To check the sludge level in your septic tank you can use a septic tank sludge tool or use a stick and open the lid and stick the stick or septic tank sludge checker into the septic tank.
Slowly lower the tube into the septic tank until it touches the bottom of the tank.
As the device is slowly pulled out of the water, the check valve closes capturing a liquid/solid profile of the septic tank water.
The thickness of the sludge layer can be measured.
To dissolve sludge in a septic tank add some additional microbes, yeast or even some Ridx to your septic tank to help the waste and sludge dissolve in the septic tank.
If your septic tank is getting full you should have the septic tank pumped out.
Bacterial microorganisms are what breaks down sewage and waste in a septic tank.
A septic tank has microbes, especially bacteria, which break down and liquefy the organic waste.
In phase one, the wastewater is introduced into the septic system where solids settle down to form the sludge and scum layers as the anaerobic bacteria digest the organic waste.
Adding baking soda to a septic tank raises the pH to a neutral condition which makes the bacteria grow faster and digest more of the waste.
You can also use yeast in the septic tank to help break down waste in the septic tank.
Yeast helps actively breaks down waste solids when added to your septic system.
Flush ½ cup of dry baking yeast down the toilet, the first time.
Add ¼ cup of instant yeast every 4 months, after the initial addition.
To unclog a septic tank drain you can run a plumbers snake down the drain to clear the drain clog that leads to the septic tank.
You can also pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain to help unclog a septic tank drain.
Dump a couple of teaspoons of baking soda into your clogged drain, followed by one half cup of vinegar.
This will create a fizzing action that may cause a fizz-like eruption.
This is normal. This fizzing action may help to break the clog up and get things moving in your drain once again.
Septic Tanks are usually between 10 feet to 25 feet from the house.
Your septic tank may be within 10 feet behind your house or as far as 25 Feet.
You can use a rod to poke through the ground to help find the lid of the septic tank and then dig the dirt off the lid.
The lid of the septic tank is usually around 6 to 12 inches below ground.
As a general rule, the septic tank should be located not far from the house on the same side of the house as the toilet.
The septic tank may be located in the grass or within a garden bed.
Most septic tanks need pumped every 5 to 7 years.
The time between septic tank pumping depends on how fast your septic tank fills up but pumping your septic tank every 5 to 7 years is the normal time between septic tank pumps.
It's not possible to use too much RidEx as there's no harm in using more than the recommended RidEx in your septic tank.
However it's not necessary to use more than recommended of the RidEx.
One dose of Rid-X® per month treats septic tanks up to 1500 gallons.
Recommended amounts are based on laboratory tests and results.
Over-use of the RidEx product will not create any problems for the septic system or plumbing, however it is not necessary.
You can put RidEx in every toilet but you don't have to as long as you put enough RidEx down the toilet so it reaches the septic tank.
You can put RidEx in the toilet.
RidEx can be poured in the toilet or down any drain that leads to the septic tank.
As long as the RidEx gets into the septic tank it doesn't matter which drain you pour the RidEx down.
RidEx is a bacterial septic tank treatment and is a bacterial enzyme that breaks down waste in septic tanks, but it can also be used for all waste systems in your house.
Applied regularly, RidEx will “clean” the inside of the pipes by breaking down the solid waste stuck to the pipes.
RidEx does not clear clogged toilets.
However if the clog is something such as a bit of toilet paper then the RidX may help break down the toilet paper and clear the clog.
If your toilet is clogged though you need to use a toilet auger or plunger to help clear the toilet clog.
Or if the clog is further down in the line you need to find the clog and remove it with a drain line cleaner or sewer auger.
RidEx is not meant to unclog toilets.
Instead RidEx is a septic tank treatment that is used in the tank to break down the solid organic waste material.
Its job is to break down the solid waste making it soluble where applicable.
If insoluble, it is broken into smaller particles that form sludge at the bottom of the tank.
Some toilets do eventually unclog themselves.
For example if the toilet was clogged by too much toilet paper, too much poop etc then the toilet will eventually unclog itself as the poop or toilet paper dissolves in the toilet.
However some other clogs will need intervention to clear the toilet clog.
Pouring boiling water down a toilet can sometimes unclog the toilet.
However you should not pour boiling hot water down a toilet unless the toilet is a stainless steel toilet or plastic toilet as the boiling hot water can crack a Porcelain Toilet.
Pouring boiling water into your toilet bowl can cause the toilet to crack, which would leave you in an even worse situation.
Fill the toilet with the hot water.
The heat, combined with the movement of the water, should help to break up and remove the toilet clog.
If the toilet clog is not too bad then letting the clogged toilet sit overnight is okay and in some cases less severe toilet clogs will clear themselves.
In more severe toilet clogs you need to work to clear the clog as the longer the clog sits the worse it can get.
Toilets, like all plumbing drains, work by the force of gravity.
A full bowl of water exerts its own pressure on the clog and, over time, often will clear the clog for you.
So if you have more than one bathroom in the house, just wait it out overnight, or as long as you can.
Then, try to flush again.
If you try to flush or you flush a clogged toilet then the toilet water will back up over the bowl and run out over the toilet bowl and onto the floor.
Sometimes you may need to use a can or something or a pump to remove some of the water in the toilet bowl to help clear the clog.
If you flush the toilet and the toilet water backs up into the bathtub or sink then the clog is somewhere between the toilet and the tub or sink drain line.
In most cases the toilet, bathtub and sink all connect to the same drain which then leaves the house connected to the main sewer line.
Your toilet drain line has a few other connections that are then connected to the sink, tub etc,
So most likely the clog is in the large pipe after it leaves the toilet drain.
When flush toilet water comes up in the tub, it means the blockage is located somewhere past the point of connection.
Otherwise, water would simply back up in the toilet.
The tub drain is usually at a slightly lower elevation than the toilet, so it provides a way for the flush water to get out of the pipe.
Baking soda and vinegar can clear and unclog some toilet clogs.
However if the toilet clog is more severe then you may need to use a toilet plunger, toilet auger or if it's really severe you may need to replace the toilet.
The clog may also be down the line before it reaches the actual sewer line to leave your house or the clog may be between the toilet sewer line and another part of the sewer line.