Pumping your septic tank

[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.