I"m sure this has been discussed before but somehow I missed it. Helped a friend dig up and pump his septic tank today. It had not been done for at least 30 years. Pump guy said the state recommends every 3 years. My tank is ten years old and I am thinking now about having it pumped as preventive maintenance since friends laterals may be plugged. What do you think? How often should a tank be pumped?
- Thread starter JDB
- Start date
Local ordinance here says all new permitted tanks and all repermitted tanks (meaning those that have been pumped or serviced) must be pumped every 3 years. Existing tanks are exempt until they repermit. My last tank made it 22 years before it needed service and then just for a broken laterial, but I had it pumped anyhow. No more, Im not planning on every pumping this one.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
If everyone just gave it a little more thought, they would put a 12" riser pipe up, and hise it with some flowers. That makes it a whole bunch gooder when it needs attention.
I have heard, but not a fact --that if you must have it pumped, it has to go into a treatment plant. It used to be spread on a field, but that is not alowed now I guess.
I have heard, but not a fact --that if you must have it pumped, it has to go into a treatment plant. It used to be spread on a field, but that is not alowed now I guess.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Theoretically a septic tank should never have to be pumped. The main reason for pumpung is to inspect the baffles. If a baffle breaks off, solids may enter the drainfield....Not good!
We have lived in this house 18 years and I've had the tank pumped once. All was well.
Glenn F.
We have lived in this house 18 years and I've had the tank pumped once. All was well.
Glenn F.
Unless a line plugs with something solid there should be no need to pump it. That said, in theory, there should be no solids in the tank as the bacteria present should liquify anything organic that enters the tank. I see ads all the time for this and that product to put in the tank to maintain it but in reality all you need to do is put in a pack or two of active yeast once in a while and you shouldn't have a problem. I know that's all Dad ever did to the tank at our old house and I only remember it being pumped once in nearly 40 years.
This new deal saying a tank has to be pumped every so many years makes me wonder if the frequency has anything to do with the new "low flow" toilets that put far less liquid into the tank with each flush, in relation to the amount of solids, than the old ones did. Seems to me the extra liquid with each flush would tend to take the liquified sludge and further thin it and carry it into the drain field where as less fluid would simply let it set and build up until it had to be pumped.
This new deal saying a tank has to be pumped every so many years makes me wonder if the frequency has anything to do with the new "low flow" toilets that put far less liquid into the tank with each flush, in relation to the amount of solids, than the old ones did. Seems to me the extra liquid with each flush would tend to take the liquified sludge and further thin it and carry it into the drain field where as less fluid would simply let it set and build up until it had to be pumped.
Do a little research on the web. There are pumping schedules, based on the size of the tank, and how many people are using it. For 2 people, with a 1500 gallon tank, I think it is every 5 years. Pumping in my area is 100 - 150, depending on size. I think my last one was $125. FWIW, pumping is a pretty cheap alternative to a new field. Replacing a field can cost up to 20K, depending on type and area. I will probably pump mine out next year, had it done last year. It's getting old and I'd rather spend a little money than lots. BTW, all fields will eventually fail.
Grease builds up from the top; paper fibers, plastic bits, dirt & grime from your hands & clothes, fibers from food - build up from the bottom. Couple products I shouldn't mention here tend to get flushed into it.
If you live a simple life & don't put anything extra in your drains, you can probably go decades and still be ok.
If you live the carefree life with a house full of people & someone in your household thinks it is a city wastewater deal where you can put anything you can fit down the drain all day long.....
Then it can fill up in 2 years.
You don't know. When it gets full, the extra settlings ooze out into the lines and fill them up with a slime that doesn't let water soak out any more.
Then you get to start over, and with septic laws the way they are, you are looking at $7000 - 15000 these days in most places.
So. How big a gambler are you? Costs a couple 100 to have it pumped, find out where you are. If you woulda been good for another 10 years, you just wasted $200. If you are full after 10 years & just ignore it, you will be out 10 grand in a year or so.
All depends how many people, how you use the thing, how big the chamber is.
When you burn a fire, there is always a little ash left in the bottom of the fire pit. Same thing with a septic. It converts _most_ burnables into nothing but ash - but the ash does pile up somewhere, over the years.....
How much ash do you feed yours?
Nothing will get rid of the ash, it is the unconsumable stuff.
--->Paul
If you live a simple life & don't put anything extra in your drains, you can probably go decades and still be ok.
If you live the carefree life with a house full of people & someone in your household thinks it is a city wastewater deal where you can put anything you can fit down the drain all day long.....
Then it can fill up in 2 years.
You don't know. When it gets full, the extra settlings ooze out into the lines and fill them up with a slime that doesn't let water soak out any more.
Then you get to start over, and with septic laws the way they are, you are looking at $7000 - 15000 these days in most places.
So. How big a gambler are you? Costs a couple 100 to have it pumped, find out where you are. If you woulda been good for another 10 years, you just wasted $200. If you are full after 10 years & just ignore it, you will be out 10 grand in a year or so.
All depends how many people, how you use the thing, how big the chamber is.
When you burn a fire, there is always a little ash left in the bottom of the fire pit. Same thing with a septic. It converts _most_ burnables into nothing but ash - but the ash does pile up somewhere, over the years.....
How much ash do you feed yours?
Nothing will get rid of the ash, it is the unconsumable stuff.
--->Paul
Goose
Well-known Member
A fellow who lives on the upstream end of a waterway that runs across our farm had his laterals quit working, so he just dug out the end and let it empty into our waterway. You could smell it just by driving across the end of the field on the other side of the waterway.
My wife called the authorities and they came out and made him put in a lagoon. I don't know if he faced any penalties. He hasn't spoken to us since, but he wasn't all that great a neighbor to start with.
My wife called the authorities and they came out and made him put in a lagoon. I don't know if he faced any penalties. He hasn't spoken to us since, but he wasn't all that great a neighbor to start with.
I agree that a properly functioning septic tank should need infrequent pumping. I just had mine done after about 30 years and it was fine, I just felt guilty. When they did that they put in a riser pipe as suggested. A very good idea.
Also, when I first moved to the country, about 45 years ago, my landlady cackled at me to "always put Ridex in the septic tank. I have done that every two or three years as I remember to. It can"t hurt to goose up the bacteria count once in a while.
Also, when I first moved to the country, about 45 years ago, my landlady cackled at me to "always put Ridex in the septic tank. I have done that every two or three years as I remember to. It can"t hurt to goose up the bacteria count once in a while.
Dieslerider
Member
Septic tank that is sized right for the household and used right, should not need pumped.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
You'll always get some indigestible stuff in your tank, such as sand. But it will take MANY years for your tank to silt up. Certainly there should be no reason to pump every three years if everything is working. The main thing is to keep trees away from your septic field.
State of Wis requires pumping every three years although a licensed septic pumper can inspect and make determination as to whether pumping is actually needed. We get a card in the mail every three years that must be signed by plumber or septic service and returned to the state through the county. Neighbor decided to hell with it and threw his card away. He had to appear in county court. State failed to show up. Judge dismissed the case.
I raised 3 kids here and never pumped mine until like after 30 years and only did it then on a whim, it was working okay. However, the reason mine did so well I figured was because GREASE AND LINT are the worst things to put in the tank SOOOOOOOOOOO my kitchen sink (grease) and clothes washer (lint) I plumbed and drained seperately down over the hill behind my farm. The grass grows fine near the discharge and theres NEVER been any nasties or odors etc below that drain.
John T
John T
Mathias NY
Well-known Member
My house has a pair of 400 gallon tanks and we just had it pumped because the toilets were flushing differently. It had been 3 years. We probably could have waited longer, but the system isn"t in the best condition and I don"t have the funds to chance it.
In theory you should never flush anything that will not break down. Although they will not harm a septic system, items such as cotton and cardboard will fill a septic system and prevent it from working properly. If there are women in your household (especially those that were raised with a sewer system) this could be an issue to consider.
In theory you should never flush anything that will not break down. Although they will not harm a septic system, items such as cotton and cardboard will fill a septic system and prevent it from working properly. If there are women in your household (especially those that were raised with a sewer system) this could be an issue to consider.
Worked for many years as a drainage contractor...
All tanks need to be pumped, it's a question of how frequently. The frequency will be based on the usage and size, nothing to do with soil conditions. The tank is a "digester", but it also acts as a filter. Filters need to be cleaned.
Some tanks we pumped didn't really need to be pumped as often as we pumped them, a lot did. For some it was too late, the tank had overfilled with solids, the solids had flowed out to the leach field and ruined the field.
As others here have said, price out the cost of a new leach field in your area - the cost of pumping every 3-5 years will be the cheapest insurance you ever bought...
All tanks need to be pumped, it's a question of how frequently. The frequency will be based on the usage and size, nothing to do with soil conditions. The tank is a "digester", but it also acts as a filter. Filters need to be cleaned.
Some tanks we pumped didn't really need to be pumped as often as we pumped them, a lot did. For some it was too late, the tank had overfilled with solids, the solids had flowed out to the leach field and ruined the field.
As others here have said, price out the cost of a new leach field in your area - the cost of pumping every 3-5 years will be the cheapest insurance you ever bought...
K
Kruse
Guest
One of the reasons is because some laundry soap has lots of salt in it. Bleach doesn't help either.
john in la
Well-known Member
I am suprised you guys can still use a septic tank and drain field.
We have had septic treatment system laws for years.
Tank is concrete.
Has a air pump that pumps air into the tank. This keeps everything stired up and promotes good bactria growth.
No drain field just a solid pipe running to the ditch
My 500 gal system was installed in 1991 on a house with 6 people; never has been pumped; and works like the day it was put in.
We have had septic treatment system laws for years.
Tank is concrete.
Has a air pump that pumps air into the tank. This keeps everything stired up and promotes good bactria growth.
No drain field just a solid pipe running to the ditch
My 500 gal system was installed in 1991 on a house with 6 people; never has been pumped; and works like the day it was put in.
Had our septic tank pumped about 5 years ago. Had not been pumped before according to my wife.
Tank was 14 feet deep, six feet square, and made out of brick. Wife's dad was brick layer. Man that did work could not believe tank was so deep. Glad I did not have to brick it. We live on clay gravel hill and I can not imagine my FIL digging such a deep hole and then climbing in and bricking it up.
Man tha pumped put in new field line and said call him in 15 years or and he would check it again. Took 200 gallon truck to pump it and took 2 times to competely empty the tank.
Tank was 14 feet deep, six feet square, and made out of brick. Wife's dad was brick layer. Man that did work could not believe tank was so deep. Glad I did not have to brick it. We live on clay gravel hill and I can not imagine my FIL digging such a deep hole and then climbing in and bricking it up.
Man tha pumped put in new field line and said call him in 15 years or and he would check it again. Took 200 gallon truck to pump it and took 2 times to competely empty the tank.
I finally had mine pumped, after about 15 years- guy said you should do it every 5 years or so if you have kids at home, 8 years if you don't. Mine had a broken baffle that he fixed, but no damage done to the drainfield. He mentioned that ours was the "cleanest" he had seen in awhile, so far as "foreign matter" was concerned- he guessed, rightly, that our family had never been on a sewer system where "anything goes." Especially important not to have a garbage disposal in the sink, as kitchen waste will screw it up faster than anything.
You have a aerobic digester system. Old style septic systems like mine, don't have an air pump, and rely on anaerobic bacteria to digest the solids. Anerobic bacteria digest the solids much slower. I am guessing that the difference in the systems is related to soli types and water tables. In this area, some people who live in low lying areas have mound systems that require a grinder pump to pump into the tank. A septic system like mine can be built for 5K. A mound system can be 20K + . I have friends that have been unable to sell property due to this.
Chris in SK
Member
I get mine pumped every year in the fall if it needs it or not. Guy comes around, does the local farms same day and charges me $50. He pumps it, hoses it out so clean you could almost eat your dinner down there, and I put it through as a farm exp. After having a septic system back up at a previous place, mid winter when it was 30 below out side, it took half a day to dig the ice and snow from around the concrete cap and bust it loose… that’s $50 / yr well spent for me.
As a kid, I don’t think we ever had our septic pumped, but things are different now. Our washing machine seems to run continually, and my family all seem to need to wash with anti bacterial soap etc. I do use that Septo-bac stuff when I remember…..not sure how well it works though.
Chris
As a kid, I don’t think we ever had our septic pumped, but things are different now. Our washing machine seems to run continually, and my family all seem to need to wash with anti bacterial soap etc. I do use that Septo-bac stuff when I remember…..not sure how well it works though.
Chris
Wow, some of you guys must have a different system than mine. I pump mine every year or so. I don't want my drain field to fill up, that would be very expensive to repair. I am also afraid if repairs are needed I would be required to put in a new system. If the system is 5-10 years old it is probably out dated, regulations change yearly it seems. It is just good insurance to pump it yearly.
Brian(MN)
Brian(MN)
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
if a septic is installed properly and does not acquire roots it should never have to be pumped --this may be one of the biggest rip offs ever
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
It was the normal practice to insert a grease trap between the sink and the drain hence you cleaned the grease from the pit.
Brian Jasper co. Ia
Well-known Member
2 years ago when we bought our place, the septic tank was pumped. Once a month we put RidX down the toilet.
john in la
Well-known Member
The reason we have to use a different system now is because of all the dairy farms in this area.
Use to be the government never enforced the laws and a lot of dairy sewerage made it into the local river. Things got so bad the board of health closed the river down. No swimming/tubing and or fishing. This forced them to go from one extreme to the other to try and clean up the run off.
While I had a regular metal septic tank and drain field when I moved here in 1981; I was forced to install this new system when I built my new house in 1991.
The system I have now is out dated but as long as I do not make any major changes it is allowed.
I have neighbors that still have the old metal septic tank and drain field because they have made no major changes since it was installed.
I do not know what the system used today cost but my system was $2200 for the tank and air pump and pipes. I had to install it myself. Once I had it installed the place I bought the tank from had to come out and shoot the grade to make sure everything was within regulations and sign off on it so I could get the electricty turned on.
Self install is no longer allowed.
Use to be the government never enforced the laws and a lot of dairy sewerage made it into the local river. Things got so bad the board of health closed the river down. No swimming/tubing and or fishing. This forced them to go from one extreme to the other to try and clean up the run off.
While I had a regular metal septic tank and drain field when I moved here in 1981; I was forced to install this new system when I built my new house in 1991.
The system I have now is out dated but as long as I do not make any major changes it is allowed.
I have neighbors that still have the old metal septic tank and drain field because they have made no major changes since it was installed.
I do not know what the system used today cost but my system was $2200 for the tank and air pump and pipes. I had to install it myself. Once I had it installed the place I bought the tank from had to come out and shoot the grade to make sure everything was within regulations and sign off on it so I could get the electricty turned on.
Self install is no longer allowed.
cannonball
Member
put yeast down it once a month, pour your old milk down it..
MAY GOD BLESS THE USA
MAY GOD BLESS THE USA
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