Hello all: After owning a house for 12 years with no septic backups, we've had two clogs where the drain pipe meets the septic tank inlet, in 12/2016 and 7/2018. Both were cleared with a flat sewer rod going from house to tank. I'd appreciate some thoughts about why it has started happening more frequently, even though nothing else (that I know of!) has changed. Here's the vitals:
We do a lot of laundry and cooking just before we leave. Could that create a mass that solidifies over a few months if nothing else goes through the system? Anyway, thoughts appreciated. Thanks!
- 1,200 gallon septic tank, pumping chamber, and leaching field
- House built in 1996
- Tank is about 15 feet from the house; drain pipe about 4 feet below grade
- Don't know about the inlet T...can't see it from the septic tank lid or even reach it with a shovel
- Just 2 of us stay for 4 - 6 weeks, about 5 times a year
- Each clog was about a week after returning, after an absence of 2.5 months
- No trees anywhere near the system
- Soil is dry around the system
- Only waste and toilet paper (no paper towels, sanitary napkins, etc)
- No grease, garbage disposal, water softeners, paints, chemicals
- Meal preparation almost daily
- Dishwasher almost daily
- Laundry 2 - 3 times a week
We do a lot of laundry and cooking just before we leave. Could that create a mass that solidifies over a few months if nothing else goes through the system? Anyway, thoughts appreciated. Thanks!
