Video summary
The video focuses on the practical task of accessing and cleaning a septic tank filter, a maintenance job recommended at least once a year. Unlike many standard setups where filters are easily reached via small green caps, the narrator deals with a large, heavy concrete lid weighing between 25 to 50 pounds that requires removal using a metal hook. Previous attempts to lift this awkward object involved using a crowbar, a method described as difficult both for lifting and for reseating the lid perfectly without causing further damage to the worn-out concrete surface.
To improve safety and ease of use, the narrator decided against hiring a professional service, which would cost several hundred dollars, and instead opted for a DIY solution involving a winch. Although he initially considered purchasing a hydraulic engine lift for around two hundred dollars, a friend suggested borrowing a smaller winch to test first. The narrator borrowed this device but faced a setup challenge because the winch's brackets were too small for the large pipe on his lid. He improvised a mounting system using straps and a ladder to secure the winch, noting that while the equipment is rated to lift over 400 pounds, his specific load was significantly lighter.
The demonstration shows the narrator successfully lifting the concrete lid with the winch setup, highlighting how much smoother the process was compared to his previous experiences. He carefully lowered the lid back into place, ensuring it sat evenly without gaps, though he noted that the concrete had become lopsided and chipped over the years from repeated handling. The video concludes with a disclaimer that while this improvised method worked for him, viewers should exercise caution as the narrator does not take responsibility for any potential injuries, especially given the unique conditions of his septic system which may differ from other regions.
Read the full video transcript
Okay, this video has nothing to do about
computers, Linux, open source, or
anything like that. Just doing stuff
yourself. And I have a little setup here
I want to talk about. So, I have a
septic tank here. And uh if you watch
videos on cleaning up filters, something
you're supposed to do at least once a
year. Uh super simple, you just pull out
this thing and rinse it off with a hose.
Except for all the videos, I don't know
if it's up north things are different.
They all have these little green caps
that open up and are easy to get to. I
have this huge concrete uh uh you know,
cap that I have to get off. It's not
super heavy. I would say, I don't know,
I guess 25 to 50 lb. But it's awkward.
It's got a little metal hook you got to
pull up with. Last time I did this, I
used a crowbar and it was very hard to
get up and then getting it back
positioned properly was even harder. So,
I thought, "Hey, what could I do?" And I
looked into getting like um a hydraulic
lift for engines, which are like 200
bucks. And then my buddy, you know,
suggested using a winch. Winch. Uh not a
wench. I say that sometimes by accident.
Storm's coming. I got to do this quick.
So, I ordered one. Just a cheap one. It
was $70. To have someone come out and do
this, uh it's going to cost three, 400
bucks. At least last And it's been a
couple years since I've had someone come
out. So, I was ready to spend a couple
hundred bucks on something to make this
easier for me. Now, I ordered this
yesterday, but my buddy let me borrow uh
his winch. Winch winch. Winch. Winch.
Okay, I have no clue when my phone
stopped recording. But again, I have
this winch. Originally,
winch winch winch. Uh I was going to put
it on this pipe, but that pipe's too big
to fit on
these little brackets here. So, I
improvised this thing with the straps
and a ladder. Again, it's not that
heavy. This thing's supposed to be able
to lift over 400 lb and at most this
thing we're lifting is 50 lb. Um
so, I just did it, but I don't know if
we got it on camera. Storm's coming. I
just want to get this again. Uh big
concrete thing.
Here we go.
Oh, wrong way again.
I can lift that up.
Now I can put it down. It's a little
lopsided cuz it's all
it's worn out from the years. This
thing's not even anymore.
I want it to go down straight.
No.
This is so much better than
what I did
2 years ago or a year year and a half
ago last time I did this. Should be
doing it at least once a year. No.
Lining it up properly, making sure it's
seated.
A little bit more.
Okay.
Make sure there's no gaps.
That's looking good.
Okay.
Again,
went smoother the first time, but it
went pretty smoothly that time.
And it's just again, if I didn't show
you before,
this is what it looks like.
Big concrete circle with a metal hook in
the middle. Last time I pulled that with
a crowbar. Uh and pulling it up was not
easy and then trying to get it seated
perfectly. And again, you can see it's
been chipped away, which is horrible. I
don't know what to do if that gets any
worse. And I didn't want to break it any
more than it is. So, this is my setup.
I'm not saying for you to do this. I
don't know I don't get hurt if you do
this and get hurt, it's not my fault.
Don't do this, but I'm just showing this
is what I came up with. Um again, all
the videos I watched, they have these
little caps they open. But me, I got
this big concrete thing and I think
that's just how it is down here. I don't
know why it's different than other
places. So, anyway, got to get the dirt
back on there.
Thank you for watching. Have a great
day. So again, I'm not really sure what
was said and what was not said since the
camera stopped recording. I think I
meant to unpause it and I stopped the
recording. But anyway, yesterday when I
ordered that, I was waiting out, my
buddy said to come try out what I've
got. He let me borrow his little giant
and this this winch here.
And uh this winch has uh a hook at both
ends. So, mine was a little more awkward
to set up cuz I had to balance it, but
again I wasn't lifting that much.