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  1. #1
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    DIY...Septic tank and leach bed.

    When I moved into this house the septic tank was two steps out the back door. I didn't like it right there in my face and also I didn't like paying the Thai man to suck it out every couple months. So I decided to do my own tank and leach bed. This is for a three member family. I know some of you have maybe four toilets in your house, but it doesn't matter how many toilets, it matters how many people in your family. Also only the toilet water goes to the leach bed, sink and shower drains go to a separate French drain. I did some reading and it said you should have a minimum of 60 feet of leach bed, but I doubt if they were digging theirs by hand so I went with 50 feet. I figured if its not enough and I have problems, its no problem to dig it up, cut the cap off and extend it, its been a year and a half with no problems. The tank is a #1200. I couldn't find the perforated PVC that I wanted so I made my own. Starts with digging a big ass hole, try to get it right the first time because it really sucks dragging that tank up out of the hole. I had some Thai help but they didn't amount to much, they scratch around a little bit and then flop down to watch. The trench is 24 inches deep with 6 inches of stone in the bottom, lay the PVC and more stone flush to the top. Cover with the black cloth and backfill, done. DIY...Septic tank and leach bed.-dscf0265-jpgDIY...Septic tank and leach bed.-dscf0258-jpgDIY...Septic tank and leach bed.-dscf0272-jpgDIY...Septic tank and leach bed.-dscf0285-jpgDIY...Septic tank and leach bed.-dscf0286-jpg

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Well done!

  3. #3
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    Tunk, I take my hat off to you digging that hole... I've recently been doing some digging myself and it's draining work in the heat and humidity of Isaan.

    And what a beautiful pack of 'Thai help'! Well done.

    If you don't mind me asking... how long did it take you to dig that hole?

  4. #4
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Hot work Tunk.
    Btw are all those dogs related?

  5. #5
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    Mendip I am retired...time means nothing to me. Your whole life you are working against deadlines, you want to finish a project before Monday or before your vacation ends. When you retire no more deadlines, I love it. I would go out at daybreak and work for maybe 3 hours, until the sun hit that spot. I didn't keep track but it was several days. In the Winter you know it isn't going to rain so no worries.
    My pack. At the back is Ted and on the left is Annie, brother and sister born on the street. My daughter and I found them soon after they were born. My daughter was several weeks into a new school and doing very good so I told her she could have a puppy, Ted went home with us. The other pups got adopted except Annie. I took care of her but she lived on the street for her first year. I knew she was pregnant and was watching when I saw her get hit by a car, I knew I had to take Annie home. So yeah all family, Annie is the mom and Ted is the uncle. I have eight dogs total, all the females have been spayed, so no more pups here. Retired people need a hobby, I take care of dogs. Also I go out every morning and feed 15-18 street dogs. different strokes for different folks. You can spend money on the latest I-Phone or big screen TV, I don't own a phone or TV, I take care of dogs.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    Excellent job.

  7. #7
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    Very impressive . . . did you have this kind of stuff in your working background?

  8. #8
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    Yes I was a plumber for 8 years.

  9. #9
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    Thank God . . . serious doubts as to how a novice could do that crept into my thinking, should I ever need to do that

  10. #10
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    Today the shit sucker is at my neighbors house. Always happy to see him drive on past. It has been 15 months with my septic tank and leach bed, never a problem. Someday I'm sure there will be a problem, nothing lasts forever, but until then I won't touch it. The day there is a problem I will think about maintenance, have the tank sucked out, poor root destroyer down or auger out roots, but until then I won't touch it. After 15 months I think successful.

  11. #11
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    I don't know if I would even get half way that hole Tunk.. Great job.
    Only question the perforation. Why not slots? Much easier to do and harder for gravel to block openings.
    Just use a cutoff saw (or your sawsall) and cut dozens of vertical slots both sides of the pipe.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Schuimpge View Post
    I don't know if I would even get half way that hole Tunk.. Great job.
    Only question the perforation. Why not slots? Much easier to do and harder for gravel to block openings.
    Just use a cutoff saw (or your sawsall) and cut dozens of vertical slots both sides of the pipe.

    I wouldn't cut slots as they would split as a straight line cut would concentrate the stresses at the end and cause it to propagate the "crack".
    A circular hole doesn't have any point where the stresses are concentrated.
    Think about a compressor tank and why they have rounded orb shaped ends rather than a flat end.

  13. #13
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    ^ One method of stopping cracks propagating in metal structures is to drill a hole at both ends of a crack.

  14. #14
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    ^What about to drill the holes not only at the ends but also in-between them? One next to each other, like at the toilet paper roll, it will never separate in the perforated line...

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat helge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    a hole at both ends of a crack.
    It's a stinker, it's off topic, it's low poor humour, but it has to be quoted


  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by ootai View Post
    I wouldn't cut slots as they would split as a straight line cut would concentrate the stresses at the end and cause it to propagate the "crack".
    A circular hole doesn't have any point where the stresses are concentrated.
    Think about a compressor tank and why they have rounded orb shaped ends rather than a flat end.
    It's a plastic pipe, flexible and you lay it on a flat gravel bed.. unless there's a sinkhole right beneath it, you'd never get enough pressure for a slot to tear up.
    (and the sinkhole would solve your drainage hole anyway..even with the cracked pipe.. )

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