How often do you have your septic tank pumped?

[txdon]

2 people, 500 gallon tank then a 250 gallon tank - every 5 years.
My parents waited for 10 years and the field line got clogged and they had to put in a new field line.

 

[scaredychicken]

we are due for another service, averages about every 4 yrs (trying to time it with the leap years is my thought) ... it's a large tank, with two dry well lines

 

[ruffdog]

With 2 500 gal tanks and 2 people, we pump every 3 years which is the legal limit in WI. The guys say everything is looking great!

 

[rswyan]

Just had it done about a week or so ago, last time was in 2004, so 13 years.

Two tanks in series ... guy said they were probably at least 1000 gallons each. Drains into a large leach field (50' x 75' ?)

First tank appeared to be full up, second tank had some in it but wasn't too bad. $310 to pump both.

Local zoning/health code (county) supposedly requires that tanks be pumped every 3 years ... but it doesn't appear that it's been strictly enforced ... but that may change.

State now requires all counties to license and issue an operating permit for all septic systems, $30 good for 2 years.

But it also requires that the system be inspected at some point within that 2 year period that the permit is good for. Has to be done by a licensed septic contractor. Cost for that is $75.

No vested interest or possible conflict there ...

 

[RichM752]

3 times in 28 yrs

 

[mapper]

County requires every three years inspection and pump if needed to keep operational permit current. They used to allow owner to do stinky stick check and file report. We now have to pay someone to do it, (like I'm going to deliberately let my system fail.) Cost is about $300 to get it pumped.
System is an 1100 gallon tank that drains onto a pump chamber, from there to a sand filter then to the drain field. System cost about $30K twenty years ago. County health department recommended and approved design, sand filter failed about five years after construction. Have to bypass it periodically to allow biomat to dissipate.
Septic engineer recommended an aerobic digester to replace sand filter, it would have required an ultraviolet sterilizer to kill the e coli bacteria ( area surrounded by cow and horse pastures). County would have required annual uv bulb replacement by "professional" - as owner I could not be trusted. Cost for annual replacement $1500.
Several years ago I built a riser wall out of cinder blocks around the septic tank with a small deck on top of it that I can lift off with the FEL. I was tired of digging up the lawn every three years for inspection and pumping. Have noticed that since my son moved out there is far less accumulation in the tank than before.

 

[Doofy]

Homemade wooden septic tank installed in 1978. Finally had it pumped 2 years ago. Not really much sludge but did find quite a few of the kids small toys.

I've used septic helper type bacteria over the years so the stuff might actually work. When a leach line gets sluggish, I just add another in a different direction.

The smarty-pants engineers said a septic system wouldn't work here because of clay type soils with minimal gravel and of course, the cold ground. Shows how much they know!

 

[Wagtail]

IMHO a septic tank should never need pumping. I went 20 years on mine without a problem. My distribution box collapsed and backed everything up so the first and easiest thing to try was pumping it out. It did not need it and it was later we finally figured out the problem. I don't plan to pump it anytime soon.

Septic tanks need lots of different bacteria to work the best. I could go into lots of detail on how to achieve this but here's the best advice. Lots of poop from different people and if you can find a dead cat throw it in the tank. When a cat decomposes it makes the best bacteria you can get. :thumbsup:

Edit; this is all assuming the only thing going into the tank is fecal matter and a little toilet paper and less water is good.
And do not use antibacterial soap.

I might just try that with the next dead feral bunny I find. Fortunately my tank top is at the surface & easily accessible. :thumbsup:

 

[Deere Dude]

This clears a little bit up for me. Great website IMHO
What I gather is there should be a a layer of scum on top and also a layer that settled out on the bottom. This occurs if the retention time in the tank is long enough because of the size of the tank ad amount flooding through. If effluent is going through the tank to fast, particles end up in the pipes going out where they should not be. This website seems to be laid out nice for giving answers for almost every septic question.

Septic Tanks: How and Why to Measure Septic Tank Scum and Septic Sludge Level in the Septic Tank or Septic Holding Tank - Septic Drain Field Protection by Septic Tank Pumping Guide - septic tank cleanout advice and above ground septic system maintenance


Septic Tank Effluent Retention Time and Effective Septic Tank Volume

Septic tank effluent retention time & net free area:

This document answers the question: what is septic tank retention time, or "effluent retention time" and explains the importance of this concept. Septic tank maintenance requires that the tank be pumped at the appropriate interval (given in our table of septic tank pumping frequency).

If the effluent retention time is too brief in the septic tank, solid waste is pushed into the drainfield where that important component is clogged, leading to failure. We explain how we calculate or estimate the required septic tank retention time and we describe a related concept: net free area in the septic tank.

 

[BleedingOrange]

After 36 years of using our concrete septic tank, we decided to replace it this summer with a plastic tank.
Our old tank had a homemade baffle in it, to protect the bed from any solids.
The new tank has a huge filter, which is easily accessible and needs to be cleaned each year.
With only 2 of us living in the house, we will be extending our pump out interval to at least every 5 years.