Mac Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Can anyone help me. The house we are buying has not been lived in for a couple of years-hence the fosse has not been used for that length of time. What do we need to do to it (if anything) when we do take possession of the house? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 I think it might be a good idea to get your septic tank emptied, and ensure that any grease traps or similar are clear of blockages. Otherwise just flush a couple of sachets of activator (Eparcyl, Septifos or similar) down the loo and enjoy it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Although Will's advice is sound, I was in a similar situation and didn't have the fosse emptied, to be honest it never occured to me. I carried on happily for 10 years before I had to have an emptying! Be aware that its possible that you'll notice a nasty niff from the fosse vent pipe for a few days or so. Don't worry, this is just until the bacteria multiply in their trillions when they get some nice fresh effulent to munch on, it soon passes.Not wishing to teach egg-sucking but I assume you know the fosse basics like no solids, minimal fats/grease, definitely no bleach and fosse friendly cleaning products and loo paper. Just keep to the simple rules and you should have no troubles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooking queen Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Is there something radically different about septic tanks in France? In every house I have lived there has been a septic tank( UK, Canada, Oz etc) and I have carried on as usual with the Bleach and whatever cleaning products I fancy with absolutely no problems. Recently, the new type thicker loo roll did cause a minor problem so stopped using it but I don't think any of the bleach products I use have changed their chemical make-up!I really would like to know as I am moving to France before the end of the year. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 [quote user="Pierre ZFP"]Not wishing to teach egg-sucking but I assume you know the fosse basics like no solids....[/quote]Could be tricky.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 [quote user="cooking queen"]Is there something radically different about septic tanks in France? In every house I have lived there has been a septic tank( UK, Canada, Oz etc) and I have carried on as usual with the Bleach and whatever cleaning products I fancy with absolutely no problems. Recently, the new type thicker loo roll did cause a minor problem so stopped using it but I don't think any of the bleach products I use have changed their chemical make-up!I really would like to know as I am moving to France before the end of the year. Thanks[/quote]I know nothing of the systems in other countries however the ones in France use bacteria to 'eat' the solids and other things. Bleach kills germs and bacteria therefore no bacteria no break down of solids. With the more modern systems that comply with French regulations the liquid from the Fosse goes basically through pipes with holes in that are laid underground with material like gravel etc around them so the liquid can soak away and be absorbed. Because of this system there is no real need to ever have your Fosse emptied. Basic rule of thumb is that only put down the toilet the by-product of what you have eaten and drunk (plus toilet paper of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 All basically the same in principle but significant differences in the detail.Winter in canada always a problem with potential freezing of the filter bed; the bed is insulated in the fall in an ersatz manner, let the grass grow, put straw over it, stick snow from driveways over it, etc, etc.The best thought out fosse septiques are in Oz; but I must admit that I am basing that on standard practice for the Northern Territory, a poor area with unsophisticated aborigine population. All the other states of Aussie joined together to use the best of their own practice to write a definitive standard practice for them. The Northern Territory Standard Practice is available free and can be downloaded by potential users. A standard practice conventionally costs several hundred euros from the national standards body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Lucky there are no Aboriginals around, I would think they might find the comment about not being very sophisticated a bit upsetting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 The other problem with fosses in Oz is that they are upside down and the poo falls out ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 [quote user="Quillan"]Lucky there are no Aboriginals around, I would think they might find the comment about not being very sophisticated a bit upsetting.[/quote]I am sure that any aborigines would not be in any way upset but would accept it as a complement recognising their symbiotic relation with nature.I am also sure that they would appreciate the satirical humour of Aristophanes towards your sophistry in using an adjective.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 [quote user="pachapapa"][quote user="Quillan"]Lucky there are no Aboriginals around, I would think they might find the comment about not being very sophisticated a bit upsetting.[/quote]I am sure that any aborigines would not be in any way upset but would accept it as a complement recognising their symbiotic relation with nature.I am also sure that they would appreciate the satirical humour of Aristophanes towards your sophistry in using an adjective.[:)][/quote]Very well said PPP, but any chance of a translation please as I only speaka da English [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 [quote user="NickP"][quote user="pachapapa"] [quote user="Quillan"]Lucky there are no Aboriginals around, I would think they might find the comment about not being very sophisticated a bit upsetting.[/quote]I am sure that any aborigines would not be in any way upset but would accept it as a complement recognising their symbiotic relation with nature.I am also sure that they would appreciate the satirical humour of Aristophanes towards your sophistry in using an adjective.[:)][/quote]Very well said PPP, but any chance of a translation please as I only speaka da English [:D][/quote]Aristophanes was a prolific ancient greek playright specialising in satirical comedy; one of the targets were certain of the ancient greek philosophers who were ridiculed for making things over complex, the sophists, a good example of the breed was Socrates.Euripides....Eumenides![:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 [quote user="Iceni"][quote user="Pierre ZFP"] Not wishing to teach egg-sucking but I assume you know the fosse basics like no solids....[/quote]Could be tricky.John[/quote]Ah, yes, not quite what I meant [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave&Olive Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 [quote user="Mac"]Can anyone help me. The house we are buying has not been lived in for a couple of years-hence the fosse has not been used for that length of time. What do we need to do to it (if anything) when we do take possession of the house?[/quote] Hi ok Just thought I would answer your question and not ,,,,.... ok just make sure it can be emptied... I have seen quite a few that have been left full and unused for a few years dry out , the night soil sets like concrete, no amount of water/ suction will move it ........ someone has to go in with a spade and dig it out .... Bonne Chance Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard51 Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 Just to reiterate what others have said about being careful what you put down the loo. We had a little 'incident' this summer when the children of one of the renters put loads of (otherwise acceptable) loo paper down the toilet (we think teenage daughter also flushed a few used 'things' down there - but she wasn't admitting to anything). The end result involved a mini digger, a lot of mess / smell, a ruined lawn and a rather large bill....Did I mention we were 'thinking of giving up the gites' (to quote a favourite thread on here!)?Mrs R51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 Note that mains systems are not totally immune to foreign objects and 'ladies things'. Despite dating from the 1740's and having a sewer system probably best part of 100 years old our last UK house had had no drain problems whatsoever in living memory however within a month or so of moving in with a teenage daughter and wife accustomed to chucking stuff like makeup wipes and cotton buds etc. down the toilet in a less then 10 year old property, the sewer got totally backed up to the extent of requiring the services of Dynarod.Here in France a laminated notice on the cistern seat sayingPeePoo only PleasePaper has worked well for us [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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