In the 17 years we have lived in this house in Northeast Florida, the septic has always been slow. To remedy, we have had septic pumped maybe a dozen times (I am stubborn and tight fisted), instituted water frugality measures, such as short showers, drain the washing machine onto the yard on another side of the house to avoid going into septic, opening the clean out and KEEPING it open at all times to allow effluent to overflow and not back up into the house, and with 4 boys in the family we have encouraged trips to the backyard nether regions for potty breaks for years. I even replaced our perfectly good toilets for modern low water use toilets, one gallon per flush models. Five years ago, I rented a miniature back hoe and dug up the entire backyard. I laid 12 inch plastic tubes in the shape of a pitchfork, laid directly on top of the existing drain field (it was easy to identify, black slimy gravel about 4 feet under the surface), wrapped with water permeable fabric to keep all sediment out of the new tubes. This added about 80 cubic feet of new drainfield, and was a success in all respects. It lasted about 18 months, and toilet flushing after 2 or 3 showers in quick succession became impossible, again. We were so ashamed of our toilet flushing issues we would ask family visitors to stay in hotels, and sent them to the local gas station to use toilet when we were backed up. I don't know if we were typical, but we were victims of downsizing and job losses over several years, and money for septic repair was also money for groceries and mortgage. We chose what we had to choose to survive, so we endured our bad septic situation. The only professional advice we ever got was replace the entire drainfield, and the cost was always enough to buy a new car.
We were skeptical when we saw the first AeroStream ad. I spent hours reading testimonials. I saw many unsatisfied forum posts for other septic system remedies, but darn few for Aerostream. I called the sales office, and was given answers consistent with the company's claims, and forum posts. I was assured this was also a money back proposition. When I saw a 6 months same as cash offer, the family decision was to try this, what can we lose?
We ordered the basic device, had the septic pumped on a Friday afternoon, and I asked the pumping dudes to not replace the cover and dirt. When the delivery came on Tuesday, the tank was only about half full (we are water misers, from a long history of slow septic habits). I installed per the instructions, but did not put the brushes (effluent filters) into the outfall end of the septic, because as far as I know, there is no trap door on that end, and installing would have meant to somehow open that end, not something I wished to do in late November, even in Florida. The first thing I noticed when I plugged the device in, was the entire tank in a state of agitation that can only be described as boiling. The tank contents were boiling. I didn't close the tank up immediately, I was still skeptical, and wanted to observe what was happening for a couple days, at least. The smell was powerful at this point. Sorry, neighbors.
By the weekend, 3 or 4 days later, the odor was nearly absent. The tank fluid level was close to the top, the effluent was boiling away. The toilets were flushing, even after several quick showers, as is our morning custom before school and work. Too good to be true? I made visits to the semi-closed septic lid every day for the first 2 weeks. Even at night with a flashlight. All systems were going strong. The second weekend, I closed the lid and replaced the soil over the tank which the pumping crew had dug up. A strange "knocking" began a few days later, coming from inside the septic! I called the AeroStream customer service line, and it was determined the aerator stone, which travels some, had gotten into a corner and was unable to come out. I was to shorten the hose feeding inside the tank. The tank was only half full the day I installed the new AeroStream, and there was a lot of extra hose inside the septic, apparently. So I dug up the clear hose and shortened it a foot. Still knocking, shortened it 6 inches more the next day, and no more knocking now for over 3 weeks. It has been about 45 days, and the septic system is refreshingly operational. I hated to pay for a septic pump in the past, because in 10 days to 2 weeks, the same problems always returned. Always. Not this time! AeroStream oxygenator seems to be doing it's advertised duty of reversing the bad sludge buildup with happy aerobic bacteria that is returning my septic system, a 17 year nightmare, into a fully functional system. I never expected results this fast, or this good. I am a very happy customer, if it lasts, and I would be glad to give testimonials to callers who want personal experience as a reference. This is like the Fountain of Youth, or a cure for the common cold. Wonderful. Thank you, Karl.
I don't have before and after pictures, but several times in our 17 year history, septic pooling has occurred. I may have some pictures of the back yard dug up, and my youngsters with big boots and shovels helping me. When this RECORD BREAKING cold weather lets up, I will be closing the clean out for the first time in years. Thank you, again, for a fine American product.
God Bless America.
Michael L. Sawall
Sawall Tech
more