Zoeller Filter, Septic Tank by

I have a brand new septic tank and replaced the default filter with this one after seeing the good reviews. This filter fits perfectly in to the standard 4" tee. There are two pieces to this kit. The shell of it locks in to the 4" tee. Then the filter inside the shell can be removed for easy cleaning. The locking tab they talk about is on the shell part of it and sticks out toward the outlet and keeps the whole assembly from sliding out of the tee. I like the fact you can remove the filter piece from the shell part of it to easily clean it without other stuff getting through to the outlet. Overall seems like a very good design and time will tell how it works.

Replaced a yellow “tuf tight” yellow filter after it clogged and caused an overflow into the yard. Good times. This is a much better design and allows for easy cleaning with the sleeve that stays in plays when you pull out the main filter element. Only thing I wasn’t super impressed with was some of the plastic spot welds holding the filter element together. I ended up drilling holes through the weld spots and used small zip ties for better hold. Probably would have been fine as is but worth the minimal effort for piece of mind. Overall a much better filter than I was using.

* Note, photo includes filter without collar (in tank) and with recommended (not included) self-installed 1/2" PVC extension handle. I included a 1/8" stainless through bolt to connect the two.The product seems to have been updated since its original design very minimally. The color is now blue (not green) but its function is unchanged.It is appropriate for a retro-fit (adding a filter where there was not one) as long as there's an opening above the septic tank's effluent exit tee and the tee is a 4" PVC (or other 4" plastic) fitting. The plastic fitting on my tank was a lighter gauge plastic, (maybe not even PVC?), definitely not Schedule 40. The tank was installed in the early 90's and was in excellent condition.I installed a 6" Schedule 40 PVC pipe as an inspection hole riser, and this made the access down to the filter and tee even tighter. But, the filter (as you disconnect it) has some wobble and give, and cleared the tight opening above without any issue.Since this was part of a drainage field upgrade including an improved distribution box, I'm relieved to know that, should some odd circumstance occur between pumpings and solids attempt to move through the effluent exit, this filter will trap and prevent them from entering the drain field.Most codes now require them, effluent filters are worth the peace of mind.

Excellent installation instructions........ Easily installed. Quality construction. I added a 1/2" pvc reach-rod per the instructions. If you are looking for a filter, get this one!

I have a 55-year-old concrete tank into which someone had installed that certain yellow "tite" filter around 2009 when a new drain field was installed. The reason it clogs quickly is there's no way for crud to fall off the filter back into the tank when the flow stops. This might not be an issue in a perfect tank, but it was an ongoing issue in mine.I installed this filter in March 2018 and remove and hose it off generally every three months. I've gone as long as six without any tank backup. I find it much easier to clean than the yellow filter; spraying the other one with a garden hose caused unpleasant splashback, or I had to pick crud out with my fingers. I can hose this one off in two minutes. As of spring 2022 I am still satisfied with this filter.The two-piece design is genius. The outer piece remains inside the exit baffle and has its own secondary screen, allowing you to pull the main filter out to hose off without exposing your discharge line to unfiltered effluent.