The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Buildings & planning => Topic started by: Buffy the eggs layer on January 08, 2016, 02:11:42 pm
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Hi,
the pipes to my septic tank have got a build up of very old fat deposits which no longer resemble fat at all and are thick and grey and create a rough surface causing "things" to stick rather than flow through freely. Jet washing hasnt worked.
Any idea what I could use to clear it?
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I think that in city drains they just scrape it all off. But a person can fit inside a city drain, whereas even if you're very very skinny and small, you'll never get along yours :roflanim: I don't think there would be much point in just moving the fat deposits along to the tank, as then that would have to be cleaned out too. If it's really that bad, and no one comes up with the perfect solution, then the drain equivalent of a chimney sweep might have some ideas, or you could dig up and replace the pipework.
Once you've done it, then never pour fat down the drain. Let it cool then scrape it into the bin, or if it's suitable, feed it to the wild birds.
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I'm sure you don't put fat down the drain, especially as you can see what it does, but I just thought I'd mention for those who don't like putting things like fat straight in the bin bag - I keep an old coffee jar or similar under the sink which i pour/scrape fat into and when its full put this in the bin.
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Fleecewife I knew that there was a good reason not to be very very skinny. Thank goodness I'm too big to be utilised for unblocking the drains ::) And please do not mention this idea to OH...he will have me on a diet ;)
You are quite right Clarebelle, I dont put fat down the drain but this is very old stuff that no longer resembles fat so it's years old. Actually it could be a build up of 50 odd years of human body fats and oils I suppose rather than cooking and animal fats /lard. If you saw the black layer of revolting yuck that I had to clean off the ear piece of the telephone receiver when I moved in....., :yuck:
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Ah yuck :yuck: I hope you replaced the loo seats too...........
Maybe the way forward really is to replace the drains. Once you've got a good sample of the stuff you could send it off for analysis to be really revolted :yuck: :yuck: :yuck:
Sorry to laugh Buffy, but it's soooo revolting. I'm sure I'd offer to help if I lived closer :innocent: :thinking: no, maybe not :D
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Any idea what I could use to clear it?
see
http://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/drain-rods-and-chimney-rod-sets/what-tools-are-available-for-drain-rods/ (http://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/drain-rods-and-chimney-rod-sets/what-tools-are-available-for-drain-rods/)
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That's right,
you go ahead and chortle at my "pipe issues" I'm sure that you would be rushing round with a rubber glove, a toilet brush and a bottle of Harpic if only you were closer ( yeah right :-J )
Replacing the pipe would involve digging up the tarmac drive, the lawn and some pasture so that really would be a big job. ( Ow unfortunate choice of phrase).
So fat one company have offered to jet it ( which dosent seem to work) and anther offered to suck it.
I wonder if I could pour something caustic down it and then have the tank emptied the same day ??? If I added some water afterwards to dilute any remaining chemicals and then added a sachet of the stuff that keeps the tank "Healthy"....... :thinking:
I wonder if the Romans had all this bother...... :-\
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And yes I replaced the toilet seats..., the toilets, sinks, baths, ceilings, electrics, fireplace, skirting boards, flooring, carpets,doors, windows, light fittings, kitchen, porch roofs,..........though we do still have that old phone in the office....its clean now though. :eyelashes:
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Thanks henchard...
It would appear that the woman who apparently has everything ( according to OH) is now in the market for a "Drop Scraper"
To quote the manufacturer "Once past the obstruction, the plate drops down into a vertical position allowing the blockage to be dragged back along the pipe to the user. " :o How delightful :-J
Oh joy :-[ My life just gets better and better. I knew that I would find something "nice" to spend my Christmas money on..... :-\
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Thanks henchard...
It would appear that the woman who apparently has everything ( according to OH) is now in the market for a "Drop Scraper"
Personally I think you'd be better breaking it up with a boring tool or drain chisel from that list then flushing it through with a hose. Don't forget to always keep turning the rods clockwise or you will need a drop scraper to try and retrieve the lost tool that has just unscrewed.
Edit: On reflection if someone local has a hot water power washer/steam cleaner for cleaning plant or engines you may be able to use that somehow (if you can get access from a manhole) to loosen the fat.
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Kind Mr F took pity on you for me taking the P. He says there are plenty of professionals who can do the job for you, from Dynarod to most drainage engineers. We even have a neighbour who includes it in his repertoire. If you've saved up your Christmas money getting someone to do it for you has to be the best choice. They'll have the right equipment. The fount of all knowledge said they can even send camera things down to suss out the job (it's impossible to avoid a poor choice of words :roflanim:)
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That's right,
you go ahead and chortle at my "pipe issues" I'm sure that you would be rushing round with a rubber glove, a toilet brush and a bottle of Harpic if only you were closer ( yeah right :-J )
Replacing the pipe would involve digging up the tarmac drive, the lawn and some pasture so that really would be a big job. ( Ow unfortunate choice of phrase).
So fat one company have offered to jet it ( which dosent seem to work) and anther offered to suck it.
I wonder if I could pour something caustic down it and then have the tank emptied the same day ??? If I added some water afterwards to dilute any remaining chemicals and then added a sachet of the stuff that keeps the tank "Healthy"....... :thinking:
I wonder if the Romans had all this bother...... :-\
No no no - in this household anything to do with what comes out of the back end of creatures, or related drainage issues, is most definitely a MAN'S job. I'm as emancipated as the next girl, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
The Romans had slaves - I expect the drain clearance ones were male too 8)
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Why won't jetting work? Most septic tank emptying companies should be able to do the job.
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Why won't jetting work?
It may do but a jetter is probably going to be £100+
However, if the drains are old they can be seriously damaged by jetting with too powerful a jetter.
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Why won't jetting work?
It may do but a jetter is probably going to be £100+
However, if the drains are old they can be seriously damaged by jetting with too powerful a jetter.
Still cheaper than renewing the drains. The companies should have insurance in case of damage.
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Right,
the stuff is not like fat at all anymore, when we first scraped dome out we thought it was an asbestos pipe that had ruptured and the hard grey material that came out was confirmed as fat by a septic tank fitter.
We have had them jetted but it didnt clear this stuff. a camera and a report would be £200.
We do have a jet washer but I'm not sure if hot water will be effective as the fat no longer resembles fat.
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First thing to establish is what material the pipes are made of.
If they are the old Pitch Fibre type the only solution is to replace them. They were introduced in the 1950/60's as a 'new' cheap material that subsequently was found to flatten/squash and disintegrate over time and so were discontinued.
If they are Glazed stone pipes or Plastic (if an old installation unlikely) then if you can scource some Hydrochloric Acid, pour it into the drain at the beginning of the fat problem, it will dissolve ANY organic material. However, it is a dangerous substance, take great care not to come into contact with the acid or inhale any fumes given off, also be aware the reaction can be violent when the acid comes into contact with organic material!
Hydrochloric Acid is used for several purposes, it comes in plastic containers as a dilute solution. If you are a genuine business you can buy it from chemical companies such as those that sell cleaning products to commerce, alternatively you could contact a steam pressure washer supplier/servicer who use it to descale their washers and buy it from them.
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As said, old fibre pipework may need replacing anyway. As also said the tool is a drop-down scraper which needs to be used with sturdy rods clearing (pulling back towards you) perhaps half a metre length at a time. The difficulty will be clearing anything from the top half of the pipe. You will have to tilt the rods through 90 degrees each way and be careful not to unscrew the rods- they will need marking for orientation as they go in. But if you have a scraper and rods it is a useful way of getting leaves out of guttering that you can't get a ladder to.
Buy a set of rods and they will usually come complete with the end tools.
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We have a set of rods and the builder who has just been has decided that its lime scale. So the mystery continues. I have asked him to give me a price to put a new pipe in Fleecewife.
I dont recall reading about all this malarkey in John Seymour's guide to Smallholding ::)
[/size]I thought it would all be about making jam and bottle feeding cute lambs by the warmth of an aga.[size=78%] :-\
[/size]Thanks for all the advice guys I will keep you posted.[size=78%] :eyelashes: [/size] [size=78%]
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Fat busters for pipes linked to septic tanks:
Either bicarbonate of soda (see baking ingredients shelf in supermarket) and vinegar
Or washing soda (see washing powder section of supermarket).
If using bicarb - pour 200g bicarb down the outside gully, followed by 2-4 pints of vinegar and watch the froth rise. Leave for a few hours, then flush with hot water.
If using washing soda - pour about 500g of washing soda down gully, followed by 5-10 pints of very hot water.
DO NOT mix the methods - using vinegar & washing soda could generate a lot of heat and cause cracks...
Either method should dissolve fat deposits and will not cause problems with the septic tank.
Caustic soda is too strong and will kill off the bacteria in the septic tank.
Sue