Worm in the bath ....... pipes problem?

[Rollerball]

This morning my wife found a worm in the bath - it was about 2 or 3 inches long.

She wasn't sure what type of worm it was but it was thin and dark in colour. Going by her description, this doesn's sound like drain worms/flies.

This is the first time that a worm has appeared in the bath and the only way that it could have got into the bath is via the plug hole or overflow outlet.

The thing is, how did it get into the pipes? Does this perhaps indicate that the pipes have a crack somewhere?

I should say that I have septic tank which eventually leads to a soakaway.

Should I be putting a load of bleach into the drains or do I need to get this looked into by a plumber?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

For a mere earthworm I wouldn't worry very much.....have a look down your inspection chambers and you'll see there's loads of places where worms or whatever can get in.
If your drainage is salt glaze to your tank you can also be pretty sure that there will be leaks somewhere along the line.....in my 1959 property I can see where the drains head for the tank by the lush grass growth above.....however there's no backing up and the tank works well so I'm leaving it well alone.
Allowing a good run of water down there is the best way of keeping the drains clean.
John

 

[Rollerball]

I'm not 100% certain that it was an earthworm, but it does sound like one from my wife's description.

Thanks for the advice, I'll wait and see if any more make an appearance.

 

[Burnerman]

On the one occasion it happened to me, I had a fleeting thought that I'd passed it myself
John

 

[Rollerball]

Now there's a thought ...........

 

[Bosswhite]

Its not a good idea putting a lot of Bleach into the Drains if you are on a Septic Tank System, also you should be using Non Biological cleaning products,
You need the bacteria to keep the Septic Tank working properly.
As Burnerman said its probably an Earthworm which are very common in Septic Tank Installations.

 

[Agile]

Not just not a good idea, but madness!

If the biological action stops it can mean a pump out or running a lot of water through it and then adding one of the bacteria restarters.

 

[oilboffin]

Are you sure it's not a bit of dirty silicon sealant

 

[Burnerman]

It makes you wonder if septic tanks really work at all these days......the original tanks had two chambers, one open to sunlight the other not so that aerobic and then anaerobic bacteria could get stuck in. Maybe these days they are just holding tanks, really?
My own tank has two brick chambers - the first is 12' deep and the other 6' deep - both in the dark. Although I'm very careful what goes down there, the dishwasher is on daily and likewise the washing machine, often enough.....The two toilets get a dose of Domestos weekly at least so there's plenty of non green stuff going down there.
Anyway, after four years (just the two of us most of the time) there wasn't any great volume of solids when it was pumped out last week. I don't use any bacterial agents to help the thing along - it doesn't seem to need it.
John

 

[dilalio]

Was the worm doing the backstroke or the front crawl

 

[endecotp]

This morning my wife found a worm in the bath - it was about 2 or 3 inches long.

She wasn't sure what type of worm it was but it was thin and dark in colour.

If it seemed darker (redder?) in colour and thinner than a "normal" earthworm, it may have been a "red worm": https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_fetida

Any houseplants in the bathroom?

 

[Rollerball]

Nope, no plants in the bathroom and no other way in for a worm.

No more worms to report as of today.

Nope, it wasn't some dirty silicon sealant.

Don't worry, I have no intention of using bleach. I just saw it as an option while doing a bit of Googling.

Oh, and the worm was doing the doggie paddle.

 

[oilboffin]

Ahhhhh a doggie worm then

 

[sterowley]

pet cat/dog? brought it in.

 

[Rollerball]

The dogs aren't allowed in the bathroom and I can't think that my wife or I didn't notice it on the floor and climbing into the bath.