septic system backup

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feh

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Hi folks.

I've lived in my home for 16 years (the house is 30 years old). We have a septic system, and no sump pump; just a floor drain in the basement.

During those 16 years, the septic system has backed up twice (thankfully, our basement is not finished). Each backup event was when we got a large amount of rain (6+ inches) within a 24 hour period.

Does this indicate a problem with the septic system, or is it to be expected?

Thanks!
 
A basement floor drain that flows into a septic tank? Sorry but I come from a part of the country that doesn't believe in basements so I may be off base here, in order for the floor drain to flow into a septic tank, either the tank is buried in a really deep pit, or you have a sump with a pump to pump it up to the level where the rest of the house waste plumbing is located.

Or it drains into a "french drain" that doesn't connect to the septic, which would explain why it floods with lots of rain.

Rancher
 
Rancher said:
A basement floor drain that flows into a septic tank? Sorry but I come from a part of the country that doesn't believe in basements so I may be off base here, in order for the floor drain to flow into a septic tank, either the tank is buried in a really deep pit, or you have a sump with a pump to pump it up to the level where the rest of the house waste plumbing is located.

Or it drains into a "french drain" that doesn't connect to the septic, which would explain why it floods with lots of rain.

Rancher
Click to expand...

No, it definitely flows to the septic. I'm in Wisconsin; all waste water pipes in the house go through the basement floor, and there isn't any pump involved.

I can only assume that the septic tank is buried deep.
 
sounds like the leach field reaches a saturation point, and the least pressure is at the basement drain opening. HOW wonderful.
 
molo said:
sounds like the leach field reaches a saturation point, and the least pressure is at the basement drain opening. HOW wonderful.
Click to expand...

Right; that makes sense to me.

But other than a poor design, does it indicate a problem with the septic system?

Thanks.
 
molo said:
sounds like the leach field reaches a saturation point, and the least pressure is at the basement drain opening. HOW wonderful.
Click to expand...

One other question - would installing a flow-back preventing valve (I don't know if that's the right term; a valve with a float that let's water down, but not out) in the floor drain prevent this in the future?
 
feh said:
Right; that makes sense to me.

But other than a poor design, does it indicate a problem with the septic system?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Good question, I"LL wait and see if someone has a good answer. Also, wait for a pro regarding the backflow preventer, I have heard that they just get in the way and cause problems. I'll be checking to see what comes of this.
 
We don't have basements here but when we build right on the water (and any other really low lying area) we are required to use backwater valves. Usually just the flapper type. Something like these: http://zurn.com/pages/catalog.asp?ProductGroupID=78&ProductName=Z1090#p2122

For general use here there's no reason to go beyond a flapper type. If you do use one, you must maintain access to it through a cleanout or in a box.
 
Hey flatlander [ Rancher] It's a big country

Picture a sloping lot with a walkout basement . septic location down hill.
Built a few of these back East. Have you had the tank pumped lately?
You need a septic Guy or septic Eng. to look at the whole system.
 
feh said:
I can only assume that the septic tank is buried deep.
Click to expand...
We can assume he doesn't have a walkout basement, which we also have here, it's just called the first story, not a basement, it doesn't count toward the 30' height limit if it's more than 50% covered. My Septic is about 8' below the floor of the house, due to the hill, so not exactly a flat land home. I was just second guessing the area, since no one here would bury the tank and leach field another 8-10' deeper just for a floor drain in the basement.

Rancher
 
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