Septic System - Mushroom Clog
 

Has anyone experienced mushrooms growing in the discharge pipe from the
house to the septic tank - right at the outlet to the septic tank?
Or
Better yet - does anyone have any recommendations for eliminating the
mushrooms from the discharge pipe?
3 times since Christmas 2005 we have had our discharge pipe clogged up
at the outlet to the septic tank - stuffed with mushrooms.
We haved talked to people and get a quick simple suggestion: Chemicals
/ Rid-X ...
Because of the nature and location of the problem I am unsure either
will resolve our issue and I am very hessitant to use chemicals.
The mushrooms completely clog the end of the discharge pipe. If we
were to routinely (monthly) use treatment chemicals - they would simply
drain right down the discharge pipe and drop into the septic tank -
probably never touching 90% of the circumference of the pipe thus
non-effective as the mushrooms can clog the pipe in less than a month.
On each case we have had to snake our way out from the house to the
septic tank. Then once through we have wired up some coat hanger and
tied a rope to pull the end of the snake back and forth to try and
detach the mushrooms fromt he last foot or so of the discharge pipe.

We have had the house for 5 years and just had the holding tank pumped
in mid December. Oddly enough - that is when the problems began - but
I do think this is coincidental. We haved called the local septic
place - but they have never heard of such a problem (they can't say
that anymore).

Anyones suggestions are appreaciated.

Septic System - Mushroom Clog
 

"FrogMan" wrote in message
oups.com...
Has anyone experienced mushrooms growing in the discharge pipe from the
house to the septic tank - right at the outlet to the septic tank?
Or
Better yet - does anyone have any recommendations for eliminating the
mushrooms from the discharge pipe?
3 times since Christmas 2005 we have had our discharge pipe clogged up
at the outlet to the septic tank - stuffed with mushrooms.
We haved talked to people and get a quick simple suggestion: Chemicals
/ Rid-X ...
Because of the nature and location of the problem I am unsure either
will resolve our issue and I am very hessitant to use chemicals.
The mushrooms completely clog the end of the discharge pipe. If we
were to routinely (monthly) use treatment chemicals - they would simply
drain right down the discharge pipe and drop into the septic tank -
probably never touching 90% of the circumference of the pipe thus
non-effective as the mushrooms can clog the pipe in less than a month.
On each case we have had to snake our way out from the house to the
septic tank. Then once through we have wired up some coat hanger and
tied a rope to pull the end of the snake back and forth to try and
detach the mushrooms fromt he last foot or so of the discharge pipe.

We have had the house for 5 years and just had the holding tank pumped
in mid December. Oddly enough - that is when the problems began - but
I do think this is coincidental. We haved called the local septic
place - but they have never heard of such a problem (they can't say
that anymore).

Anyones suggestions are appreaciated.



Suggestions, some better than others

Get a cheap drain cleaner from harbor freight, install some cleanouts (if
not already done) and learn to DIY. Not a great solution but one that
controls cost.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46769

After cleaning, have a video inspection done to determine if there is a
crack allowing soil intrusion or an uncleaned section. Any remaining fungus
will just reinnoculate the pipe and it will happen again. Mushrooms often
grow on decomposing roots of trees. make sure that has not made its way into
the pipe.

If you can somehow disinfect the pipe without killing off everything in the
septic tank that would be best but this is tricky. A weak solution of
copper sulphate will kill the shrooms but I am not sure if that would be
safe for the rest of the septic system.

Can you cap off this pipe, fill it with a strong fungacide, let it soak and
then drain it (to the pump truck). A strong solution of bleach or copper
sulphate or a commercial solution should work in this situation. You may
need to pour it in the house drains to get everything before the septic
tank.

Just wondering. Did you ever send fresh shrooms from the store down the
garbage disposal? Probably not that, spores must have entered the tank from
soil when it was pumped the first time.

Septic tank chemicals generally enhance decomposition by adding nutrients or
microbes or enzymes. They usually do not kill anything and are not actually
cleaners at all.

Septic System - Mushroom Clog
 

what does rock salt do to a septic? i have city sewer but use salt to
stop root growth in a bad line with roots

Septic System - Mushroom Clog
 

What is silica sand used for? I have 4 25kg bags that were left at my house
by the previous owners.

wrote in message
ups.com...
what does rock salt do to a septic? i have city sewer but use salt to
stop root growth in a bad line with roots

Septic System - Mushroom Clog
 

Whoops!! Wrong thread...
"Jon" wrote in message
...
What is silica sand used for? I have 4 25kg bags that were left at my
house
by the previous owners.

wrote in message
ups.com...
what does rock salt do to a septic? i have city sewer but use salt to
stop root growth in a bad line with roots

Septic System - Mushroom Clog
 

Jon wrote:
What is silica sand used for? I have 4 25kg bags that were left at my house
by the previous owners.

wrote in message
ups.com...

what does rock salt do to a septic? i have city sewer but use salt to
stop root growth in a bad line with roots





Rock salt is NOT good for septic tanks, high salt levels damage the
bacteria that process the wastes in the tank. This is one reason why
many communities prohibit water softener wastes from septic tanks, and
the mineral heavy effluent from RO systems is similarly banned.

Septic System - Mushroom Clog
 

I read somewhere the best treatment is vinegar and baking soda. I have exactly the same problem, except mine is at the entrance of the pipe into the toilet bowl. I will try this and see if it works.

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