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robertbarnes

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If a septic tank is pumped out and the house is empty and it rains for a day or two, should the tank fill back up with water from the field lines? Or should it remain empty until the sinks and toilets are used in the house? If it does the opposite of what it is suppose to do would that be due to bad field line?
 
https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Flooding.php

Not all systems are the same. Some are pumped some go by gravity.
Ideally the tank should not fill back up if it rains for 2 days but it can happen.
I don't think they typically put a back water valve on the tanks outlet pipe, which would help prevent it.

If it does the opposite of what it is suppose to do, it could be a number of reasons.

Googling various article would probably help answer your question.
 
https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Flooding.php

Not all systems are the same. Some are pumped some go by gravity.
Ideally the tank should not fill back up if it rains for 2 days but it can happen.
I don't think they typically put a back water valve on the tanks outlet pipe, which would help prevent it.

If it does the opposite of what it is suppose to do, it could be a number of reasons.

Googling various article would probably help answer your question.

Thank you for the reply and the great link. I am reading through that information. I am in the middle of buying a foreclosed home and when I had the septic tank drained and inspected it was found that the one of the lids were half way put on and it had been raining for over 5 days. when he pumped it he noticed what he said were black level lines that indicated that the septic tank had sat at different levels. The house is vacant and I have no clue how long it has sat empty. But the guy who pumped it out said that he could not say for sure if the system was good or bad. So I have a few days left to make a decision and was going to go back over there and look at the septic tank and see if it has filled back up or not. I think it is a 1500 gallon gravity fed system. The reason I asked about the water draining back into it is because since the inspection and him pumping it out there has been a few days of sunshine and now a couple days of rain. was just wondering what to expect when i look in the tank, should it be half full of rain water or what?
 
Your lid should never be buried (lid to tank). Risers and lids should be above ground for that reason. Do you have a concrete tank?
 
There's no telling what to expect.
I would require the seller provide at least a 6 month warranty that the system is functioning.
In my state it is typically required that the the septic system be inspected and approved or a new system be installed prior to the sale of the property. For us, it's a $20 to $30,000 potential cost for a new system.
 
Your lid should never be buried (lid to tank). Risers and lids should be above ground for that reason. Do you have a concrete tank?
yes it is a concrete tank. it has risers on it and the lids are about 3 inches underground. the guy said they people who installed it must have done it for the looks.
 
There's no telling what to expect.
I would require the seller provide at least a 6 month warranty that the system is functioning.
In my state it is typically required that the the septic system be inspected and approved or a new system be installed prior to the sale of the property. For us, it's a $20 to $30,000 potential cost for a new system.

this is a foreclosure and sold as is. but i did have a second opinion and they said it is good to go and are giving me a written letter stating that.
 
yes it is a concrete tank. it has risers on it and the lids are about 3 inches underground. the guy said they people who installed it must have done it for the looks.
They may have done it for looks but it creates a problem.
 
It definitely can create a problem if there is a ground water problem and/or poor runoff for storm water.
My tank top and lid are about 3 feet below grade. Bought the house 42 years ago. For convenience of access ,for pumping every few years, I built a pressure treated wood access box. lid is still in tank top and box just sits on tank. Never any signs of on water on tank top.
Not the best design but not uncommon to have buried access in my area.
 

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