Just a reminder for those with septic systems

[PILOON]

For some 7-8 years we have always used the same pumper and as a director of our association I do the negotiations.
We are 75 owners and permanent residents need pumping every 2 years while seasonal do it every 4.
Our rate has been steady at $160. for quite some time, makes sense as fuel is one of the major operational costs for the pumper as well as time as if U do 10-15 in a row the efficiency is much higher.
To boot they don't nickle and dime us for systems that are somewhat more difficult to access.
Some of the competition want extra if they use more hose or if they have to pull the lid and maybe scoop more than a shovel of soil for access.
Occasionally we get undercutting bids but our usual pumper makes good.
All to say volume and loyalty counts.

(last go around they offered me a free pumping (after negotiations, not as a bribe) so on that basis I accepted).

Gotta also add that the crews have been most polite and that the firm works on trust* that we will remit since most folks are absent and the invoice is simply left at the door. Our pumper also takes care of registering the event with the city for compliance.

Guess loyalty pays off for everybody.

* just recently I was solicited and they insisted on COD, cash from a competitor. Yeah, we'll see!

 

[teejk]

I heard that there is another local guy that charges around $150 (instead of the $499 we were charged), but need to get information and confirm it before I believe it.

If this (tank needed pumping) had happened on the farm growing up, we would have simply cleaned the floating material out and buried it, then suctioned the sludge out and used as fertilizer in the cattle pasture.

Knowing what I know now, if we had the budget back then, I would have put a large tank in for first chamber, then a second tank with two chambers instead of the tank we have that is split into 3 chambers. I don't think the first chamber is big enough for the digestion that needs to occur..

Your ID suggests that you live in Iowa...I live in Wisconsin. We seem to lead the country in septic science/regulation. As such the new tanks are mandated as are the fields and the frequency of inspection/pumping (and it ain't cheap if you don't comply). As such, I doubt you would have any option for a larger 1st chamber.

 

[not2old]

My experience is too long ago to be relevant with today's systems. I'm back on septic after many years on sewer and don't know too much about them. My system is about ten years old and never been pumped. I had to open it up last summer when one of the water level floats got tangled and it has worked fine since. I cleaned the screens and found that the solids were only about 3 or 4 inches thick in a tank that is at least 3 feet deep. The last chamber where it is pumped into the field is all liquid with no sign of solids. Can I assume it's OK to leave it alone?

 

[Looking4new]

I used to get mine pumped every other year, but as of this year it will be pumped every year. the 150 bux every year is just good insurance that I don't get a sewage backup.

 

[teejk]

My experience is too long ago to be relevant with today's systems. I'm back on septic after many years on sewer and don't know too much about them. My system is about ten years old and never been pumped. I had to open it up last summer when one of the water level floats got tangled and it has worked fine since. I cleaned the screens and found that the solids were only about 3 or 4 inches thick in a tank that is at least 3 feet deep. The last chamber where it is pumped into the field is all liquid with no sign of solids. Can I assume it's OK to leave it alone?

Our law requires "inspection" by a professional every 3 years...if the solids are at/above a certain level it has to be pumped. The guy I use will pump every 3 years regardless even though it may not be required. There is some difference of opinion on frequency. The system depends on bacteria that gets pumped out with everything else and you start over building that up again. I guess it's not a problem in the house is lived in. It might be a problem with cabins and such.

 

[scdeerslayer]

It costs $499 plus tax to pump ours recently. We will be looking for a different company. No reason to be that high, it only took an hour (pump two chambers, look in the third).

What sort of tax? Some sort of environmental fee? Shouldn't be regular sales tax, there's no sales tax on services unless it includes materials in a lump sum, or your state has unique sales tax laws.

 

[hawkeye08]

What sort of tax? Some sort of environmental fee? Shouldn't be regular sales tax, there's no sales tax on services unless it includes materials in a lump sum, or your state has unique sales tax laws.

We have sales tax that they added, 8.8% here (Washington state)

 

[dmccarty]

I try to pump our septic tank every presidential election.

Well, it is almost May and we still need to pump but that is usually what happens. :confused3::laughing::laughing::laughing:

Our system is designed for eight people but only four people are in the house. Every time we have pumped, we have been told the tank did not need to be pumped. :thumbsup: I forget the exact cost, but it is around $200 which is pretty danged cheap to keep the field working. When we lived in the city, I think our sewer bill was about $50 a month. :shocked:

The last time we pumped, the septic guy was talking about the problem he has in dumping which has caused him to raise prices due to longer drive time to the dump station and higher dump fees.

Our tank has two chambers which I think is pretty normal. However, NC state regulations at the time we built the house, only required ONE above/near grade access to allow the cleaning of the filter. This is beyond stupid since what needs to be pump is the first chamber hold the solids which does not need access per code. Some lazy and dishonest pumper would just pump the second chamber, clean the filter and be done. They would not pump the first chamber holding the solids.

We had a second riser added to the solids chamber to make pumping easier and faster. The access to the solids chamber was a good 2 feet below grade.

Later,
Dan

 

[RichM752]

It's a grand out here, where I live. Yes, $1000. We've pumped our 3 times in 29 yrs. Last time was 2 yrs ago just before the rise in cost. Went from $400 to $1000.

 

[TheMan419]

So related question. We had to have some excavation done. One excavator who came to look at the project installed the septic at our house (before we bought) he recommends flushing bread yeast once a month to keep the system working properly. Anyone else hear of this?