Septic Issues and Rainwater Collection Fail: 6 Weeks No Rain, No Water Left! - & Deck Stain

In this video, we face the harsh reality of off-grid living as our rainwater collection system completely fail after 6 weeks with no rain! We’ve run out of water, and to make matters worse, our greywater system is acting up - the tank isn’t draining properly, adding to our off-grid water crisis.
We’ll show you how we’re dealing with these setbacks and the temporary solutions we’re putting in place to get by until the next rainfall. On a more positive note, we’re also staining our custom self-milled deck on the off-grid cabin, making the most of the dry weather to preserve the wood and enhance its look.
In this video:
Why our rainwater collection system failed after 6 weeks of drought
Troubleshooting our greywater system and how we’re managing without proper drainage
The steps we’re taking to fix the greywater issue for now
Staining our custom self-milled deck to protect it from future weather damage
Off-grid life can be challenging, but we’re pushing through and learning as we go. Watch to see how we’re handling these water-related challenges and what we’re doing to improve our setup going forward!
#OffGridLiving #RainwaterCollection #WaterCrisis #GreyWaterSystem #DIYDeck #SustainableLiving #OffGridChallenges
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[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

IBC tote adaptors amzn.to/3sifHcH IBC tote/pool Filter socks amzn.to/3YJNzeU

[@brendafarrow3117]

Jay you need 55 gallon barrel burred top circle up bottom circle down . Get two 20 foot four inch perforated pipe go out to the right and go out to the left . Filling with stone and rocks The pipe from the house needs to be 4 inch pipe run 20 feet from cabin to barrel . If you do this it will last a lifetime .do it correct the first time save money & time . Jay you can treat the wood on your cabin with cheap redwood stain of kerosene or fuel oil. And it’s done for 20-30 years . I’ve told you this years ago .if you do what we have done , you would be all set . 💙💙💙☝️

[@bobdavis6862]

Your problem is the grease that is going down there in your barrels. I have the same thing at my off grid place and when I built it, I told my wife try NOT to wash any grease down the drain cause it will layer the dirt under the down where the water drains. This will not allow the drain to work over time. If it does we will have to add on the end of the barrels or redo the system. The videos that I watched in the past before installing mine did say this would happen. You may want to look into a grease trap to add to your system?

[@ThisOffGridLife]

We have an access port for the gray water pit and we have a bucket with wood chips as a filter. We change the wood chips periodically and throw them in the compost. The filter has helped a lot as the rocks were getting plugged up with grease etc

[@denisemikesell]

That's brilliant! Thanks for the idea. 🎉

[@HippocratesGarden]

Yeah, if Grease is a problem, need some kind of grease trap. Sometimes that's as simple as a water container where the outlet is lower than the top, grease and oil floats to the top, water exits below the grease/oil level, skim off the grease/oil occasionally.

[@denisemikesell]

@@HippocratesGarden The wood chips seems to be a sensible solution and creates another useful product, fire starter fuel for damp wood.

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Wow......this is awesome. I might have to find a way to incorporate this into our system. Thanks guys

[@jimdelong949]

Another day at the homestead. Jay and Jen working together while calling each other pet names😊 Praying with you for some rain

[@morgansword]

Alway wipe the grease and oils out of cooking ware for it helps keep the pot looking nice and rust free, plus any grease plugs any kind and I mean any kind of septic system. I love my cast iron, and seldom use anything else. I use my convection cooking as its memory is much better than mine, no more pots that melt cause I went to sleep while its cooking. I seen folks here in alaska who bought those totes for using for something else like you. Some had sunflower oil and others had olive oil. They put it on their decks and homes to help keep wood from curling in the sun..... and we get a lot of sun in the summer. like a twenty three hours and fifty nine minutes of sunlight.... its never ever dark for say two months in mid summer and Fairbanks is twenty four seven for even longer. Of course we get payback as when its getting darker in the evenings,, like say ten or twenty minutes a day sooner as it goes on till where I am at is only about eight hours of light ... well you can still see really well out for another three or more hours and of course by then Fairbanks sees very little light at all. My ex and mother of our kids lives in central N. Carolina. Haven't heard or talked to her in many years. Not going to say how much I still love her or not as its no ones business but the hurricane that has left everyone under water, and imagine cemeteries that have washed away as well. Lost lives by probably thousands when counted..... no water where you are and water for drinking is nowhere to be found where they swim to house to house. I pray many of those who did make it through have quick help and survive this terrible mess.

[@jharper8192]

NEVER dump grease down ANY drain. The end.

[@Shelleys4Seasons]

agreed.

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

We don't always wipe out the pans and stuff.

[@indianachrisUDX1313]

They say the real struggles make YOU Stronger! By The Way, Cool Earl Shirt! Dixie Chicks! On a serious Note, Does your Gray water system have a Leach Field? Peace from Northern Indiana

[@stephanierosales5416]

Grease the pole like they do in French Quarter to keep people from climbing up the balcony’s!

[@stanskay730]

Don't put grease in drain

[@winterhomestead]

We bought another 1600 gallon tank and got more water too.. So this winter we will have 4000 gallons.. And with the snow and tank heaters in them..we should be good for 3 months.. Great video you 2.. That sucks about the septic..we do the 5 gallon bucket system with fine shavings.. Is works great and don't use very precious water

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Awesome

[@DaveSquibbSr]

Most septic systems recommend that you put a cake of yeast down them once a month it's not harmful to anything and it will eat anything out of there that's not supposed to be there, you simply put it down the drain and let it go.

[@justiceleague1146]

Thanks for sharing! It was a fun video!

[@robdavis05]

At the 45 minute mark on your view you show us the view from your property. Can you explain what I am seeing. Is that foggy area a lake??

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

It's actually a valley just fog sits there sometimes and it seems like a lake !

[@brendahogue5487]

Love and enjoy your videos. May the lord bless and protect you and Jen and working on the homestead

[@georgechisholm1022]

Try greasing it up with some Crisco vegetable shorting.

[@wobdeehomestead]

We have a 250 gal round plastic septic tank that I drilled a bunch of holes in the bottom. I buried it on top of 6” of gravel. It’s been working great for 4 years now. It also has a man hole cover that’s accessible at ground level so you can check it a couple times a year.

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

That sounds more appropriate for our lifestyle as well. Thanks my friend

[@wobdeehomestead]

Now that I watched your video I decided to clean my septic out. Just remove the cover, shopvac the grease out then rinse a couple times with water hose. Usually do it once in spring and fall.

[@mikemckinley1031]

Hello do you want some water we have lots here in Ontario canada it rained here for two days

[@barbaraslayden2277]

I'm going to try it this year because they eat everything.

[@davidpatrick1813]

time of year to keep getting ready for winter for sure.

[@richardgreen5602]

Hope that's not a beaver pond with current beaver activity there....real trouble with disease beaver's cause/carry.

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

5 years no problems. Also it is filtered as shown plus more

[@wreathscraftsbylena]

The only thing I find that keeps squirrels from my bird feeders is using “Songbird Selection” sizzling variety with Habanero! It has the spicy habanero oil, birds like, but squirrels don’t!! The slinky didn’t work for me! Good luck!

[@douglasrobbie9998]

There are products that treat septic system solids and grease like Ridex (just some bacteria). For longer lasting system would suggest a setup that functions like a true septic tank. Example, two 275-315 gal totes buried with inflow near top of first, watertight T connection between two totes near top of opposite side wall from inlet, watertight T outlet near top of wall on opposite side of 2nd tote with 3" pipe leading out to maybe six 5' long ARC units (30' total length). The first tote catches all the solids, grease and is where bacteria decompose stuff but this tote will occasionally need to be pumped out. This first tote eventually fills with water and the T in this tote allows the water to flow into the second tote but prevents 99% off all the solids and grease from going into the 2nd tote. The T in the first tote has a 4-6" downward pointing 3" pipe and 99% of any solids or grease floating on top cant flow into the 2nd tote. The 2nd tote has a similar T on the outlet for the same reason. So pretty clean waste water flows out going towards the ARC units. ARC units make up a kind of "leach field". They need sandy soil to work (which you seem to have) and are connected in series on a flat horizontal trench then covered with soil. ARC units are relatively inexpensive, cost around $45-$60 (depends on width) for each 5' long section. If you decide ever to have a well and treat black water, two totes serving as a septic tank would be too small and 30' of ARC units would be inadequate, however adding a distribution box after a new last 3rd tote and adding another 30' of ARC units in a new trench may work for a 2 person cabin. Sorry about length.

[@GSA_Northumberland]

Thanks for sharing , I really enjoy the content😀 some help if you want it, It’s easier to push water than draw water, You need to have the suction filter submerged 3 times the radius (suction filter) so not to create a water vortex and suck in air, maybe move your pump closer and push the water to the IBC. All the best 😀👍 let’s hope it rains … through the night only💦🌞🌞 🌞 daytime 👍

[@MelissaMalzahn]

Use biodegradable soaps, definitely can't put grease down the drain. We had 2 barrels buried next to our cabin worked from 1963 - 2013 when we sold it. Our septic tank was buried cement blocks.

[@vonheise]

One can acquire a taste for squirrel meat if it is cooked right, BBQ sauce and a bun with slaw. Best with a 22 as a shotgun makes them hard to clean all the shot from. One can acquire a taste for squirrel meat if it is cooked right, BBQ sauce and a bun with slaw. Best with a 22 as a shotgun makes them hard to clean all the shot from. Our zoysia grass is both shade and drought tolerant but we had 6 weeks of no more than a sprinkle a few times and much of our yard turned brown, but I didn't water due to the expense, and knowing it wasn't really dead. Then we had three days of rain from a hurricane and it all turned green again, then residue from a second hurricane with two days of rain. Now I will not be able to keep it mowed until the first frost. You will have snow water soon... I will never build a cabin, but if I used rain water, I would put a wood stove in the attic to melt off roof snow for water in the winter.

[@kristingrounds4163]

I think the deck turned out great!!! It was 114F yesterday here in Arizona WTH! It is almost October

[@Revelation22-13]

Psalm 100:5 King James Version 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Gods blessings over you .

[@ronaalexander825]

We woke up to no water from our well in Gaylord 4 weeks ago! It took 1 week to get a well guy out. Thankfully, we had our rainwater collection and stored drinking water. 😢 we were told that our water table had dropped 30 feet since 2010!! We have to be very conservative with our well. I am shopping for IBC totes.

[@Kiernnan]

As far as squirrels go, they tend to be smarter than us. If you want to see what a NASA engineer tried to get rid of his squirrels, watch Mark Rober and the squirrel video. The first squirrel video is the best. But, the second one shows how smart squirrels are. It’s good to see y’all. Winter will be here before you know it.

[@SusanBrewer-gf1ut]

Why don't u put that Australian Timber Oil on the cabin one or two sides at a time ?? The hit to your wallet won't b so painful. That's what I do. When I can, I break up my project(s) up into portions, sections or zones. It really helps !!

[@jacquelinewells7575]

I tell you guy’s, squirrels are too smart for me. Yes they love to eat every bit of food you put out and they’ll eat through anything you put in their way. I’ve put everything imaginable on my poles and all they do is jump over it and get on the feeders. I’ve done the oil, grease, car oil so they slide and they got smart and just jump over it. So I hope the slinky’s work. Let us know how they work.

[@airman6822]

I was planning on doing that barrel trick for our grey water. Although we wont be there full time. I would say less bacon, but everything is better with bacon! Cheers!

[@katrinagauld5177]

Why would you water the grass when your trying to conserve

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

To keep it alive so the yard doesn't become a giant dirt pit/ then mud pitt when it rains.

[@paulburnett8300]

That Australia timber oil cost 💲 50.00 per gallon.!!! It is what I use and love it ‼️‼️‼️

[@dianapagan8991]

Don't know much and pardon my ignorance but can you make an irrigation system with your gray water for the plants and grass? I know you don't have electricity but something that the water goes down and out the barrels for that purpose? So your rain water doesn't end fast in a drought.

[@Shelleys4Seasons]

You can have our rain, we were hit with the tropical storm. High winds, down trees, power outages, and high waters. Hoping to travel up through MI to the UP this weekend!

[@jerrycopley9325]

Get you one of those Mountain Feist dogs lol little terrors on squirrels :) or take a trip to WVa or Ky and have one of those grannys up one of the hollers teach you how to cook them lol Our cat died 2 years ago 17 years old, 2 years later we were invaded by chipmunks I tried nice traps to catch them live and rehome them lol to smart, when they are breeding in the carport when i pull in thats enough lol they caused 2 retaining walls to partially collapse, I got 4 traps on Amazon our count as of yesterday 67 chipmunks fixed the walls and all is peaceful again lol

[@garydavis786]

You might try and put some bacon grease around your bird feeder poles in addition to the slinky. That might attract raccoons, I don't know.

[@jmccoll59]

Have you thought of using sump pump in a bucket to pump water. I use one to drain my hot tub. Only takes about 10 min. Love the videos.

[@TheBlueBirdguy]

Your sand has too many fines which prevents the effluent from dispersing through the ground. Our home septic system was lined with fine sand by the builder and the state failed it. We made the builder dig it out and rebuild with coarse “septic” sand. You may need an overflow pipe to the hillside to empty into barrel(s) with large septic stone and course sand. You may need to do this before the ground freezes.

[@juliederry3719]

Guys you get a WOOT WOOT from me, for the decking it looks amazing, keeping my fingers crossed for rain , we’re getting so much of it wish I could send some your way, tfs x Julie 🇬🇧

[@ChooseFreedom-o1e]

Squirrels say thanks for the ladder to the food lol.

[@denisemikesell]

😂

[@davidbryant1950]

Man,,, you two have a ton of patience. I couldn't do that , without going crazy. Good on ya ,as the Aussies say. Enjoy.

[@Ocheecheenay]

They make weight sensative bird feeders. The feeder ports close if anything other than birds try to access feed. All of mind are this style. No issues with squirrels since.

[@dwayneard2099]

A perfectly functional septic tank will hold water. Atleast yours didnt look to have a cap of solids on the top. The vent should help. You may want to add more feild line.

[@Gypsygurl2024]

18:58 Jay - So don't put this in your eyeballs Jen- Dammit 😂😂😂 gosh I love you guys!

[@LindaSAndrews.]

I would use a sprayer to spray the house. I think it wouldn't take as much stuff there. As far as those pesky squirrel they they will make hay of our pecan trees. They will destroy a crop if you don't keep up with them.

[@ineverhadthemoney7857]

lol let there be light --to funny //lol ---really ??? lol

[@denisemikesell]

😂

[@Kodas-Dad]

Can't wait for a slinky video.. 😅

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Jen caught one squirrel yesterday thru the window on her phone. She posted it on fb, if you're on fb check it out! Otherwise she will try to get more footage soon and we'll iinclude it here !

[@lorigougeon8873]

Love all of the progress, the land is beautiful - thank you for sharing it with us ❤

[@catmac6838]

If you put 1” gravel in around your reservoir then your sandy dirt you’ll have better luck on the septic.

[@davidpatrick1813]

On the porch facing the flag .. have you thought of putting up an awning or extend the roof where you can sit under it in rains etc.? .. Consider getting a Victron Smart Shunt and it will read the data and you set it all in their app. Then if there is a correlation setting on the battery and charger/inverter you can set it to the smart shunt ... see if the inverter accepts the shunt too

[@user-hr5yj2fo1h]

Trials and tribulations of off-grid living, worth every bit of it! Stay safe!

[@maxinedurling3425]

I have seen 3 barrals grey water systems and that was for a weekend retreat. but have never seen only one barral

[@paulmccarroll6604]

Squirrel and Dumplings sounds great lol

[@markdickey7807]

showing our age - nice samford and son ref.... i go there myself in my head sometimes when i see some things out here in the country in Northern MI

[@kathleengray7681]

You need a squirrel feeder! It worked for me in Texas and now in Washington State.

[@northernliving2387]

Have you guys did a perk test to see how fast the water drains into the soil? Maybe you guys need to install a bigger leach field so that the water has more of a area to leach into the soil.

[@KevinGastonSR.]

I coat metal poles with wheel bearing grease to stop animals from climbing it. Works on raccoons also for my deer feeder

[@travisgrow4713]

Let him have it Jen don’t listen to his lip lol jk

[@denisemikesell]

😂

[@bamacat4469]

If there is a stream down the hill anywhere..maybe u can rig up a ram pump to keep your fish water full.

[@alexseaford4029]

Is there a prize for being the ten thousandth person to recommend that you insulate your power shed doors? 😂

[@timstowe4984]

What if you was to nail a board to a tree behind the feeder with screws protruding so you can just screw on full field corn cobs then you could watch both or build them a obstacle course and the reward would be waiting at the end after they figure it out

[@HippocratesGarden]

Lye, is extremely alkaline. Opposite of acidic, but still very caustic.

[@justme5544]

I love the deck!! Can't wait to see lots of squirrel videos. 😃

[@timclark7507]

I had good results with Bio-Clean. It is supposed to digest soap scum and grease deposits.

[@KrissBartlett]

coconut trees have things that go up and eat the coconuts they put a peice of steel or Alaminum around the base you could put grease on it to so they slide off or get some live cadges and trap them then move them long way away that will work

[@billelsener6192]

Hopefully you won’t have a lot of stink odor from the vent pipe.

[@ineverhadthemoney7857]

Hi I made a funnel out of sheet metal and it works//lol put the spiner on them// as its funny to look at //lol

[@denisepeel1327]

Yeast once a month. It will feed off of the bacteria in your septic.

[@terval52]

Hey guys, did you try to put(rub all over the pipes) on the bird pipes lard or oil ?

[@Robertbush-s7t]

Put red pepper in feeder will run them off and birds can't smell it

[@dede8250]

You could of greased you poles also along with the slinky

[@ineverhadthemoney7857]

hi dig out a pond just dig a big wide hole //it fill with water//help in watering plants

[@rienlamberts6661]

That oil cost a lot,now you have a wallet from onion leather.😂😂

[@LR-xx5ig]

Add a few more totes for backups just in case of droughts

[@MelissaMalzahn]

I want a cold tub here in Arizona 😂. Looks really nice at your place. I like long grass for my lawn. ❤

[@denisemikesell]

😂Right! 70 degrees sounds so satisfying, I'm 12 miles from the UT & AZ border. Our weather forecast says another 21 days of 105+ degree temperatures. Stay cool neighbors!

[@MelissaMalzahn]

@@denisemikesell yes we're suppose to be 108° down here. I'm between Phoenix and Tucson exit 200 off 10 by I8. I'm so over being down here. I need some trees & water. I'm a Michigander born & raised until I was 45 @ 60 now I'm done drying out. 😂

[@saner6888]

Bless you AZ. People… someone’s gotta live there but those temps are crazy hot 🥵🥵🥵🥵I’ll stay in New England. Hope you get some relief❣️

[@denisemikesell]

@@MelissaMalzahn 💯❤️😇😂

[@busyboy7635]

Maybe the solution is to take your showers together. 😍

[@anthonyconti9755]

Jay, I just put australian timber oil, natural, over rough cut hemlock. Looks good. I have a 20x32 8ft walls with 8/12 roof pitch and did 3 sides using almost 6 gallons. Im thinking i need 2 more gallons for the 4th wall. Do it and you will be happy. I sprayed it with a electric harbor freight spayer. Works great.

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Awesome.....really appreciate that buddy. I'm gonna do it.

[@debjukes5548]

Yup…..put in a bit of yeast monthly.

[@BeverlyBendo-bc4gn]

i was thinking about slinky right away and it works

[@debbymullies8381]

It is so beautiful where you live! Hubby kind of cranky I get that - I am the same when things don’t work properly 🥺 The deck looks beautiful with the stain, your place is so cute!!

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Thank you Debby

[@mikeeggleston1769]

The voltage from your solar panels to the house is 120 except your water pump, which is 12v. How is your wiring run for each voltage from your solar shed to your cabin?

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

I ran conduit underground from the shed to the far left corner of the cabin. Put a small fusible junction box there and ran the AC to my breaker box and the DC straight to the pump

[@Kate-turbokateproducts]

would lleach line extension help you out?

[@stevenhawk7751]

I hope the deer and bears are staying away

[@spiderthenimble]

I get home from work and sit down to dinner and there's a new vid from OG/w Jay and Jen. It's like eating with old friends. Let the rain begin! We've had enough in N. Georgia from that dang hurricane.

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

This makes me happy my friend.....I hope you have been safe during this storm

[@jasonmeche8600]

I was told. Bearing grease o n the pole

[@3hwoodworks]

What a treat, lots of videos this week!!! Let’s push for 100K subs!!!😉

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Woot woot my friend......we would be ecstatic. 😃

[@saner6888]

The solution is a plant based diet and couples showering🤷🏼‍♀️😁

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

😆😄😀

[@Robertbush-s7t]

Can't you add to the system

[@donclay3511]

Jen, you need to treat your husband with more respect. Mr. Butthead would be more appropriate. :)

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

He he

[@johnpape1115]

On my cabin I used 1 gallon of stain to 2 gallons of off-road diesel fuel it smells for a while but I have had no issues with it and I did board in Baton Rough Cut

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

Nice....I was considering something similar

[@travisgrow4713]

The dark would look good on house

[@debbieshort9660]

I hope it rains for you soon.❤

[@alinedoyle4914]

Use Ridx in the Sewage

[@jeffwasilenski]

IM sent through FB

[@dwayneard2099]

Mix bread yeast with raw hamburger and flush it down the toilet. It will eat up the stuff in the tank.

[@katrinagauld5177]

This is gray water no toilet, waste only shower sinks

[@ericwagner6087]

luv the earl shirt LOL

[@WalterThayer-r7n]

Nice job guy's

[@thomaswhite5871]

Tastes like chicken