septic tank issues

[mogo51]

I have read an old posting on cleaning septic system and am having that done, but the septic tank lid needs replacing, due to aging I would imagine. I have found a dos brand square plastic lid that seems the same as I have, has anyone purchased one lately, the guy who is going to clean the tank, wants 800 bht for lid and that seems a bit excessive. Anyone can help?

[thailiketoo]

I'd pay 800 baht just to take the lid off the tank let alone put a new one on. Just my thought.

[Rooo]

Moved to housing.

[mogo51]

I'd pay 800 baht just to take the lid off the tank let alone put a new one on. Just my thought.

I am no handyman, far from it, but what is problem with lid on septic tank? Not to mention that anyone walking down the side of the house and not watching where they were going, would disappear into the cesspit??? Still seems to me to be the most expensive lid in Thailand, will ask to see the receipt, but it will be in Thai and I am over and out on that score!

[lopburi3]

The normal septic tank is a sealed round tank with a round small cover for top access - the home built style is round cement rings and cement tops/small hole for access. So not sure what you have - is it cement? I would expect to use a cement top for strength in that case. You did not mention anything about size or how thick the plastic was - which could account for a much higher price; as well as being an uncommon item would also increase the price.

As for cleaning system - that should almost never be required unless not working - when working it should clear itself if has proper drain.

Now if you are using a private pumping firm to clean tank I would be alert for overpricing, as they are known for it, but normally this is done by District Office at very little cost

[gerry123]

normally this is done by District Office at very little cost not the case where i live private company 200/ 300 bht

[lopburi3]

But even if no public garbage/pump service that 2-300 is a lot less than some will try to charge - several thousand often being asked by the 'traveling minstrels' trucks.

[mogo51]

I had to get it done as it was full, 500bht which from what I read was reasonable. My concern after reading the posts, the contractor told me he did the pit just over 12 months ago, so that tells me something is wrong. Could it be that I need to reintroduce some bacteria as suggest earlier?

At least problem solved in the short term.

Now that is over, anybody know a good painter who will give me a fair price and not try and rip me off? I have two storey house, it will need rubbing back, undercoat and two main colour coats. plus front fence. Anybody have idea as to what is a rough fair price for such a job.

[lopburi3]

Painting is another place where prices do not seem in line with either national wage or the professionalism of the workers. Meaning you pay at lot for mediocre work and still end up cleaning up. Good luck - obviously do not have an recomendations but you really will have to be specific to location for input.

As for current issue - there would seem to indeed be an problem - is it draining OK? Is it used for gray water as well as toilets? If drains run into it and carry a lot of floor cleaner/bleach it may be killing the natural bacteria action. You should not have to put anything in other than natural waste.

[mogo51]

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my postings. The septic has been solved for the present, but as you say, I suspect there may be long term issues. I am thinking bacteria has been killed off (I am guilty of putting bleach etc down the toilets), I am thinking that now it has been drained, I should put down some bateria replacement as advised by others in the forum.

The painting is a challenge, I am being bombarded by what I consider to be very excessive quotes, up to 65k. Two storey, 3br, 3 br but lots of glass and all rooms are wall paper, so no need for paining, ceilings are fine.

I was hoping that some members may have found reasonably priced painters who do the job on time and clean and properly done? Or am I dreaming?

[kamalabob2]

I bought three separate one thousand liter DOS septic tanks from Buriram builders merchants Home Mega Mart in 2008. Each 1000 liter DOS septic tank receives the fluids and solids from two toilets and one urinal. I have never had to have a tank pumped. This evening nine people are in our home, some days two, some days 12. However last year the white square lids on the DOS septic tanks did crumble and go brittle. They have been exposed to excessive rain and of course the sun. I was able to buy a new septic tank cover at the Buriram Thaiwatsadu for about 800 baht. I took that brand new DOS septic tank cover to Ruangsangthai builders merchants in Buriram and the welders fabricated two new metal covers to the exact same specifications. They painted the DOS septic tank covers a color that better matched my home and the total cost for two new septic tanks covers was 400 baht each. So far all three "new" square covers for the DOS septic tanks are fine. I am of the belief that any fabrication shop can make a square septic tank cover if your local DOS water tank and DOS septic tank dealer does not have the covers in stock or wants a price that is not worthwhile for you.

[mogo51]

I am back with what was not a totally unexpected problem, given what I had read by other members. The system was pumped out a couple of weeks ago and I had a look yesterday to put some bactersol in the system. Tank is 3/4 full again, so obviously there is a blockage where it is supposed to drain into the Ag drain (am I right about that?)

I cannot see how they can fix this problem, doubt anyone would want to get into the tank to unclog? Can anyone help with suggessuggestions please.

[bankruatsteve]

I am back with what was not a totally unexpected problem, given what I had read by other members. The system was pumped out a couple of weeks ago and I had a look yesterday to put some bactersol in the system. Tank is 3/4 full again, so obviously there is a blockage where it is supposed to drain into the Ag drain (am I right about that?)

I cannot see how they can fix this problem, doubt anyone would want to get into the tank to unclog? Can anyone help with suggessuggestions please.

Are you sure you have a septic tank vs. cesspit tank? A septic tank will have valve for leach out near the top of the tank. With a septic system that will usually be connected to a drain/leach field via PVC (with holes to leach out). So, if you are 3/4 full, you should be able to see the leach out valve. If not, you probably have a cesspit and will need to pump it out whenever full. Cesspits usually are open on the bottom and that's where they leach out.

[lopburi3]

As stated a septic tank should always be about 3/4 full - that area is where the bacteria action takes place to eat solids and mix with liquid that can then drain from near top. Round plastic tank is basically the same as below cement containers and works the same.

[mogo51]

Sorry for the mess up above. I was trying to get rid of pop ups that are that bad they are invading 1/4 of my screen. I checked the pit, there is a large round plastic pipe sitting above thes is waer line which I believe is the access pipe. As far as I can see, the circular green tank is capturing grey water and sewage? The level has not altered since I inspected it over a week ago, so I am thinking it is a septic tank but cannot see any taps etc?

Should I just monitor it for a few weeks to see if it maintains that level? I put some bactersol in yesterday.

/

[lopburi3]

It should be fine. Normally it will just be toilet with shower/drains going directly into drain system but if no public drains suspect they may combine and let all go through tank to whatever drain system they use (but that is not good as some floor/wall cleaners would kill a lot of the bacteria action). If level remains same it must be draining so would appear to be OK in that regard.

[kamalabob2]

I am of the opinion that it is better to have only urinal and toilet waste go into a proper septic tank. Safe Band and DOS septic tanks provide an instructional manual in both Thai and English languages with photos and drawings, to show anyone how to properly install a septic tank. A good builders merchant in Buriram province or most any province is able to have the "PC" or "company salesman" who has some product knowledge of that particular septic tank, go directly to the house you are building to show your house builders in Thailand the proper method of installing and connecting your septic tank. That same septic tank salesman can show the contractor you hired to build your house in Thailand how to properly connect the septic tank outlet to the grey water system. It could be PVC pipes, it might be concrete pipes, or it might be a channel with a grate on top, to have the overflow depart your property or drain into a "French Drain". Several of the better house building contractors I have noted in Buriram province take the time to have the DOS septic tank or SAFE brand septic tank technical representative come to the actual building site to give real advise and help to the house builders. I obverse the family owned builders merchants who discount septic tanks and deliver septic tanks on a high volume basis have the ability to quickly, often the same day, get a septic tank company representative sent to your house building site at no charge whatsoever. The slope of the waste pipes, as done by some house builders in Buriram is a different topic. The original contractor who built my wife's home in Buriram Province used cheap cement pipes for waste water that came out of the DOS septic tanks and flowed to a series of round cement rings in other parts of my wife's property. A few years later I hired a more professional firm to replace the now broken cement pipes and install thick walled PVC pipes and connect in a proper fashion the grey water from showers, dish washer, clothes washer, sinks, and outflow of the septic tanks to the municipal sewer system. In my opinion that was baht spent wisely. Proper water supply connections and proper waste water outflow was beyond the actual expertise of the Buriram House Builder I had hired in 2006.

[mogo51]

Thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated, I will continue to monitor the tank.

[Beardog]

If you have the proper amount of space required in the leachfield(it can be circular in a straight line straight down or a maze you should never need to pump out for 27-30 years. I designed septic set ups for 400 houses in villages in The Philippians & about 700 shacks in Vietnam over 11 years living in Thailand. If they are done right they will never need a pump out till you pass into the next lifetime. The Dos tanks or similar or cement rings all work great but only if the leach field(drainage field is adequate) like I think Bob said go very easy on bleach duck or any other cleaning agents. I have never used any bacterial helpers since I started doing tanks in 1972. The drainage field is what differentiates a Thai type cesspit from a septic. We have 2 neighbors I tried to help but they wanted to do it there way & have had to call the honey truck every other month.

Lopburi had a good diagram of how it works.

[mogo51]

Thanks Beardog for your post, most informative and I think it has settled down. Have not had any rise in the tank in that tie and it seems to be operating properly. I poured 1/2 bottle of Bactersol and the other half down the drains/toilets and the smell I was getting in the house has disappeared. I have virtually stopped using bleaches in the house, just very occasionally whenclean up necessary.

As for the people who want to do it alone, I think the saying goes 'take a horse to water but cant make them drink' I always bow to superior knowledge. Thanks again.

[BillyBobThai]

Had a friend who worked in waste water treatment tell me to put a 500 gram package of bakers yeast. Cheap and easy to find.

[mogo51]

Had a friend who worked in waste water treatment tell me to put a 500 gram package of bakers yeast. Cheap and easy to find.

Many thanjks will give it a try, cheaper than the bactersol, but have to say as soon as I put that into the system, there was an almost instant turnaround.

[Irma Doockler]

normally this is done by District Office at very little cost not the case where i live private company 200/ 300 bht

Gerry, can you be more clear how to contact this District Office, please

[Irma Doockler]

Der gerry, can you, please, provide an information HOW to contact this District Office, please!

[lopburi3]

Every district or khet has an office - you contact them in person or by phone. Ask neighbors. But beware there are private operators who may overcharge if given the chance but in some districts long queue might make them a better choice if emergency. But in general believe government service has greatly improved in recent years.

[CGW]

mogo51, don't even "occasionally" use bleach or any other disinfectants if they will return to the tank!

Painting, just a rough baseline, I paid 30k about 4 years ago for a similar paint job (I supplied the paint)