I live in a house built in 1950. It originally had a septic system, since at the time of construction it was just outside the city limits. Then, around 1965, it was incorporated into this small town, and sewer connection was mandated.
About two weeks ago, all the plumbing started draining really slow to the point that if water and toilet use is not spaced apart, the system backs up.
I have no plumbing skills whatsoever, but because I basicly live on a few hundred dollars per month, I went out and bought a "50 foot flat snake" to try to punch through whatever was clogging the line. Used it. No help.
So, I decided that maybe I could dig up my sewer line and "snake" it from the outside since it is only about 125 feet from toilet to city sewer.
Well, to find which direction my "sewer line" runs to the street, I decided to first dig down to it only a few feet from where the line exits the basement. To my surprise, I hit solid concrete about 10-12" down. After some more digging in the same area, it appears that the septic tank is within 12" of the basement wall, which would seem to mean that there is no way that a separate sewer line could have been ran to the house. Evidently, when this house was put on the city sewer system, the previous owner simply hooked the septic tank outlet to the sewer system.
If so, why has it taken over 40 years for the septic tank to completely fill up and stop up the system? By hooking a septic tank to the city sewer, would not the septic tank continue to need pumping over the years?
Or, is the tank okay, and is my problem what I originally thought -- tree roots in the sewer line between the tank and the street?
Any and all HELP, suggestions would be appreciated. As I hinted earlier, I live on a fixed income- poverty level.
Thanks.
About two weeks ago, all the plumbing started draining really slow to the point that if water and toilet use is not spaced apart, the system backs up.
I have no plumbing skills whatsoever, but because I basicly live on a few hundred dollars per month, I went out and bought a "50 foot flat snake" to try to punch through whatever was clogging the line. Used it. No help.
So, I decided that maybe I could dig up my sewer line and "snake" it from the outside since it is only about 125 feet from toilet to city sewer.
Well, to find which direction my "sewer line" runs to the street, I decided to first dig down to it only a few feet from where the line exits the basement. To my surprise, I hit solid concrete about 10-12" down. After some more digging in the same area, it appears that the septic tank is within 12" of the basement wall, which would seem to mean that there is no way that a separate sewer line could have been ran to the house. Evidently, when this house was put on the city sewer system, the previous owner simply hooked the septic tank outlet to the sewer system.
If so, why has it taken over 40 years for the septic tank to completely fill up and stop up the system? By hooking a septic tank to the city sewer, would not the septic tank continue to need pumping over the years?
Or, is the tank okay, and is my problem what I originally thought -- tree roots in the sewer line between the tank and the street?
Any and all HELP, suggestions would be appreciated. As I hinted earlier, I live on a fixed income- poverty level.
Thanks.