Magic Neighbor #2 - Fix Septic Electric by re-set'ing Circuit Breakers

[gunDriller]

I have been patiently dealing with a septic system outage for about 6 months.

When it first happened, the tank got over-full ... which obviously smelled :) (where's the oh my God that stinks, emoticon ?)

I had it pumped ($300), and talked to some septic repair guys. VERRRRY pricey.

Wouldn't even give me a quote for how much to come out & diagnose.


So I was slowly steeling myself to possibly be price-raped by some septic firm. Probably asked 20 people for recommendations of septic tech's.

In the meantime, I've been selling tools. One of the guys that came over to buy tools, I can only refer to as "Magic Neighbor #2".


Mike G. walked through the diagnostics. No juice at the pump. We determine this using a Fluke non-contact AC meter.

So we reset 3 different breaker boxes. It's like a Chinese or Siberian puzzle or something. There is no Junction box for the Septic. There is no separate electrical anything visible anywhere for the Septic.

Paradoxically, the Septic electric is broken and must be fixed.

It's like some kind of fvcking Chinese riddle !

(No offense to my Chinese editors. :) )


Anyway, FIXED.

I don't even know what the possibly price-raping Septic companies were going to charge.


But I had another honey-do project, where some sweat equity saved me $1250. $1250 was the quote to replace the 2 skylights, which were leaking.

Another neighbor helped me fix the 2 leaks. I actually asked you guys for help with that.


Moral of the story:
1. Sometimes Magic Neighbors will come out of the Woodwork, with no effort on your part.
2. Patience is helpful, because if you are in a hurry you are more likely to be price-raped.


Not sure what other morals there are.

And to top it off, Mike bought $50 worth of tools today, and $160 a few days ago. AWESOME !

[Santa]

Did a Hebe use your toilet about 6 months ago? That might explain the pump going out. :)

[mick silver]

never seen a pump in a Septic tank ... there no electrical in a tank none , it drain out into pipes that are lay In the ground called drain field
http://a1ablerooter.com/img/septictank.jpg

[mick silver]

http://omegamanjournal.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/septic-tank-problems-and-solutions-1.jpg

[mick silver]

http://www.harrycaswell.com/images/septic_system.jpg

[gunDriller]

It's a 1000 gallon tank. It feeds into a septic field.

I would like to see Home & Industrial Arts as an Olympic Sport or some kind of contest SOMEWHERE.


There's such a marked difference between the 'tradespeople' who throw money (your money) at the problem, vs. some guy who walks in and solves a problem by the hour.

Mike G. doesn't concentrate in septic. It was great to watch him walk through the solution, and then to realize that we had a possible fix, and then to hear the pump turn on.

I had already reconciled myself to some $2500 price-raping, so it felt real good.


As far as I know, knock on wood, all the rest of my 'honey do' items are linear & straightforward, e.g. painting the blistered paint below the sky-light that leaked.

[Santa]

http://www.harrycaswell.com/images/septic_system.jpg

There's an ancient Babylonian "Code" that say's, "if the groundwater table is too close to the depth of the septic tank, the tank must be raised above the height of the toilet so the groundwater won't become tainted, thus creating the need for an electric pump to pump the tainted effluent up to the septic tank."

Of course, the groundwater becomes tainted anyway, but that's beside the point. It's all about following the ancient Babylonian Code. Otherwise, you'll be thrown into the street where pigs with guns will torture you and institutionalize you.

Civilization, as it is called, is the process by which the Babylonian Code gets spread throughout the world.

[mick silver]

Septic tanks here would not past if it holding ground water . here you dig a hole so deep and see how long it takes to fill with water then hand a guy fifty for the test . and plus I have never seen the house plumbing higher the then tank . shit here drop to the tank no need for a pump . I have see lift pumps for the basements . but I have never seen a pump to lift the waste to a tank unless it not a septic tank but a holding tank that you pay to pump out but all of them here are bury below the ground also

[mick silver]

so you don't have a drainfield there because once it leaves the tank it hits ground water ad it can never leach out that's why it called a leach flield not a holding tanks ...tainted ground water will get you a real nice fine
There's an ancient Babylonian "Code" that say's, "if the groundwater table is too close to the depth of the septic tank, the tank must be raised above the height of the toilet so the groundwater won't become tainted, thus creating the need for an electric pump to pump the tainted effluent up to the septic tank."

Of course, the groundwater becomes tainted anyway, but that's beside the point. It's all about following the ancient Babylonian Code. Otherwise, you'll be thrown into the street where pigs with guns will torture you and institutionalize you.

Civilization, as it is called, is the process by which the Babylonian Code gets spread throughout the world.

[mick silver]

A grinder pump is used to grind and process waste material into small pieces for easy breakdown.

[woodman]

I've been unable to use my septic for 3 days. Clogged pipe and everything backed up into the basement. Sewer line runs beneath basement and out across driveway for about 120 feet to the septic tank. I had it pumped today and that didn't do it. Had to have the guy power auger the line in the basement out to the septic. It is clear now. It cost $375.

It is a very good idea to have your septic pumped out every so often. You don't want hard crud blocking and destroying the drain field. I hope mine holds out for awhile. I've been here for 23 years and I don't know how long it was installed before that. The whole system is way deep though, as it goes beneath my basement and then out into the field by my barn. I imagine it would cost a lot to replace even if I did it myself.

[Santa]

so you don't have a drainfield there because once it leaves the tank it hits ground water ad it can never leach out that's why it called a leach flield not a holding tanks ...tainted ground water will get you a real nice fine

Here's a PDF that explains the Babylonian method. Notice where the pump is located. Only Goyim are allowed into that area. It's used a lot here in Florida.
http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/ww/publications/pipline/pl_su99.pdf

[gunDriller]

I've been unable to use my septic for 3 days. Clogged pipe and everything backed up into the basement. Sewer line runs beneath basement and out across driveway for about 120 feet to the septic tank. I had it pumped today and that didn't do it. Had to have the guy power auger the line in the basement out to the septic. It is clear now. It cost $375.

I would be happy to have my Septic related costs @$375.

Anyway, THANKS EVERYBODY for the replies & info.

[govcheetos]

For the price everybody is paying for a pump out, you could buy a decent used trash pump on craigslist. Do it while your neighbors are at work.

[gunDriller]

what amazes me in general is how predatory almost all businesses have become.

$70 for a 'first hour' or $175 for a doctor visit isn't enough.


that forces us to learn to
A/ be patient and
B/ be self-sufficient.

knowledge i'd rather not have - not trying to be Superman - but here i am ! :)