Greetings everyone!

I need help with a catch basin question. I own a 1 1/2 story home built in the late '30's with a catch basin. My catch basin is in a crawl space under an addition built on my house before I bought it. How often should they be cleaned and is it a job that a do-it-yourselfer can do?

Please explain what you mean by "catch basin". A grease trap for the kitchen or washer? A septic tank for the house drainage? What's its function? Regards, Tom

Thanks for the reply Tom! My catch basin, as I call it, is 10' deep X 3' wide. My kitchen sink, basement laundry sink, floor drain, and outside stairwell drain are all connected to this catch basin which is in turn connected to the city sewer system. This is definitely not a septic system. The only pipes connected directly to the sewer are the bathroom toilets and sinks.

Mark

I have the same thing on my kitchen and laundry. This is a grease trap and it's usually used in conjunction with a septic tank so grease and fiber is caught before it enters the drain field. The grease trap removes grease and solids while allowing liquid to pass into the septic system. Cleaning one out is a nasty, dirty, smelly job, plus you'll have to dispose of the gunk you removed. If were my decision I would call a septic tank c pumping company to come out and pump it clear. Good luck, Tom