We have one of the older brick built, two chamber septic tanks. The first chamber is the one we empty, the second is full of aggregate. With a house full over Christmas our system has become blocked. I know it's not the drains leading to the tanks, we built a replacement dwelling 2 years ago with all new pipework to the tanks.
My question is what happens in the 2nd tank with the aggregate ? I think that this has become "clogged" up over the years with the previous owner and it is not allowing the excess fluid to drain away. I know it can get away because it's down our own fields and I have, for other reasons, been down to the pipe.
I am assuming that the principle is that the fluids get into the 2nd tank and leave the solids behind in the 1st tank and then the aggregate is supposed to act as a filter and if it has become "clogged" then the liquid isn't getting away as it should and is backing up in the system.
If I am right in my thinking that I assume I have to rip the top off the 2nd tank and replace the old aggregate with new. I have my own 3CX so I can get the top off reasonably easy and maybe even get some of the stone out.
Any ideas/comments would be appreciated. Thank you.
My question is what happens in the 2nd tank with the aggregate ? I think that this has become "clogged" up over the years with the previous owner and it is not allowing the excess fluid to drain away. I know it can get away because it's down our own fields and I have, for other reasons, been down to the pipe.
I am assuming that the principle is that the fluids get into the 2nd tank and leave the solids behind in the 1st tank and then the aggregate is supposed to act as a filter and if it has become "clogged" then the liquid isn't getting away as it should and is backing up in the system.
If I am right in my thinking that I assume I have to rip the top off the 2nd tank and replace the old aggregate with new. I have my own 3CX so I can get the top off reasonably easy and maybe even get some of the stone out.
Any ideas/comments would be appreciated. Thank you.