Ferdinand Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 41 minutes ago, joe90 said: Then why replace it?, get the cover sorted (you have enough to do on the rest of the house!!,!,!,) Ah the vortex. Happy memories. With graphics done on a BBC Micro. And I think Bonnie Langford. The lid - yes, fix it. We had one in the middle of a field where some scrote had dropped the rectangular lid inside years previously. There should be a law for all sceptic tanks to have circular lids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 Nothing in U.K. regs about having to upgrade to sell if it’s a standard septic with a leach field or similar. I would be looking at elsewhere on the plot and putting in a parallel system and moving the drains over with plenty of space for further development. One word of caution though - there are a lot of things you can’t put into a treatment plant system ….. may want to discuss with the ladies of the house before you make any decision …. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 The vortex has a “catchment” container fir foreign objects to be easily removed without blocking pipes etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 8 minutes ago, joe90 said: The vortex has a “catchment” container fir foreign objects to be easily removed without blocking pipes etc. I bet that is a joy to empty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 I've got a single brick chamber like that. I have improved its performance by repairing the in nd out pipes, and diverting some rainwater connections. The final soakaway is on neighbouring land and inaccessible, so it blocking with muck overflow was a worry, but after the one and only clean out, the soakaway has also sorted itself. If I was to look to improve the performance then I would look into adding an extra small treatment, after the brick one has done the first sort. We got a signed statement from the previous owner that the 'country septic tank' had been in use since way back and the drainage authority dropped their initial demand for a new digester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 39 minutes ago, ProDave said: I bet that is a joy to empty. Interesting how hair balls seem to collect in it and the odd “object” flushed by mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 Down here (I am actually up country right now) they just run the sewage pipes directly into the sea. Only the dogs are allowed to leave their shit on the land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 An apparently nice man turned up and emptied the cess pool. SWMBO was there and dealt with it. Reckons he was sucking up "bricks and glass" and "got out what he could". The guy was very concerned about the state of the lid and reckon it's been left too long to repair. Don't suppose she mentioned we only found it in 2019! 😂 Insisted he put "something" over it when finished so she found him a pallet. Said their sister company does "macerator" installs according to SWMBO but I imagine he said / meant treatment plants. They will come and do the dig and install etc. Might get a no obligation quote though from them. Tbh my BiL has diggers etc so would likely look to do it myself with input here from the clever folk. If I go that route I'm favouring the Vortex unit as others have said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 21 minutes ago, Onoff said: If I go that route I'm favouring the Vortex unit as others have said. 👍, my son calls it the “poo jacuzzi” (because it’s bubbling away) 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 On another forum somebody has said not to get an "electric one", that there's "lots to go wrong" and to not believe the salesman's spiel. I've gone back and countered I'm considering the Vortex based on people on here who have them that I know and trust and have had them for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 2 minutes ago, Onoff said: On another forum somebody has said not to get an "electric one", that there's "lots to go wrong" and to not believe the salesman's spiel. That might be referring to something like the Biodisk. Someone near here has one. If has a huge rotating drum with assorted paddles on it to agitate the contents and that is driven by a motor and gearbox. Twice in the time I have known her, it has failed, once it was the motor burned out and the second time the gearbox had seized. Both times I declined to do the repair. Whoever did it would have needed wellies or waders and a strong stomach to get down inside it to unbolt the motor / gearbox assembly and take them away for repair. I will stick to having to maintain an air blower pump in it's own little enclosure away from all the nasty stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Onoff said: On another forum somebody has said not to get an "electric one", that there's "lots to go wrong" The only electrics in a blower one is the small air pump, they are usually made in Japan and mostly used fir coy carp ponds and been around for years. I bought a spare diaphragm for mine (a few quid) as that’s about the only thing that can go wrong. Edited October 12, 2022 by joe90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Just now, joe90 said: and to not believe the salesman's spiel. Yes, listen to those that have them and rate them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 2 minutes ago, joe90 said: The only electrics in a blower one is the small air pump, they are usually made in Japan and mostly used fir coy carp ponds and been around for years. I bought a spare diaphragm for mine (a few quid) as that’s about the only thing that can go wrong. As I understand pool / fish tank air pumps, it is only the disturbance at the surface that causes oxygen to mix with the water. The bubbles from the bottom are for show. In a sewage digester I guess and hope that the bubbles also keep an area of the surface clear of crust....I have had 2 installed for clients but never went back to look. I just replaced a fountain pump. £15. Air pump prob similar cost. So that will be the easy answer for any digester breakdown, even a revolving drum type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamieled Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 18 minutes ago, ProDave said: Whoever did it would have needed wellies or waders and a strong stomach to get down inside it to unbolt the motor / gearbox assembly and take them away for repair. Farmers die doing this type of thing with slurry tanks and equipment. Unless there's a safe way of maintaining them I don't know why these types of plant are still produced. Probably breaches confined space rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 @Onoff do you actually want to spend £5000 minimum on doing this or is it cheaper and easier to just empty it every year for £200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 30 minutes ago, saveasteading said: As I understand pool / fish tank air pumps, it is only the disturbance at the surface that causes oxygen to mix with the water. The bubbles from the bottom are for show. Well no, although an air pump it actually (somehow) pumps water (sludge) from the bottom of the tank to the top and periodically pumps the crust of the settlement tank back onto the rest (note to self:- find out how an air pump can pump water!,!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Here we go,,,, everyday is a school day…. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airlift_pump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, joe90 said: Here we go,,,, everyday is a school day…. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airlift_pump You have never kept fish then. My first tank had an airlift filter, oh how I yearned for a proper pumped one. Edited October 12, 2022 by SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 17 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: You have never kept fish then. Correct 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Russell griffiths said: @Onoff do you actually want to spend £5000 minimum on doing this or is it cheaper and easier to just empty it every year for £200. If necessary yes. If the lid is as ****ed as I think it is. It might not stand up to having another slab cast on top. My neighbours is under his drive and of similar vintage. It collapsed when he drove over it in his Range Rover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 12 minutes ago, Onoff said: collapsed when he drove over it in his Range Rover. He should have got a 20 year old 206. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 17 minutes ago, Onoff said: It might not stand up to having another slab cast on top. How bad is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 56 minutes ago, joe90 said: How bad is it? Until I clear the vegetation I won't know tbh. It's probably next door's ivy holding it all together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 1 hour ago, SteamyTea said: He should have got a 20 year old 206. 22 year old please! Yeah I know and you'll have one as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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