Mr Coeur de Lion Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Ok, I know I'm not in France anymore, but cesspits work the same the world over, don't they?Anyway, I'm a bit bamboozled.We have a tank buried in the garden. All the waste water from the house goes to it. However, whenever we get a lot of rain and water sits in the garden, it always causes the downstairs toilet to block up. I can't understand why. Could it be that there is a hole in the tank and excess water floods into it? Once the water has drained away, everything's fine again, and the toilet unclogs. It's always done this apparently, and the tank only requires emptying every other year, but I don't understand why heavy rains cause the toilet to block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 This is pure conjecture, but, if as you say, the tank gets filled up by the surface water I am inclined to think that it is something to do with relative (water) levels. I guess the soak away doesn't soak away very quickly when the lawn is flooded so "grey" water backs up towards the WC and gives the effect of a blockage. I guess it also means that "grey" water could be seeping out where the rain water is seeps in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 That's what I've been thinking too John. I think this summer, I might pull up the patio (that it's been built under) and have a look.I also noticed when there's a lot of water exiting say from the dishwasher & washing machine, sometimes it comes up from between the cracks in the patio. If so, hopefully that means the hole or whatever is on top and therefore easily repairable.I've only been here a couple of months so am having to ask questions and investigate things as my girlfriend isn't very DIY minded :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Richard, check your rainwater down pipes don't run into the cess pit? And it sounds like broken pipe(s) under your patio. What a bug""er eh? You move thousands of miles away and the old fosse septique attaches itself to your coat tails!Good luck in sorting it out and i hope you are enjoying your new life... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 All the drain pipes just run into small gulleys that run away from the house into the garden. The whole neighbourhood is like it, which is a bit odd to me.Now if it is a broken pipe under the patio, that may be easier to sort.I never had these problems in France, because I was attached to the mains :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Hhmm. Stumped now. Must be a hole. Hope it's easy to find and will be interesting to know what was the cause of the problem when you do get it sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave&Olive Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 hi ok It looks like a blocked drainage field ....the down fall of any septic tank / cesspit system , you can block one up in as little a 10 years all that night soil has to go some where .. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northender Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 "I've only been here a couple of months so am having to ask questions and investigate things as my girlfriend isn't very DIY minded".Thats the problem with girlfriends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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