Hi,
So a few years ago I have bought a house with a concrete septic tank. The house was built about 12 years ago but was never lived in before. The septic tank has also never been used until we started using it. It seems to be working fine, but as of last few months we have started experiences occasional odor in the toilets that seem to be originating from the tank. So i decided to call a company to empty the tank.
However, the previous owners never clearly specified details on where exactly the septic tank was, so I dug up where they said it should be and although it looks like the septic tank cover, it seems too big. It seems to be made of concrete but its diameter is about 120 cm (3,5-4 feet). It appears to be hexagonal shape, with a handle on top, and is surrounded by rotting wood, which probably served as cast during construction. Also, it is covered in what seems to be thick, black plastic tarp, ribbed in shape, which I am hesitant to completely remove as am I not sure what its purpose is and whether I need to put it back after emptying the tank. So my questions are:
1. what exactly am I looking at?
2. what is the black tarp-like plastic covering the "cover"? Some improvisation?
3. Is it OK to remove completely the tarp and is it needed to put it back after tank emptying?
4. What is the small hole (about 2 meters - 6 feet away from the septic tank cover), which does not seem to lead to anywhere (I have dug it up before and can's see that it leads anywhere), but which is always the same and nothing seems to grow out of it? Some kind of vent? Snow melts over it very quickly.
5. How close can trees grow next to the septic tank? A small one is growing approximately 1m (3 feet) from the "cover". Should I cut it down?
Thanks for your help!
So a few years ago I have bought a house with a concrete septic tank. The house was built about 12 years ago but was never lived in before. The septic tank has also never been used until we started using it. It seems to be working fine, but as of last few months we have started experiences occasional odor in the toilets that seem to be originating from the tank. So i decided to call a company to empty the tank.
However, the previous owners never clearly specified details on where exactly the septic tank was, so I dug up where they said it should be and although it looks like the septic tank cover, it seems too big. It seems to be made of concrete but its diameter is about 120 cm (3,5-4 feet). It appears to be hexagonal shape, with a handle on top, and is surrounded by rotting wood, which probably served as cast during construction. Also, it is covered in what seems to be thick, black plastic tarp, ribbed in shape, which I am hesitant to completely remove as am I not sure what its purpose is and whether I need to put it back after emptying the tank. So my questions are:
1. what exactly am I looking at?
2. what is the black tarp-like plastic covering the "cover"? Some improvisation?
3. Is it OK to remove completely the tarp and is it needed to put it back after tank emptying?
4. What is the small hole (about 2 meters - 6 feet away from the septic tank cover), which does not seem to lead to anywhere (I have dug it up before and can's see that it leads anywhere), but which is always the same and nothing seems to grow out of it? Some kind of vent? Snow melts over it very quickly.
5. How close can trees grow next to the septic tank? A small one is growing approximately 1m (3 feet) from the "cover". Should I cut it down?
Thanks for your help!