9:31 Saturday night. Basement toilet gurgles. Peace descends.
9:35 Saturday night. Basement toilet belches. LK perks ears at unusual sound. Goes back to peaceful surfing.
9:40 Saturday night. Basement toilet belches a monotone of notes. LK gets up to investigate this strange serenade. As he walks into the bathroom he shouts, "I need a bucket."
And so the longest night in several years began.
By 11:00 we had cleaned up the mess, phoned a parent, a church friend, and a guy we know who "does plumbing and other stuff". The parent, of course, was helpful, but not able to drop everything and popout 2 000km to come and help. The church friend was out of town. The guy was in the middle of his own project on his own house, but gladly talked us through opening up the tank behind the house.
If you haven't had the pleasure of the perfume of an open septic tank... you are missing NOTHING. It is worse than dirty diapers, toddler vomit on the carpet, and skunk combined. And, according the subsequent research done while not sleeping later that night, the fumes are toxic and can actually kill you.
Date night? I think not.
We went to bed with all water sources carefully turned off and worried that we were dealing with a tank disaster. Some of us slept like babies. Some of us tossed and turned. Some of us lay awake predicting every possible way this could mean the complete and utter destruction of our home.
Sunday AM: all family members were forbidden to flush anything. All water waste was carefully hoarded in pots in sinks to prevent anything from going down a drain. Showers were verboten. Tooth brushing was to be done under careful supervision.
More phone calls.
More opening of hatches to septic tanks.
This hatch opening determined that the tank was in no danger. This is excellent news as problems with the tank and/or field are pricey to fix and miserable to deal with in January (even the warmest January in the history of NW Ontario). A blockage was determined to be the most likely culprit. So the hunt was on.
The most effective phone call was placed carelessly by a tired person right at 9:35 to a friend who was just enjoying the first hymn of said church service. Being a saint in all ways, said friend left church early, went home and picked up his emergency kit, and arrived on our doorstep in less than an hour.
A lesson and some experimentation on the use of a plumbing snake ensued. The snake explored every possible location it could be sent to in order to flush out a blockage.
After about an hour of thinking and working in tandem, LK and Sir Saint were very pleased to discover a lot of new information about the workings of the bowels of our house. They also found the blockage.
It turns out that some septic tanks have a filter in the far end where the 'water' leaves the tank to move into the septic field. That filter needs regular maintenance. Turns out the the year and a half we have lived in this house is just enough time for it to get
So we have a new item for our annual maintenance list to keep the house running smoothly. We learned how septic systems work, and many of the possible ways they can not work. We learned to appreciate the fascinating science of septic disposal.
The most important lesson we learned is that a community of people who are willing to help out is the biggest blessing anyone could ever ask for. From parents who love to share their
I am so excited to enter 2016 and the challenges that are ahead with a family who is amazing, a community that circles the wagons to help someone in need, and lots of adventures lying ahead.
I just hope the next adventure smells better.
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