How often do you have your septic tank pumped?

[Rock Crawler]

7 humans in a single dwelling home here, so every 2 years. The guy always says that the timing is good, we are not pushing the limits of the system.

 

[90cummins]

We had issues with our system because of one family members condition that resulted in frequent use of the toilet and we had to have the 1000 gallon tank pumped every 2 years.
The driver that pumped the system told me to put the toilet paper in the trash.
Now after 4 years the system is fine without the paper products being flushed. We also use ridex regularly.
We found that there is no objectionable smell when doing this.
90cummins

 

[Rock Crawler]

We found that there is no objectionable smell when doing this.
90cummins

I find that to be both confusing and hard to believe... if the paper was used for the task that I use it for.

Heck, there are times I think a pressure washer and a shovel would work better for me than a roll of paper!

 

[Travelover]

I recently sold a house that was built in 1966. I lived there 27 years and had the tank pumped every two or three years. No problems in all that time, with two people living there. A septic inspection is required upon sale and what was found was that the system had failed in the sense that it had just enough capacity to keep up with the two of us - thus no backing up, pooling or other problems. However, the leach field was saturated and would no way be adequate for the new owners - a young family with a bunch of kids.

So, what I learned is that it is hard to really know how "healthy" your system is until you start to have problems or unless you have an inspector do core samples on the field to see how high the water sits in the leach field and how much black gravel you have built up. The inspector told me that if it had been inspected after a long, hot period with no rain it might have even passed.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

It depends on what you put down the drain.

 

[TheMan419]

Have ours pumped every two years. Only two of us living there. Just don't want problems. IF the thing fails we would have to put in a mound system.... big $$$$$

 

[citytransplant]

I'm in the camp that says that under ideal circumstances (e.g., only organic material entering system) mother nature will create enough bacteria in the tank to biologically convert solids to a liquid effluent therefore in theory the tank never needs pumping. A new tank was installed when my wife and I moved into our home almost 12 years ago. We've yet to pump.

We are pressing our luck however. Our circumstances are far from perfect. Our drainfield soil characteristics are not ideal, primarily due to heavy clay content. Our system suffered effluent breakout during the wet season when we first moved in. A few years later, I dug two additional trenches and laid down some lengths of chamber type "infiltrator" pipes and connected these to the existing system, thereby extending our drainfield by approximately 30%. I've yet to have breakout since, knock wood. Finally, the washing machine discharges directly into our septic tank. Even with a filter, I'm sure some fibers make their way to the tank.

My neighbor's on the other hand, has yet to address their failed drainfield. At times, when they flush, the septic vent pipe becomes a geyser. Nice smell too. Yuck.

I feel their pain. They are not DIY'ers and the cost of some of these engineered systems that require pumps, mounds, sand/peat filters, aerobic systems, UV filters, etc. can be more than the cost of some of the homes in my area.

 

[ruffdog]

Never have to pump? Funny. For the company that has to come pump it and fix your system...it reeks....smells like money. When your tank fills with sludge, the next place it goes is your leach field...that's when it really smells like money. Another thing...never throw wet-wipes down the toilet...even if they say biodegradable.
www.firstcallseptic.com Didn't pump septic tank for over 25 years - YouTube

 

[teejk]

Never have to pump? Funny. For the company that has to come pump it and fix your system...it reeks....smells like money. When your tank fills with sludge, the next place it goes is your leach field...that's when it really smells like money. Another thing...never throw wet-wipes down the toilet...even if they say biodegradable.
www.firstcallseptic.com Didn't pump septic tank for over 25 years - YouTube

Another tip is to not use super-strength toilet paper. But anyway you are in Wisconsin so you have the mandatory 3 year inspection (with heavy fines if you ignore that postcard...our neighbor apparently ignored a few of those and socked $750). Code says inspection for sludge levels and pump if needed. Our guy insists on pumping regardless. I guess that could be a problem for a little used system where the needed bacteria has been removed but not a problem here.

 

[Doofy]

Our septic pumping company will treat your system with super bacteria that they use in their sewer lagoons. Our ground is so cold that oftentimes added bacteria is needed to jump start that process that keeps your system from freezing. Bleaches and powerful drain cleaners can kill your system in a hurry.