We currently have a open discharge septic system. It's really quite simple and works great - when it doesn't freeze. It is a two chamber tank and when the effluent engages the float the pump moves the effluent out over the course of approx 60 feet. The discharge pipe runs approximately 40 underground and comes up and out of the ground and discharge it into some bushes.
We have lived here for about 10 years and never had a problem with freezing (we are in western Canada). We had to swap the pump in the tank last December and then had some issues with freezing in the pipe that came above ground. Never having this problem, I wasn't really prepared to deal with it. I ended up with some pipe tape and insulation on the exposed run of 20 feet of pipe and went through the balance of last winter with no problems.
I usually pop my head out the front door after a bath (or something that uses a decent amount of water) to listen for the effluent being discharged so I know I don't have a freezing issue as I can hear it in the distance. Yesterday, I had a freezing issue at the very end of the discharge pipe. Not a big deal as I didn't hear it, so was able to fix it without finding some nice grey water in the basement.
My question would be - what changed from when we switched out the pump (I'm by no means a plumber)? Is there a valve or a certain type of pump that allows that water that is in the pipe to run back via gravity back into the tank once its finished pumping so the pipe that's above ground won't freeze? I'm assuming this is the issue. I've also heard that a small hole can be drilled out in the pipe in the tank so the water can flow back. I'm assuming that there isn't a hole since this issue has come up since the switching of the pump. At a loss really, the heat tape is great - when it works and doesn't fail. Looking for more of a hands off solution.
We have lived here for about 10 years and never had a problem with freezing (we are in western Canada). We had to swap the pump in the tank last December and then had some issues with freezing in the pipe that came above ground. Never having this problem, I wasn't really prepared to deal with it. I ended up with some pipe tape and insulation on the exposed run of 20 feet of pipe and went through the balance of last winter with no problems.
I usually pop my head out the front door after a bath (or something that uses a decent amount of water) to listen for the effluent being discharged so I know I don't have a freezing issue as I can hear it in the distance. Yesterday, I had a freezing issue at the very end of the discharge pipe. Not a big deal as I didn't hear it, so was able to fix it without finding some nice grey water in the basement.
My question would be - what changed from when we switched out the pump (I'm by no means a plumber)? Is there a valve or a certain type of pump that allows that water that is in the pipe to run back via gravity back into the tank once its finished pumping so the pipe that's above ground won't freeze? I'm assuming this is the issue. I've also heard that a small hole can be drilled out in the pipe in the tank so the water can flow back. I'm assuming that there isn't a hole since this issue has come up since the switching of the pump. At a loss really, the heat tape is great - when it works and doesn't fail. Looking for more of a hands off solution.