septic system help? Rental house

**dwnloom** · 02-09-2012, 05:00 PM

We are currently renting a house that has a septic system. We have never had one before. We have always been hooked up to a sewer system.....this morning, the septic system backed up. Is this something that will happen if you run to much at once? DH and I took a shower, ran dishwasher and washed laundry this morning before going to work. DD just got home to find both bathrooms had overflowed.......

**stinkbug** · 02-09-2012, 05:06 PM

Call. Your. Landlord. This is 100% his responsibility.

**Russ** · 02-09-2012, 05:09 PM

Agree with ^^^^

but no, it should not back up like that.

**mombottoo** · 02-09-2012, 06:12 PM

Sounds to me like your septic tank needs to be pumped. There is also the chance the drain field may need to be looked at. Usually the only time sewage backs up into a house is when the tank is so full that the solids end up blocking the pipe leading to the drain field.

If the tank isn't pumped on a regular schedule, the sludge will eventually drain into the drain field...which isn't where the sludge belongs.

Since you are a renter your landlord should foot the cost...of course this will depend upon the agreement you have with your landlord. If you have a lease I'd read it to make sure there isn't a clause making you responsible. If you don't have a lease, the landlord should be responsible.

**nodmicks** · 02-09-2012, 09:54 PM

Ours has never backed up in 15 years. I run lots of things at once and have kids that take 25 min showers. We get it pumped every other year. I agree this is your landlords responsibility.

**heartofmine** · 02-09-2012, 10:40 PM

It could be stopped up in the lines going to the septic too which is generally what is wrong. You shouldn't put toilet paper in the septic. Also powder laundry detergent is bad to cake up inside the lines.

Since you are renting it is your landlords responsibility to take care of the system. Don't try to do it yourself because if you damage something your landlord could hold you responsible.

**Ssindi** · 02-10-2012, 09:16 AM

There is no reason that you can't use TP with a septic system. Just look on the pkg and it will tell if safe for septic systems. Scott TP is the one most people use around here.

**heartofmine** · 02-10-2012, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Ssindi

There is no reason that you can't use TP with a septic system. Just look on the pkg and it will tell if safe for septic systems. Scott TP is the one most people use around here.

The guys pumping the septic will tell you different. The older the lines are the worse toilet paper will get stuck in them since the inside of the pipes tend to roughin' up over time. Also a slight crook in the pipes can really hang stuff up. We had a lot of problems with ours here. I couldn't count how many times I've dug up our septic tank with a pick and shovel so dh could snake out the pipes and clean out the baffles when he got home from work. We ended up replacing all the field lines plus adding another 100 feet to them and then replacing all the lines from the house to the septic. Last time dh put in a clean out area above ground so he could snake from it and not have to dig up the tank. So far so good with this latest replacement.

**Jayne** · 02-10-2012, 09:44 AM

I agree, needs to be pumped. Check your lease and be sure that it is not you responsibility to pay for it.

We have to have ours pumped every 2 years. The township we live in sends a notice around when it is due and if you don't get it pumped its a fine.

The septic people I have had come out have never said anything about toilet paper, but cleansing wipes are a no no.

Good luck!!!

**Greebo** · 02-10-2012, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

Call. Your. Landlord. This is 100% his responsibility.

This is 100% dependent upon what the lease says. Septic systems require maintenance and that maintenance can be made tenant responsibility.

**mombottoo** · 02-10-2012, 10:03 AM

Our septic guy has never told us not to flush toilet paper. Paper towel, wet wipes, sanitary pads, cigarette butts...those are all do not flush. I'm generally out there when he pumps the tank and I have not yet ever been able to identify anything that looked remotely like toilet paper.

**Greebo** · 02-10-2012, 10:10 AM

If a septic system couldn't handle TOILET paper we're all in big trouble...

**Ssindi** · 02-10-2012, 10:14 AM

DH has lived here for at least 55 years and TP was never an issue. We only had a problem when the end of our pipe broke an TP would sometimes get hung up on the broken part. DH found out how to fix it. We always flush some commercial septic system stuff when we plan to be gone for a few days.

**Ssindi** · 02-10-2012, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

If a septic system couldn't handle TOILET paper we're all in big trouble...

Amen to that!

However when I visited Mexico,TP in the toilet is a no-no.

**CrazyCat** · 02-10-2012, 12:37 PM

Yep. It needs pumped out. didn't you just move there? Seems to me the landlord would have already known there was an issue.
Have had a septic tank for over 24 years, and have ALWAYS used TP! if I couldn't use TP...I'd be outta here! that's just CRAZINESS..the pumper guy telling you not to use tp.