Pumping your septic tank

[PineRidge]

Our place is about 4 years old. We have two 1000 gallon tanks. Were were told to pump the 1st tank every two years and the 2nd tank every four years. Thats the plan we have followed.

 

[Junkman]

That is because you are full of ____!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif





















beans????? ; /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[srs]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Another thing to consider is putting a filter on your washing machine outlet. Todays clothes are mostly synthetic fiber. The tiny fibers that break off and get washed out to your leach field do not readily break down and will eventually clog your filter bed. RonL )</font>

Kinda tough to put a filter on the washing machine outlet when it empties directly into a 1 1/2" inch PVC directly next to the drywall. Suggestions???

 

[PineRidge]

Junkman have you been in the liquor cabinet again? You are in rare form this evening. Go play with your Kubota & the wrenches till you sober up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Slamfire]

The first house my Dad built in 1947 is now raising it's third family. Because it is downhill from the township sewer line and is the only one on that side of the road, It wasn't connected, cause the township didn't want to install a pump. My brother, the second owner, and father of the third owner, says the septic tank still hasn't been pumped. Do whatever you wish, it is your money. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue">The first house my Dad built in 1947 is now raising it's third family. Because it is downhill from the township sewer line and is the only one on that side of the road, It wasn't connected, cause the township didn't want to install a pump. My brother, the second owner, and father of the third owner, says the septic tank still hasn't been pumped. Do whatever you wish, it is your money.
</font>

I also look at pumping a septic tank as cheap insurance. Do you need insurance, probably not. Will you ever need to use insurance, hopefully not. But if the house burns down will it give you peace of mind, most certainly.

I'll spend the money upfront and be worry free because I did. That's just another personal choice.

 

[polecat]

there r 2 of us usin her soap and w started with approx 24-30 bars and with 3 flavors... oatmeal, poppy seed lavender,and pine tea....u shoulda seen me with a big ol pot out in the woods clippin off white pine needles..its takes a lotta needles 2 half fill a lobsta pot but the final stuff smells great tho... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif it lasts at least 3 x as long and yes she & i take a shower every day!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
lemme no if u want her recipe mayb she kin write yer betta half wit it
TAKE CARE
TODD

 

[Egon]

Just gald to hear youall didn't start out with 16 bars.

My grandmother and mother used to make soap.

Egon

 

[CTyler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One other note of mention is to install a "T" fitting at the exit pipe of your tank with a 12"-16" extension that goes down into the tank. )</font>

Why a T fitting? I know mine has something in it, don't know what. I just assumed it was a 90 with a short piece of pipe connected to it.

What is this output screen that was mentioned? How is it connected? Please provide details.

I just dug up my output pipe from the tank to the drain field cause it broke. I still have it opened up letting it dry out a little. SO NOW IS TIME TO INSTALL THIS THANG!!

 

[JimR]

The "T" fitting is so that you don't get airbound in the pipe. The upper part of the "T" will always be clear and open.

 

[Junkman]

If you don't have a "T" fitting with the top open, then the pipe can get an air lock and not allow any effluent to pass through it. They are usually set on the outflow side like this to keep the liquid separated from the fat layer. Now, some septic repairs are done this way also on the inlet side also, however they can block up with paper, etc. The original dam was positioned in such a way that the fat layer could never get near the inlet pipe and the inlet pipe would just end just inside the tank in front of the dam. This way, everything from the house would hit only water and always fall to the bottom. The fat layer would build up from the bottom and the sludge would fall to the bottom of the tank. The middle is where the water would be and that water would be carried off to the leach tank or field. Pipes leading into the tank are at 1/4" per foot pitch, and leaving the tank, 1/8" per foot.

 

[Inspector507]

In the new T fitting I had installed 3 years ago included a "filter" that I need to rinse off every 6 months or so and it keeps larger peices of the solids from entering the leach lines.
My leach field is failing fast and I have my tank emptied every year. We have such a high level of ground water here, I'm suprised the leach field works at all.
I tried this at the same time 3 years ago, and it has worked wonders TerraLift

 

[CTyler]

Thanks for the info.

Did some reading on effluent filters. It appears this would be quite difficult to do since they are on or are part of the T inside the tank.

 

[ramonfernandez]

I hear two schools of thought on this issue. Some say if your septic system is working properly, you should never have to have it pumped. Others say you should have it pumped every 3-4 years regardless. What do all of you guys do with yours?

Thanks,
Gary

I personally think that you should still pump out your septic tank, but not every 3-4 years. Depending on your septic system and how much you use it, I would suggest having it pumped every 6-10 years. The first time we did this was after 12 years.