Septic Helper 2000

Has anyone used this product from Krane Products? They claim it is is an all natural product made to help with the liquification of the solid waste in septic systems (both sludge and scum). You just flush the product down the commode. They also claim it will return the full width to your plumbing lines between the commode & septic and from the septic throughout the drainfield.(you can also put the product down your sinks). It is completely safe for humans, animals and plants.

Here's the deal: They send you a 6 year supply (20 packets) of this Septic Helper 2000. You use 1 packet a month. (The first month is free - although they send the whole bunch). At the end of the month, you either send back the rest (you pay postage) or keep it and pay $179.00 (broke down in just 4 easy payments of $44.75 over 4 months)

They have a money back guarantee. They claim you will not have to have your septic pumped again.

OK the reason I am checking into this is: We had our septic pumped out in August (we were getting stinky sewage water in the yard around the tank). there was a small amount of scum in drainfield opening. DH cleaned that out & ran water through the drainfield for over an hour without it backing up. Now (started last week) we are having stinky sewage water bubble up from the septic tank again. DH is going to dig up the lid again tomorrow & see if the drainfield opening is blocked again. There is no backup in the house. I haven't used the clothes washer (usually 6 large loads a week) for over a week & that hasn't helped. I quit using the garbage disposal (I know NOW it's a septic no-no). The commode, very quick showers, and dishwater are the only sources going into the septic now (We even disconnected the water softener)

Anyway, the Septic Helper 2000 sounds like it would help, but wanted to know if anyone else has tried it. Julie

Julie, I don't know about this particular product, but I'd have someone take a look at the system - as you know, a system that has been recently cleaned out shouldn't be having problems. It could be blockage, but it takes a while to get enough stuff in there to block it up. August - October shouldn't be enough time to get it full of solids.

With our system, we have a known tree root problem (didn't know it when we moved in, but that's another story.) When we had it worked on this past winter, they warned us that it might hold out six months, or it might last six years without further problems. But it's not really a matter of getting breaking down the solids as much as clogged field lines - liquid can't get to them, so a product that turns sludge to liquid wouldn't help.

Also, they give you twenty packets? If you're supposed to use one per month, that's not even two years worth....I don't know how much it costs to have your system pumped - around here it recently went for $75 - $100, although now it's about double that, thanks to some changes in municipal and county regs. $180 for 18 months of no pumping wouldn't be that good of a deal, unless your pumping fees are a lot more than ours.

Hi,
I think it would be better to get something like roter rooter (spelling) to see, as like go-vols says, you don't have a blockage.

Try talking to someone in your local government who regulates septic systems (around here it's the county health department.) From what I've been told, septic tanks NEED to be pumped out periodically so I'd be wary of a product that would make a claim like you've described.

You may also want to do some research on how a septic system works to get an idea if there's a probability that you can do without pumping under certain conditions.

I have used the Krane stuff..can't say for sure it has helped as the system is OLD and probably "homemade" so to speak. I believe after the first month you only use a fourth packet each month thereafter. We got pumped this summer and the septic man said that the Krane product was a good one,but even so it's a good idea to get pumped about every 3-5 years anyway. Good luck..plumbing problems are no fun. Ginger

they send you all that because so many people won't go to the trouble of returning something and then you're stuck. And how would you know for sure in one month if it was working?

You are so right,tiG. We got the older version of the stuff back in '96...when they called about the 2000 I said no,but they called again and dh answered the phone so here I am making the pymts. grrrrr

I only know cause it's happened to me with so many other things:) I'm a sucker!!

Thanks for all the input. My hubby is out digging the lid as we speak to "check things out". I don't think I will order the Septic Helper stuff. We use RidX which is supposed to help with roots, but we have 3 large trees in our backyard (where the drainfield is) and the neighbor has 1 massive Maple about 14' away from our tank. The problem 3 months ago was a little sludge or scum got into the drain opening, hopefully that is the only problem now and not the drainfield. We soon shall see!

It cost $165 to have the tank pumped last time.

What do you do with a known tree problem Go_Vols?

Julie, I asked the guy who re-did our system. He kind of hesitated, so I finally said "What if we cut down the tree?" His reply: "I'm not going to tell you what to do, but once you cut it down, those roots won't grow any more." So, one of the three huge trees in our front yard will be coming down as soon as we can figure out how to do it ourselves (ugh) or cough up $500 for somebody to come take it down for us.

It's a drastic solution, but I don't know when we'll get city sewer, and I'm not sure I want to pay the extra monthly bill that comes with city service. Our little subdivision (it's one street - no side streets) is now surrounded by the city. As soon as one neighbor requests city sewer, we'll all be required to have it. And the expense of running the lines - ugh!!!! I sure don't want to be the neighbor who gets dubbed "the weakest link", LOL!

DH found a clog about 5' down in the drainline. It is taken care of & working correctly again. He also added another baffle, we only had 1 and from what he could tell from searching on the net most septics had at least 2 baffles. (I call them divider walls). Anyway, all is well in the poopy department now! Thanks for all the advice!

Go_vols: 2 of the trees in my backyard are ugly trees. I don't know what kind they are but I wouldn't mind cutting them down. Maybe DH will get the chain saw working. I sure can't afford the $500 to cut it down either. The main one causing the problems would be the neighbors' tree - not much I could do about that one. I don't think there will be city sewer service here for quite a few years. Our small town is still in the middle of nowhere.

dignbloom,You should have a drywell for your grey water,dont put more strain on the septic.Your washer and sinks could all go in it.

how do you do that, cc??

I have thought about that. I think I will run it past DH today, thanks crestedchik.

Tig: basically dig a large hole, fill with gravel, and have your gray water diverted there. (I am sure there is a bit more to it than that but it gets the point across.)

We've always had city water; I can't imagine what you guys must have to deal with. I did a search for septic tank on Ohioline (OSU Extension fact sheets) and here are the search results: http://ohioline.osu.edu/cgi-bin/ohiolinesearch.cgi

Based on your description, it's likely your drainfield is overloaded or partially faulty, and no amount of powder flushed down the toilet will fix it. I wouldn't spend $179 and would first check the drainfield, groundwater level, and possible blockages/siltation—supplements, unfortunately, aren't a panacea.