited. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Signs of a Clogged Septic Tank Filter or Graywater Filter

Before digging up a septic field or drywell or ordering a costly repair or septic system treatment, if your septic tank or greywater system use a filter, check for the following signs that the septic filter is clogged and needs cleaning:

• Sluggish drainage in the building; if there is an access port to inspect the sewer line between the building and the septic tank, open it and flush a toilet. Does the wastewater run normally (in a rush, not a trickle) through the line to the septic tank?
• High effluent levels in the septic tank: open the septic tank at an inspection or service port. Is the effluent level abnormally high, at the top of the tank or over the baffles?
• Dirty septic filter: open the septic tank at the outlet end where the filter is probably installed; (Some systems may install an add-on filter in a small chamber just downstream from the septic tank, or upstream from a drywell which receives graywater. Inspect the septic filter for clogging and clean it anyway before returning it to the tank. If you see a sudden out rush of effluent out of the septic tank when you pull out the septic filter, then it's pretty likely that the problem was a clogged septic filter.
• Drainfield abnormally dry: if the septic filter at the septic tank is clogged, effluent is being discharged abnormally slowly through it to the drainfield - which gives the drainfield a relief but is abnormal. If the septic filter is very clogged effluent may be leaving the septic tank underground at one of its service ports or covers - look for wet areas around the septic tank. If the drainfield becomes saturated and appears to fail after cleaning the septic filter (because you've now suddenly released a large volume of wastewater into the drainfield), further investigation of the drainfield condition and its piping is needed.
• Septic filter monitors are available from some effluent filter manufacturers to help determine when it's necessary to clean the filter.

Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS
  Signs of a Clogged Septic Tank Filter
  Graywater Filters
  Septic Filter Maintenance
  Septic Filter / Graywater Filter Sources

Product Source List for Septic Filters & Graywater Filters

• Graywater recycling kit sold by The Natural Home Building Source website
• Septic Filter Basins sold by The Natural Home Building Source website
• Laundry Filter for laundry lint, the Filtrol 160 - a Septic System Filter also suitable for graywater systems
• Also See Media Filter Product Source List
• Product listing submissions are welcome; there is no listing fee. Our website has no financial or other relationship with any product or company listed on these pages, except that some companies have been generous enough to permit our use of their product illustrations.

More Reading:

More Information on Septic System Diagnosis, Maintenance, & Repair

• The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
• Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements
• Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
• How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
• Septic System Drainfield Absorption System Biomat Formation - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com