Effluent Filters

[Toxic Avenger]

Now that effluent filters are becoming widely used throughout the nation, I am interested in finding out folk's opinion on what make and model of filter is the best overall.  I'm personally more concerned with things like efficiency, durability, frequency of cleaning, ease of cleaning, and not necessarily how much it costs, considering a filter is a minimal expense compared to the septic system as a whole.  I am looking at getting one installed the next time I have my tank pumped.

In my work, I see the following brands being installed frequently:
Zoeller
Tuf-Tite
Polylok
SimTech

[jmenchhofer]

I have a Polylok PL-122 sitting here in my office.  It is the one that has the plastic ball at the bottom of the housing.  When the filter is pulled out, the ball floats up to block the outlet.  That way, if pumping has been badly neglected (not that you would do this personally), you won't be sending a slug of nasty stuff out to the field when the filter is pulled.  I really like the concept of this design, but I have not seen this particular model in the field, so I don't know if it actually works the way it is intended to work.

[Stuart Meade]

I'm a fan of reusing filters but also recognize the convenience and simplicity of disposable bottle brush style filters.  Cleaning the filter, especially during the freezing winter months, when your garden hose is not usable, is going to be a hassle.  Sometimes people will replace a reusable filter with a clean one and then take the old one back to the shop to clean it off there. 

Regular maintenance/replacement of filters will help ensure things keep flowing as they should.  Neglected filter maintenance often results in backups and slower plumbing (using the word plumbing as a verb ).  Replacing or cleaning the filter when there is high water in the tank will allow some solids/scum to flow out of the tank.  Regular maintenance avoisd this unwanted condition.