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Signs of a Clogged Septic or Graywater Filter InspectAPedia®  -     Signs of a clogged septic filter Signs of a clogged graywater filter

This document discusses the diagnosis and repair of clogging of various types of septic effluent filter systems and graywater filter systems to protect the septic drainfield or drywell system from damage. These simple septic filters, such as greywater filters, washing machine filters, and filters at the effluent outlet of a conventional septic tank are all designed to protect the septic effluent absorption field or leach field.

Septic filters are placed either in the septic tank at the outlet tee or in a separate chamber outside of and close to the septic tank. Graywater filters may be placed at the inlet to a drywell or graywater disposal system. Washing machine filters are often installed at the clothes washer outlet hose. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted.

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Signs of a Clogged Septic Tank Filter or Graywater Filter

Before digging up a septic field or drywell or ordering a costly repair or septic system treatment, if your septic tank or greywater system use a filter, check for the following signs that the septic filter is clogged and needs cleaning:

• Sluggish drainage in the building; if there is an access port to inspect the sewer line between the building and the septic tank, open it and flush a toilet. Does the wastewater run normally (in a rush, not a trickle) through the line to the septic tank?
• High effluent levels in the septic tank: open the septic tank at an inspection or service port. Is the effluent level abnormally high, at the top of the tank or over the baffles?
• Dirty septic filter: open the septic tank at the outlet end where the filter is probably installed; (Some systems may install an add-on filter in a small chamber just downstream from the septic tank, or upstream from a drywell which receives graywater. Inspect the septic filter for clogging and clean it anyway before returning it to the tank. If you see a sudden out rush of effluent out of the septic tank when you pull out the septic filter, then it's pretty likely that the problem was a clogged septic filter.
• Drainfield abnormally dry: if the septic filter at the septic tank is clogged, effluent is being discharged abnormally slowly through it to the drainfield - which gives the drainfield a relief but is abnormal. If the septic filter is very clogged effluent may be leaving the septic tank underground at one of its service ports or covers - look for wet areas around the septic tank. If the drainfield becomes saturated and appears to fail after cleaning the septic filter (because you've now suddenly released a large volume of wastewater into the drainfield), further investigation of the drainfield condition and its piping is needed.
• Septic filter monitors are available from some effluent filter manufacturers to help determine when it's necessary to clean the filter.

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SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
  Wastewater Treatment Levels
  Wastewater Dispersal Methods
  Master List of Septic System Types
  AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  CESSPOOLS
  DRYWELLS
  SEPTIC EFFLUENT DISINFECTION SYSTEMS
  EVAPORATION-TRANSPIRATION SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  FIXED-FILM PROCESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS
    Signs of a Clogged Septic Tank Filter
    Graywater Filters
    Septic Filter Maintenance
    Septic Filter / Graywater Filter Sources
  MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS
  TOILET ALTERNATIVES
  VEGETATED SUBMERGED SEPTIC BEDS
  WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNERS
  ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC PRODUCTS

• MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
• Don't Flush these things into a septic system: a list of what's ok and what's not ok to put into septic tanks and building drains
• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVESNew York State Wastewater Treatment Standards - Individual Household Systems, Appendix 75-A (1990), Public Health Law 201(1)(1).
• New York State Alternative Septic System Design Regulations, Wastewater Treatment Standards - Individual Household Systems, Appendix 75-A, of Public Health Law 201(1)(1) 1990.

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
• Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements
• Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
• How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
• Septic System Drainfield Absorption System Biomat Formation - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.

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