Any septic tank people on here?

[TriggerFinger]

In September last year I had 2 puddles in my yard where the septic laterals drain. It’s the first time that has happened. I called and had the tank pumped and the water receded for a little while. I now have another puddle in the same spot and it’s much larger.
I have lived in this house almost 8 years and have had it pumped twice. 4 family household, two adults and a 3 year old and a newborn.
Is it normal to have to get the tank pumped again in less than 6 months?
I feel like something might be wrong. The septic guy I use says he why it’s happening and he can pump it out again for $300.
Could I have clogged laterals? Do I need to add some type of bacteria like rid-X? I’ve been told not to use that in the past.
Any ideas I could suggest the septic guy to check out?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Do you have any trees near by? Roots?

 

[Glott3133]

You may have one or multiple lines blocked in your septic field. This would make all of the water drain through a single section. You may need to call a septic field expert to take a look.

 

[ScottB]

In September last year I had 2 puddles in my yard where the septic laterals drain. It’s the first time that has happened. I called and had the tank pumped and the water receded for a little while. I now have another puddle in the same spot and it’s much larger.
I have lived in this house almost 8 years and have had it pumped twice. 4 family household, two adults and a 3 year old and a newborn.
Is it normal to have to get the tank pumped again in less than 6 months?
I feel like something might be wrong. The septic guy I use says he why it’s happening and he can pump it out again for $300.
Could I have clogged laterals? Do I need to add some type of bacteria like rid-X? I’ve been told not to use that in the past.
Any ideas I could suggest the septic guy to check out?

Well a whole bunch of "it depends". The hard part is also that if you ask professionals you will also get different answers. Septic engineer will say "you need a new field". I pumper will say we need to pump more often. Etc.

A couple questions:
How old is the field?
How porous is the soil? Does it have a lot of clay?
Is the ground saturated and is the pooling in a naturally "low" area?

Our septic was 30 yrs old when we bought the house and was teetering on collapse and already pooling. When we expanded the house we had to build a new field. The soil here is clay, so I had to buy 16 dump trucks of sand for the field. I'd rather have bought a couple new cars. :(

 

[LDog74]

We just bought a house last April on septic. I have also owned a previous house with septic. In CA its required to pump the tank before close of escrow. I was there while they performed the clean out. Tank wasn’t even 1/4 full and a family of four lived there. The service tech told me if you clean them out every 3-4 years you will never have problem. Hope that helps...

 

[WVNed]

I lived with one for a long time.
Tree roots
ground water level changed
Plugged

After the ground water level changed on our lot we ended up getting an aerator.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Omg...not at all what I wanted to hear but suspected it anyways. The house is 26 years old, assume the septic and drain haven’t been touched in 26 years either. Clay soil. Large oak tree with large roots in between two of the laterals.
We have had a lot of rain in the Midwest. Located near St. Louis. I guess it’s a naturally low area...yard is fairly flat.
I guess my question now would be...is that a sign that new laterals need to be put in? I feel like any septic guy will say“yep let’s put them in” if I just ask that question.

 

[WVNed]

Someone in your area will do a lot of septic installations. You also probably have a county agent that does inspections who can tell you who to talk to.
Those are the people I would seek out.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Oh boy...thanks everyone! I’ll start making some calls.

 

[ScottB]

Someone in your area will do a lot of septic installations. You also probably have a county agent that does inspections who can tell you who to talk to.
Those are the people I would seek out.

I like @WVNed suggestion: an independent inspector is a great place to start.

 

[Sailingeric]

 

[Saveafish]

No ridX
Yeast yeast bakers yeast.

 

[Jim Fox]

Sounds like some of the leach bed is clogged. A good septic person can clean (unclog) those without digging up the yard. If it was me, I'd get another septic person out there and see what they say.

 

[CK00020]

It’s probably shot, you may be able to bring it back with bacteria, but probably a new field