Discussion:
So what's wrong with a steel septic tank?
(too old to reply)
ron
2006-09-25 18:36:52 UTC
Permalink
I have a steel septic tank that's about 28 years old. Before I bought
this place I had it inspected and it was fine. Not rusted out and
functioning properly. The realtor I had at the time made me feel
like I shouldn't buy the place because of the steel tank. My father's
place was built in 1939 and still has the original steel tank and as
far as I know (he passed away in 1984 and the house was sold and I know
it was there then and functioning). So I bought this place anyway and
have had no problems with the septic system.
Fiberglass tanks sometimes "float" and concrete tanks crack. So why do
steel septic tanks get such a bad rap?
d***@gmail.com
2006-09-25 19:28:21 UTC
Permalink
THEY RUST! Especially the outlet and inlet baffles. In newer concrete
tanks, these baffles are cast into the roof and walls, reinforcing the
tank against people and equipment rolling over it. Replace the steel
baffles with PVC pipe as an interim measure.
Larry Caldwell
2006-09-27 13:33:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by d***@gmail.com
THEY RUST! Especially the outlet and inlet baffles. In newer concrete
tanks, these baffles are cast into the roof and walls, reinforcing the
tank against people and equipment rolling over it. Replace the steel
baffles with PVC pipe as an interim measure.
My brand new concrete tank has 4" PVC pipe baffles. They should last
forever. Unfortunately, they are also vented, which makes the new tank
a lot stinkier than the old steel one that rusted out.
--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.
Bud Hufstetler
2006-09-29 00:52:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by Larry Caldwell
Post by d***@gmail.com
THEY RUST! Especially the outlet and inlet baffles. In newer concrete
tanks, these baffles are cast into the roof and walls, reinforcing the
tank against people and equipment rolling over it. Replace the steel
baffles with PVC pipe as an interim measure.
My brand new concrete tank has 4" PVC pipe baffles. They should last
forever. Unfortunately, they are also vented, which makes the new tank
a lot stinkier than the old steel one that rusted out.
What's the purpose of venting a septic tank? Is that required in OR?

Bud
Janet Baraclough
2006-09-29 10:41:17 UTC
Permalink
(not sure who wrote)
Post by Larry Caldwell
My brand new concrete tank has 4" PVC pipe baffles. They should last
forever. Unfortunately, they are also vented, which makes the new tank
a lot stinkier than the old steel one that rusted out.
My ( 45 yr old, brick built, underground) tank is also vented with a
4" pipe and doesn't smell at all, ever. You can stand or work right
next to the vent ,(directly above the main chamber) and never guess
you're standing two feet above several tons of sewage sludge. Even on a
still hot summer day.

Your new one may be smelling just because it's brand new and has not
yet built up a big enough resident population of digesters; also, it
will not yet have built up the thick surface crust that forms on top of
the contents in a tank that's working well.

The old-fashioned digestion "starter" here, is a dead rat thrown in the
tank; but I've never needed to test that out :-)

Janet
Larry Caldwell
2006-09-29 13:54:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Janet Baraclough
Your new one may be smelling just because it's brand new and has not
yet built up a big enough resident population of digesters; also, it
will not yet have built up the thick surface crust that forms on top of
the contents in a tank that's working well.
The tank is 4 years old now. I would think it would have settled down
by now. I even poured a couple gallons of vegetable oil down the drain
a couple years a go to try to get that surface crust going. No joy. It
stopped the smell for about a month.

I imagine the crust has just built up on yours high enough to plug the
vent, which is why you don't smell anything.
--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.
Janet Baraclough
2006-09-29 16:00:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Larry Caldwell
Post by Janet Baraclough
Your new one may be smelling just because it's brand new and has not
yet built up a big enough resident population of digesters; also, it
will not yet have built up the thick surface crust that forms on top of
the contents in a tank that's working well.
The tank is 4 years old now. I would think it would have settled down
by now. I even poured a couple gallons of vegetable oil down the drain
a couple years a go to try to get that surface crust going. No joy. It
stopped the smell for about a month.
!!! I'm not surprised it doesn't work. Here, pouring oil down his
system would rank pretty high on the list of "secret ways to disrupt
your neighbour's life"; just below "feeding laxative to his dog" and
"leaving his stock gates open".

We keep the amount of fat/oil going into the tank, to the least possible
. No cooking or cleaning oils or left over salad dressing poured down
kitchen sink, roast/grill/fry pans wiped dry with paper towel before
washing.
Post by Larry Caldwell
I imagine the crust has just built up on yours high enough to plug the
vent, which is why you don't smell anything.
No, it hasn't. The crust level is well below the vent. Even the
outflow liquid is clean and odourless. When you have time for your
Scottish visit, I'll give you a conducted tour of our septic tank :-)

Do you use bleach, lavatory cleaner, disinfectant, biological laundry
powder etc which might reduce the tank's digestive activity?

Janet.
Larry Caldwell
2006-09-29 13:49:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bud Hufstetler
What's the purpose of venting a septic tank? Is that required in OR?
Beats hell out of me. I would much rather prefer the gasses dissipate
in the soil, rather than end up coming out of my roof vents. I think
some idiot plumber decided the drains wouldn't function unless the tank
was vented, and added it to the code. One more example of a solution
looking for a problem.
--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.
hubcap
2006-10-02 19:57:19 UTC
Permalink
http://www.studor.com/
Post by Larry Caldwell
Post by Bud Hufstetler
What's the purpose of venting a septic tank? Is that required in OR?
Beats hell out of me. I would much rather prefer the gasses dissipate
in the soil, rather than end up coming out of my roof vents. I think
some idiot plumber decided the drains wouldn't function unless the tank
was vented, and added it to the code. One more example of a solution
looking for a problem.
--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.
-Mike

Elmo
2006-09-25 19:37:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by ron
I have a steel septic tank that's about 28 years old. Before I bought
this place I had it inspected and it was fine. Not rusted out and
functioning properly. The realtor I had at the time made me feel
like I shouldn't buy the place because of the steel tank. My father's
place was built in 1939 and still has the original steel tank and as
far as I know (he passed away in 1984 and the house was sold and I know
it was there then and functioning). So I bought this place anyway and
have had no problems with the septic system.
Fiberglass tanks sometimes "float" and concrete tanks crack. So why do
steel septic tanks get such a bad rap?
Rust is a matter of when, not if. I would expect that as long as
there is not enough external pressure -- like driving a truck over
top -- the internal contents would provide some protection against
the inevitable, eventual collapse. The sewage treatment plant in
the town down the road uses steel tanks and their expected life
is just about the same as the bonds the sewer authority issued to
pay for it -- 25 years.
--
The people who kill and torture and tell lies in the name of their
sacred causes...these are never the publicans and the sinners. No,
they're the virtuous, respectable men, who have the finest feelings,
the best brains, the noblest ideals.
--Aldous Huxley
Gene Seibel
2006-09-29 14:49:17 UTC
Permalink
Nothing if you give it a fresh coat of paint each year. ;)
--
Gene Seibel
The Farm - http://pad39a.com/gene/farm.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.
Post by ron
I have a steel septic tank that's about 28 years old. Before I bought
this place I had it inspected and it was fine. Not rusted out and
functioning properly. The realtor I had at the time made me feel
like I shouldn't buy the place because of the steel tank. My father's
place was built in 1939 and still has the original steel tank and as
far as I know (he passed away in 1984 and the house was sold and I know
it was there then and functioning). So I bought this place anyway and
have had no problems with the septic system.
Fiberglass tanks sometimes "float" and concrete tanks crack. So why do
steel septic tanks get such a bad rap?
Doug Chadduck
2006-09-29 20:50:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Gene Seibel
Nothing if you give it a fresh coat of paint each year. ;)
Inside or outside?
Post by Gene Seibel
--
Gene Seibel
The Farm - http://pad39a.com/gene/farm.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.
Post by ron
I have a steel septic tank that's about 28 years old. Before I bought
this place I had it inspected and it was fine. Not rusted out and
functioning properly. The realtor I had at the time made me feel
like I shouldn't buy the place because of the steel tank. My father's
place was built in 1939 and still has the original steel tank and as
far as I know (he passed away in 1984 and the house was sold and I know
it was there then and functioning). So I bought this place anyway and
have had no problems with the septic system.
Fiberglass tanks sometimes "float" and concrete tanks crack. So why do
steel septic tanks get such a bad rap?
Janet Baraclough
2006-09-29 22:11:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Doug Chadduck
Post by Gene Seibel
Nothing if you give it a fresh coat of paint each year. ;)
Inside or outside?
Brown, both sides.

Janet
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