Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find answers to customers' most frequently asked questions about septic systems, sewer systems, and troubleshooting issues you may encounter with your septic, sewer, or water lines.
Septic System FAQs
Do you offer septic tank pumping?
Dan's Excavating Backhoe - Grand Forks/E Grand Forks is a licensed septic system contractor. We install and repair septic systems. Septic tank pumping is considered maintenance, which we do not perform. Please contact a septic maintenance or sanitation company if you need your septic tank pumped.
Do you offer septic system maintenance?
Dan's Excavating Backhoe - Grand Forks/E Grand Forks is a licensed septic system contractor. We install and repair septic systems, but do not perform maintenance. Please contact a septic maintenance or sanitation company if you need help maintaining your septic system.
What is a septic system?
A septic system is like your own, private sewage treatment plant. It combines nature and technology to remove impurities from your household wastewater. Everything that comes from your bathroom, kitchen, laundry, and other plumbing goes into your septic system.
Visit the Environmental Protection Agency's How Your Septic System Works page to find out more.
Do septic tank additives really help?
No.
Scientific studies published in the January 2008 Journal of Environmental Health found that additives do not provide any significant benefits. In fact, depending on the additive, it could cause significant damage to your septic system.
For example, you should never use chemical additives to unclog drains or break up grease and oil. Chemical additives often contain sulfuric acid or some similarly caustic agent, which can be highly corrosive and cause structural damage to your pipes and septic tank.
Using septic tank or drain field additives, which claim to extend system life, can also agitate the wastewater in your septic tank so much that solids can't settle as they should. When solids remain in suspension, they are forced into your drain field - the soil absorption system - which cannot remove this type of contaminant!
And, septic tank or drain field additives are illegal in many localities because of the dangers they pose to public health and the environment.
For these reasons, we strongly recommend against:
- Use of septic tank or drain field additives or treatments
- Adding yeast or other bacteria to your drains or septic system
- Putting caustic or corrosive chemicals down your drains
- Using chlorine bleach or other antibacterial household cleaning chemicals
What's the difference between a septic system and a sewer system?
A septic system is a private sewage treatment system. It uses a combination of nature (gravity and naturally-occurring bacteria) and technology to remove impurities from wastewater and allows the water to be reabsorbed into the ground. Although there is no monthly use fee, repairs, maintenance and expansion of the septic system are the responsibility of the property owner.
A sewer system is a public sewage treatment system. Sewer pipes carry wastewater from homes and businesses to a centralized treatment facility. At the treatment facility, impurities are removed and the contaminant-free water is discharged back into local water supplies. Repairs, maintenance, and expansion of the sewer system are the city or county's responsibility. Property owners must pay a monthly fee for the sewer system use.
How does a septic system work?
Wastewater from your plumbing (bathroom, kitchen, laundry, etc.) flows into a septic tank by gravity or force from a lift station pump. Naturally-occurring bacteria break down the solids that remain in the septic tank. The liquids are released into a drain field where impurities are filtered out as the water passes through various rock and sand layers. Healthy microorganisms remove contaminants as the water is absorbed into the ground.
Please visit the Grand Forks On-Site Sewage Treatment System site to learn more about septic systems.
How much do septic tanks really hold?
Many people do not realize that the tank capacity (stated in gallons) is the number of gallons to the tank's baffle, which releases liquid sewage into the drain field. So the tank itself is actually somewhat larger than its stated capacity.
In a high-volume situation, where sewage is backing up into the home or yard, the septic system may hold several hundred additional gallons of liquid in the pipes and tank that must be pumped out to allow the system to function normally again.
How big is a septic system?
People usually refer to the size of the septic tank itself when they ask about the size of the septic system. However, sometimes it is necessary to determine how far the entire septic system will extend into one's yard to decide where to place buildings and landscaping on a property.
The size of the entire septic system varies and depends on several factors, including the amount of use, whether the system employs water-saving features, and soil conditions. The entire system could be as small as 50 feet to over 100 feet in length.
Local laws and regulations, based on the amount of use and environmental conditions, govern the size of the septic tank required. The following table is based on regulations for Grand Forks and will give you an idea of the size of tank that may be right for your situation.
Information about septic system regulations for East Grand Forks can be found on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems page.
How often should my septic tank be inspected?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average household septic system that undergoes normal use needs inspection at least every three years. If your septic system use exceeds specifications, you have a metal tank, or your tank is subjected to unusual and potentially damaging conditions, it would be in your best interest to have your tank inspected sooner.
Any licensed, certified home inspection company can perform septic tank inspections.
How often should my septic tank be pumped?
With proper use, according to specifications, the septic tank should be able to accumulate sludge for at least 3 years. However, you may need to pump your tank more often if its use exceeds specifications.
The table below will give you an idea of how often (in years) you should have your tank pumped.
How much do septic systems cost?
According to SepticTankGuide.com, a conventional gravity system for a 3-bedroom home on a level site with good soil is roughly between $1,500 to $4,000. Drain field vaults are $25 to $40 each. Gravel is $9 to $12 per ton but may be more if the gravel pit is some distance away. And a 1,000-gallon concrete tank is $500 to $700 if delivered within approximately 50 miles.
Pressure systems are more expensive - in the range of $3,000 to $5,000 for a small, simple pressure system or bottomless sand filter.
However, these prices can vary widely depending on local health codes, the design of your septic system, and the number of licensed installers in your area. In some areas, prices are up to 50% higher than the figures cited above.
What is a lift station?
A lift station is a pump that is attached to a septic system. It helps move wastewater and sewage away from the residence and into the septic system.
What is a septic drain field/leach field?
A drain field (or leach field) is a shallow, covered pit made in unsaturated soil. The septic tank discharges wastewater through pipes onto porous surfaces (gravel and sand) that filter impurities through the soil. The soil removes contaminants and disperses the wastewater, which absorbs into the underground water supply.
Please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website to learn more about your septic system.
How big is a septic drain field?
The drain field needs to be able to process and absorb all the wastewater that comes through your system. The drain field must comply with local zoning ordinances regarding setback requirements from property borders, setbacks from streams, wetlands, wells, water supply lines, and other encumbrances. It also needs to be free of trees, driveways, buildings, or other things that would interfere with water flow.
The size (length, width, and depth) needed to accomplish this can vary greatly, based on soil percolation rates. Local laws and regulations also govern the size requirements for drain fields.
To give you an idea, a lot with a good percolation rate (one inch of percolation in three minutes) might require about 450 square feet for a typical three-bedroom home. That same home on a lot with a poor soil percolation rate (one hour per inch) might require 900 square feet or more for proper absorption.
The Septic Permit Application provides formulas to calculate drain field size for lots in Grand Forks. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's SSTS Practitioner and Homeowner Information page offers information for lots in Minnesota.
How much does it cost to replace a drain field?
The cost to replace a drain field depends on size and materials. Sometimes a pipe gets broken and can be patched for a few hundred dollars. Other times, replacing the entire drain field is necessary, which can cost as little as $2,000 or up to $10,000 or more. Installing an alternative treatment system may cost $15,000 or more.
Can you drive over a drain field?
Driving over your drain field is not recommended. While limited driving of light vehicles (i.e., lawnmowers) should not harm a properly installed drain field, anything that packs the soil over the distribution lines will adversely affect the performance of your septic system. In particular, you should avoid driving over your drain field in wet conditions such as during the Spring thaw or after significant rain.
What kind of landscaping can I put around my septic system?
The University of Minnesota recommends using herbaceous plants that do not like water or wet soils, like wildflowers and grasses. Avoid plants that are very large as their root systems are more extensive (not necessarily deeper). Trees and shrubs should be planted a minimum of 20 feet away from the edge of a septic mound or drain field and at least 50 feet away if they are water-seeking trees like poplars, maples, willows, or elms. Never plant edible plants like vegetables and herbs on or near your septic system.
For more tips and guidelines, visit the University of Minnesota's Landscaping Septic Systems page.
Why is it essential to maintain my septic system?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers these four reasons to maintain your septic system:
- Save Money: Maintenance every 3-5 years costs between $250 and $500, whereas repair or replacement costs $3,000 to $7,000 for a conventional septic system.
- Protect Property Value and Avoid Liability: A malfunctioning or unusable septic system will lower your property value and potentially create a situation for which you are legally liable.
- Protect Your Health: A poorly functioning septic system can release disease-causing bacteria and high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus into the ground. This contaminates the soil as well as the groundwater. If you are on a well, it may also contaminate your well water and cause disease to spread to humans, pets, and wildlife.
- Protect The Environment: Groundwater contaminated by malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses, and toxic chemicals into local waterways, polluting lakes, streams, rivers and more, and harming local ecosystems by killing native plants, fish, shellfish, and other wildlife.
You can find out more on the EPA's website.
How do I maintain my septic system?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends:
- Inspect and Pump Frequently: Inspections of conventional septic systems should be performed by a professional at least every three years. Systems that use electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected every year.
Household septic tanks that undergo normal use should be pumped every 3 to 5 years. However, if your household size exceeds the recommended tank capacity or you generate more wastewater or more solids in your sewage, you should have your tank pumped more often. - Use Water Efficiently: Install water-efficient toilets, faucet aerators and high-efficiency shower heads, and select the proper load size when washing laundry. Also, consider doing laundry throughout the week instead of doing laundry on one day of the week to avoid flooding your drain field and not allowing enough time for your system to properly process the waste.
- Properly Dispose of Wastes: In general, do not flush anything that is not human waste or toilet paper. See a list of items you should never flush.
- Maintain Your drain field: Never drive or park on your drain field. Plant trees and shrubs the appropriate distance from your drain field. Keep drainage from roof drains, sump pumps, and other rainwater drainage systems away from your drain field.
What causes septic tank odor and what should I do about it?
Some common causes of septic tank odors:
- Dry drains. When a drain is dry, it allows gases that are normally trapped and prevented from entering the home to seep in. Periodically run water down drains that aren't used often (like a basement bathroom).
- Clogged drains. Clogged drains can also cause dryness. If you notice an unusual odor and suspect a clogged drain, contact a plumber.
- Blocked plumbing pipe vents. When plumbing pipe vents get blocked by frost, ice, landscaping, or other things (like rodent nests, etc.) they reroute sewer gases either back into the house or outside. Be sure to check outdoor plumbing vents and chip away any frost or ice you see or remove landscaping or debris. If the odor doesn't dissipate, contact a plumber. Septic system gases can cause a toxic hazard to occupants and can also be flammable.
- Overfilled tank. If your septic system uses a pump and the pump malfunctions, it may cause the tank to overfill which can trap gases and force them back into the house. Contact a septic maintenance company to evaluate the problem.
Sewer System FAQs
How do sewer systems work?
Similar to septic systems, most (if not all) of a sewer system is gravity-powered. Pipes from your home's plumbing connect to the sewer main for your street. Along your street, manhole are installed to allow access to the sewer main for purposes of maintenance and repair.
The sewer mains for each street connect to flow into progressively larger pipes until they reach the wastewater treatment facility. Ideally, the wastewater treatment facility is situated in a low-lying area so gravity will help the flow of wastewater into the facility. Grinder pumps and lift stations may also be used to help move the wastewater into the treatment facility.
Once in the treatment facility, contaminants are removed from the wastewater in stages. First, solids are allowed to settle out of the water in a process similar to a septic system. Next, organic materials and minerals are removed with the help of aeration tanks and bacteria and bacteria is allowed to settle out in settling tanks. Finally, chemicals are used to remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus and chlorine is added to kill any remaining bacteria before the water is discharged into the potable water supply that provides all the water for your home.
What's the difference between a sewer system and a septic system?
A septic system is a private sewage treatment system. It uses a combination of nature (gravity and naturally-occurring bacteria) and technology to remove impurities from wastewater and allows the water to be reabsorbed into the ground. Although there is no monthly use fee, repairs, maintenance and expansion of the septic system are the responsibility of the property owner.
A sewer system is a public sewage treatment system. Wastewater from homes and businesses is carried through sewer pipes to a centralized treatment facility. At the treatment facility, impurities are removed and the contaminant-free water is discharged back into local water supplies. Repairs, maintenance, and expansion of the sewer system are the responsibility of the city or county. Property owners must pay a monthly fee for use of the sewer system.
How do the sewer lines from your house work?
Wastewater, water that goes down any of the drains in your home (including your toilet), first flows through a trap, a U-shaped pipe that holds standing water and prevents sewer gases from entering your home.
Drains that are not used often may dry out and allow sewer odors to enter your home. This is easily remedied by periodically pouring water into the drain to refill the trap, prevent the gases from entering your home, and eliminate the odor.
By state and local plumbing codes, every fixture must have a drain trap.
Residential plumbing is gravity-controlled - meaning wastewater flows downhill through the pipes. Your drain pipes are connected to a vent pipe system that brings fresh air to the drain pipes and prevents suction that would either stop or slow the free flow of wastewater. The vent pipes exit through vents that may be on your roof or elsewhere along the exterior walls of your home.
It's important to ensure that these roof vents do not become clogged. Landscaping, vegetation, leaves, bird or rodent nests, snow, and frost are all ways your plumbing vents can become clogged.
All your home's wastewater flows to the main waste and vent stack, which curves to become a sewer line. The sewer line, known as a Property Service Connection (PSC), exits your house near the foundation.
The sewer line may then connect to a ground-level Y-cleanout, or two-way cleanout, which allows blockages that may occur on your property or within your plumbing to be removed more easily.
From the cleanout, the sewer line from your property connects to the sewer main (typically in the middle of your street) which carries your home's wastewater to the main wastewater treatment facility.
The wastewater treatment facility charges you a monthly fee to remove the contaminants from your wastewater and provide you with the potable water you use in your home.
What is a sewer interceptor?
A sewer interceptor is the largest pipe in a sewer system and is located closest to the wastewater treatment facility. Sewer interceptors are used to connect many trunk sewer lines (i.e. sewer mains) together and allow water to flow more rapidly toward the wastewater treatment facility.
Troubleshooting FAQs
What might cause my water to run slow or stop?
There are a number of reasons you may be experiencing low water pressure, a slow flow of water, or no water flow at all. Some of these you can fix yourself like:
- Debris or mineral build-up in your fixture's aerator or your pipes
- Hot water shut-off valve malfunction
- Pressure Reducing Valve needing adjustment or replacement
- Main shut-off valve (by your water meter) isn't fully open
- Water leaks
Wikihow has a great article that explains 4 ways you can easily troubleshoot low water pressure.
What might cause my sewer to back up?
Three of the most common causes of sewer back-ups are:
- A clogged drain or pipe.
These can be prevented by using care about what you put down your toilet and drains. Specifically, avoid flushing anything that is not human waste or toilet paper. Avoid processing large amounts of food waste down your garbage disposal. Instead, put things like potato peelings, watermelon rinds, and such in your wastebasket. Avoid pouring grease and oils down your drains. - Tree roots.
Tree roots can be invasive, particularly to water-filled pipes. They damage pipes by either growing into the pipes - causing holes and blockages - or by growing around the pipes and crushing them. The problematic tree(s) may not even be on your property. Some tree species have extensive root systems that grow across property boundaries. - Broken, cracked, or collapsed sewer lines.
We live in an area that is subject to deep underground freezing and heaving as the frost begins to melt. Such radical shifts in the ground cause stress on sewer lines and, over time, may cause them to weaken and break.
DO NOT use harsh chemicals like Draino® or Liquid-Plumbr® to treat a clogged drain. Those chemicals will just cause further damage to your pipes and result in extra charges if a professional must be called to fix the problem.
The best, most economical, and efficient way to figure out the cause of your backup is to call a professional plumber who can perform a video inspection of your pipes and pinpoint the problem.
What might cause my septic system to back up?
The following things can cause your septic system to back up:
- Use of septic tank or drain field additives or treatments
- Septic tank cover failures
- Damaged septic tank baffles
- Septic tank cracks or leaks
- Clogs from non-human waste items that were flushed down the toilet such as diapers, tampons, sanitary napkins, facial tissue, toys, garbage, and household chemicals
- Broken, cracked, or crushed pipes or septic tank
- Excessive solid waste from garbage disposals
- Septic tanks that are overly filled with solid waste because they haven't been pumped
- Rusted septic tank covers
For more information about the warning signs of a potential septic system backup and what you should do if you have a backup, see the Inspectapedia article Signs Of Septic System Failure.
What causes septic tank odor and what should I do about it?
Some common causes of septic tank odors:
- Dry drains. When a drain is dry, it allows gases that are normally trapped and prevented from entering the home to seep in. Periodically run water down drains that aren't used often (like a basement bathroom).
- Clogged drains. Clogged drains can also cause dryness. If you notice an unusual odor and suspect a clogged drain, contact a plumber.
- Blocked plumbing pipe vents. When plumbing pipe vents get blocked by frost, ice, landscaping, or other things (like rodent nests, etc.) they reroute sewer gases either back into the house or outside. Be sure to check outdoor plumbing vents and chip away any frost or ice you see or remove landscaping or debris. If the odor doesn't dissipate, contact a plumber. Septic system gases can cause a toxic hazard to occupants and can also be flammable.
- Overfilled tank. If your septic system uses a pump and the pump malfunctions, it may cause the tank to overfill which can trap gases and force them back into the house. Contact a septic maintenance company to evaluate the problem.