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Review content:
One Very Happy Customer.
We stood over the empty septic tank and talked. The system was 14 years old and had been pumped out four times since we installed it: today, 2 month ago, 20 months before that, and 29 months before that. I was told my plastic septic tank had warped, the dividers inside had detached from the ceiling and sides allowing solids into the effluent side; I was told the solids had flowed into the drain field and had clogged it up; I was told the entire system needed to be replaced. I was told there was no other option.
Surely the average homeowner with a septic system doesn't budget to replace it every 14 years? Something didn't make sense. I own three other systems and they were not having problems. Determined to understand, I started my research online, starting with Infiltrator systems.com. I knew the drain field contained "infiltrator chambers" -- not perforated pipe -- but I knew little about how those systems were supposed to work and how they could fail? Knowing the design of the chambers and how they were supposed to work helped me to challenge a lot of what the contractor had said. (I recommend anyone dealing with this sort of situation to get the facts.) The tank wasn't warped -- it was designed that way. And the drain field chambers were designed to hold fluids, standing at the same level of the effluent inside the septic tank.
Slowing drain fields appeared to be a familiar problem as Infiltrator themselves offered a "remediator" designed to correct the problem. So I tried to reach them. They never returned any of my calls or emails. I never did find out how much their unit cost.
It was during my continued research that I found an interesting publication entitled "Uncover the Truth About Your Septic System." Written by Aero-Stream, it was the most helpful document I had found on the subject of a slowing drain field, what seemed to be my main problem. It explained the difference between aerobic and anaerobic action and how the latter contributes to development of a "bio-mat" that left unchecked, can clog the pores and passageways in the drain field. It was logical. It made a lot of sense. It sounded like my problem. And it was backed by a 100 Guarantee so a complete no-brainer: $900 to try the Remediator and see if it actually worked; or $9000+ to replace the existing system and never know.
I gave Aero-Stream a call, reached someone on my first attempt who immediately answered all my questions. The products arrived shortly after placing my order: three days to California out of Colorado. It didn't look like much, to tell you the truth. Clear plastic tubing, marine floats, weird bundles of fiber, and what appeared to be an air pump housed in a small, unobtrusive green shell that made me think of a turtle. About the size of a basketball. It wasn't "pretty." But I was more interested in FUNCTION over form. (It was going to be sitting inside the bottom of the septic tank, so who cares?)
Installation was a snap. I lucked out drilling the 5/8th inch air-tube hole through the plastic riser. Afraid I'd drop the drill into the tank, I drilled from the outside IN, as opposed to the other way around. This approach let me see that the outer surface of the riser was ribbed. So I was able to drill through the thinnest part of the plastic instead of potentially drilling through a very thick rib. I lowered the aerating air-stone, fibers, floats and tube to the bottom of the tank and plugged the unit it. I was very pleased to find out that the air pump only emitted a soft whirring sound when in operation. Like the motor of a refrigerator compressor. It was very quiet and not the least bit intrusive.
It's been just over a month now and from what I can tell, the drain field is draining, fluid in the infiltrator chambers holding between 8" and 10", the normal operating level of the septic tank. Since effluent is flowing out of the tank according to what is flowing in, I am assuming that the aerobic bacteria is working to reduce the bio-mat and restore the drain field. I will continue to monitor the tank in the month to come. If the logic described in Aero-Stream's "Uncover the Truth About Your Septic System" proves true, I am optimistic that the Remediator will do its job and I will not need to replace my septic system after all. One very happy customer!
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