RayH
Banned
DANOCHEESE said:
WI requires that you pump it? They've literally got their nose in everybodies business dont they.
WV does require that you pump it when you sell the house, other than that, they dont regulate it.
Cleaning out septic system?
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WI requires that you pump it? They've literally got their nose in everybodies business dont they.
WV does require that you pump it when you sell the house, other than that, they dont regulate it.
HomeBrew2
Banned
Great advice by RonMar. Wished I'd known the depth trick. I had been in my current place for 11 years and had not pumped it. I fell onto the "spend the money for piece of mind" bandwagon last year. What a wasted exercise!!! I had 4" of sludge in a 4' deep tank. The septic guy said that I obviously knew what NOT to put down the drain. I think "practicing safe septic", which I do as well, is what prevents such "maintenance" from being done in the first place ... and puts that $10/mo in my beer fund. I'll be using the stick to check depth next time ... in 20 years or so 
RonMar
Elite Member
OOPS, I forgot the rules I have read. The inflow and outflow lines should have "Ts" on them with the open ends pointing straight up and down. The top opening will be above the floating layer and the bottom opening will be below. Reccomendations I have read are to pump before the bottom layer of sludge gets closer than 12" from the bottom of the outflow "T" or when the bottom of the floating layer gets down to within 3" of the bottom of the outflow "T".
The attached scetch shows a typical single tank system. The material breaks down and either settles or floats as it crosses the tank. Here is where too much water is bad as it carries the suspended material to the outflow too quickly before it separates. This is also why most outflow "Ts" have a mesh filter basket pushed down into them so if too much water is sent thru the system, the particulate matter clogs the filter and backs up the tank (easilly fixed by cleaning the mesh filter and does not continue down the outflow pipe to clog the soil in the drainfield(not so easy to fix
It is my opinion that the only thing that you should put down into a septic system is toilet paper and waste produced by the human body. I spent one summer in high school working for a guy that as part of his business pumped septic tanks. You would not believe the stuff people think just "Goes away" when they flush. Anything else such as additives, has the potential to disrupt the breakdown and separation of the material and lead to more particulates in the outflow and a shortened drainfield life.
The attached scetch shows a typical single tank system. The material breaks down and either settles or floats as it crosses the tank. Here is where too much water is bad as it carries the suspended material to the outflow too quickly before it separates. This is also why most outflow "Ts" have a mesh filter basket pushed down into them so if too much water is sent thru the system, the particulate matter clogs the filter and backs up the tank (easilly fixed by cleaning the mesh filter
and does not continue down the outflow pipe to clog the soil in the drainfield(not so easy to fix It is my opinion that the only thing that you should put down into a septic system is toilet paper and waste produced by the human body. I spent one summer in high school working for a guy that as part of his business pumped septic tanks. You would not believe the stuff people think just "Goes away" when they flush. Anything else such as additives, has the potential to disrupt the breakdown and separation of the material and lead to more particulates in the outflow and a shortened drainfield life.
DieselPower
Elite Member
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I have (unfortunately) had to work on septic trucks over the years and spoken with quite a few dipper tank drivers. One thing you hear from all of them is about all the junk they find in them that should not be there. Best septic tank practice has already been said multiple times. If it's not paper, human waste or tub and sink water it should not be going down the drain.
Personally I get my tank pumped every 5 years. 4 times a year I add Bio-Remedy to the system by flushing it down the toilet. It's not actually made for septic tanks but according to my septic guy my system is one of the cleanest he has seen and has almost no odor so it seems to work great. It's actually made for treating manure lagoon's and pit's. It's some weird looking stuff though. It's a florescent green liquid.
Personally I get my tank pumped every 5 years. 4 times a year I add Bio-Remedy to the system by flushing it down the toilet. It's not actually made for septic tanks but according to my septic guy my system is one of the cleanest he has seen and has almost no odor so it seems to work great. It's actually made for treating manure lagoon's and pit's. It's some weird looking stuff though. It's a florescent green liquid.
plowking
Gold Member
I clean septic tanks on average every 1-3 years. Different climates affect septic tanks differently. My father had a tank years ago in Florida, that needed cleaning less often, possibly because temperature of system is more constant, where tanks in New England slow down in winter when tempertaure drops. I find bacterial flies and worms in septic tanks in summer, but never in winter.People who have health problems or take medications usually have a sick septic tank or system. These tanks will smell worse and won't have the proper seperation as a healthy tank. Most newer systems have filters and that is a large part of my business now as an extra service I do at time of pumping or on service calls. Well water that has minerals, iron, magenese will cause extra sludge in tank,especially softener discharge, which is harmfull to newer systems. Depending where you live, it may be legal or illegal to drain softener discharge elsewhere. plowking
I'll have to be the naysayer on this one again. I think it is related to the soil type in an area that sets the requirement.
In my area of NC, 99% of people never have them pumped unless there is a problem that requires it or it wasn't installed correctly to begin with.
My home is 22 years old and never been pumped, my parents is 35 years old and only pumped once when a garbage truck crushed the tank. My grandparents place, 50+ years without a single pumping. None of my neighbors have ever had theirs pumped and they all work perfectly. No standing water and great throughput. Last time this was brought up on the site, I thought I was being a horrible septic tank owner until I started checking around my area. Septic companies here spend their time (and make most of their money from) delivering, emptying, and picking up porta-johns.
I think some states must have "refuse management" marketing departments paying "refuse management" lobbyists.. oh yea and they have "refuse management" subliminal advertising in your TV shows.
In my area of NC, 99% of people never have them pumped unless there is a problem that requires it or it wasn't installed correctly to begin with.
My home is 22 years old and never been pumped, my parents is 35 years old and only pumped once when a garbage truck crushed the tank. My grandparents place, 50+ years without a single pumping. None of my neighbors have ever had theirs pumped and they all work perfectly. No standing water and great throughput. Last time this was brought up on the site, I thought I was being a horrible septic tank owner until I started checking around my area. Septic companies here spend their time (and make most of their money from) delivering, emptying, and picking up porta-johns.
I think some states must have "refuse management" marketing departments paying "refuse management" lobbyists.. oh yea and they have "refuse management" subliminal advertising in your TV shows.
RayH
Banned
Soil type doesnt really have anything to do with pumping the tank. The pupose in pumping the tank is to remove the solid waste. Solids should never leave the tank and contact the soil. Once the tank fills, the liquid wste basically runs in and out into the leach lines. The soil does effect how much and how quickly liquid waste is aborbed.
Highbeam
Super Member
I think the best information so far in this thread is about dipping your tank to see where the sludge levels are. If Getut can dip his tank and there is no sludge in 50 years then that's great. There is no set timeframe on when it must be done. Too soon is always better than too late.
Dip your tank. That'll answer this age old question for YOU.
I am a civil engineer with a particular interest in poo. Don't know why, but on-site disposal has always interested me. My tank is on the sixth year without being pumped.
Oh and I am a strong advocate of effluent filters which are simply screens on the outlet of the tank that prevent solids from leaving and contaminating your drainfield. I am also a big advocate of leaving an escape route should the filter clog so that the backed up sewage can flow out into your yard rather than into your home. A cleanout lid can be swapped for a check valve to provide this function as I did in my yard.
Dip your tank. That'll answer this age old question for YOU.
I am a civil engineer with a particular interest in poo. Don't know why, but on-site disposal has always interested me. My tank is on the sixth year without being pumped.
Oh and I am a strong advocate of effluent filters which are simply screens on the outlet of the tank that prevent solids from leaving and contaminating your drainfield. I am also a big advocate of leaving an escape route should the filter clog so that the backed up sewage can flow out into your yard rather than into your home. A cleanout lid can be swapped for a check valve to provide this function as I did in my yard.
