Question and advise about septic tank cleaning...

[brin]

You fellas might find this chart interesting in determining how often to clean your septic tank of solids....I think some of you may be doing it to frequently..
How often should I have my septic system pumped? - Keidel Bath, Plumbing, Kitchen - Cincinnati, OH

 

[NSBound]

I had my first house with a septic tank, and went to sell it a couple of years ago so had to have it pumped out. Same price as others, $175, but as a septic system newbie, I didn;t dig out over the lid. When the guy got there and it wasn;t dug up, he turned around and started to leave, saying "Call us back when you have it dug up, we don't do that". I talked him into waiting until I got it opened up, it was down about a foot.

 

[studor]

I had mine done last fall -- it had never been pumped in over ten years. Mine is a concrete tank with two accesses -- I dug up both and loosened them to wait for the truck. The pumper truck can get to within ten feet of my tank which makes the driver happy:thumbsup: The price was about the same as others have mentioned (a little cheaper here for cash!) Took less than 1/2 an hour and probably worth the piece of mind..

 

[20 20]

Nothing wrong with pumping your tanks if you feel better about doing it. In reality a proper working tank can go for MANY years {and sometimes never needing a pump} before needing to be pumped. Of course this means proper bacteria and very little to none of harmfull chemicals being flushed. In the old days folks would go out and pick up road kill and throw in tank. This caused the bacteria to take off and clean up everything. In todays chemical happy world I'd say every 8-10yrs for a family of 4 with a 1000 gal tank, would be plenty. If you want a better working septic tank run your washing machine line and dish washer seperate. Some areas of the country have codes against this so check 1st.

 

[Redbug]

Thank's Scott, 2020, and the gang. On average, it looks like it's about every 5 years or so to be safe by the guide. That seems about right, depending on the number of users, etc. I was worried about the drainfield getting plugged. Then it would be more money. A few things about septics...A garbage disposal is a no-no. I discovered that the single tanks can go longer between pump outs than the compartmented ones. The stuff you buy to flush inside the tank with the bacteria and such is a waste of money the septic tank guy said. This house did have a gray water line before I bought the place which ran the washing machine water below the house into a buried perforted line. I guess the former owners had to unhook it to make it legal for selling. I found the line when I was redoing the plumbing and later asked them about it.

I found an EPA pdf that outlines septic care. However they are wishy washy on pump out schedules. It mentions the level of the floating layer, etc. If anyone goes to the trouble to dig down to check the levels inside...they just ought to be done with it and have it pumped out.
http://www.epa.gov/owm/septic/pubs/homeowner_guide_long.pdf

Yes, I will sleep well tonight...and my sore muscles will too.

 

[Wis Bang]

The outhouse at our cabin sits on a sealed 1000 gal septic tank [state land/rules] amd I just had it pumped for the second time two years ago. The guy had a PVC 'thief' he stuck down thru the 'hole' and he worked it around towards the corners and had it MT in about 20 min flat...When he opened the door he said 'nice outhouse' and he stood in there the whole time...don't know how a human could stand it! Cost $225.00

We installed the the tank in 1974 and it was the 2nd time we pumped it.

Mom had to install a new tank to sell her house. It had two chambers and two access holes. The contractor pumped her old tank over into the new one w/ a small portable pump & colapsed the old tank b/4 backfilling.

The old tank was at ground level and the top had deteriorated but the composite 'orangeburg' pipe in her 45 yr old drainfield had collapsed making the replacment necessary.

 

[Pirate]

I pump mine about every 2 - 3 years. Overkill? Perhaps, but I literally have no backup location should I have to move my drain field. Last year I decided to pour a slab over my tank, which is directly outside of my basement garage. The slab is "bridged" over the tank with two street type cast iron manhole covers over the septic tank openings. Those covers cost around $500 each, no wonder they steel them. Get it, steel?

What I found interesting in this adventure is that I have been getting ripped off by 2 separate pump out guys. Neither of them ever uncovered or asked about the second chamber. Heck, I didn't even know I had a two-chamber tank until I uncovered the entire thing. They always asked what size tank I have (1500), tell me yep, it's pumped out, etc. This year I will have pumped again, which will be first time ever for "clean" side of tank.

I stopped using my disposal and put lint filters on 2 washing machines. I even went as far as to put in a nifty poem type thingy in the guest back to remind folks not to flush tampons, Kleenex, floss, etc..

 

[mbohuntr]

If your tank is deep, you can weld a 4" pipe onto a plate w/hole and substitute that for a cover. The pumpers can just unscrew the top and run his hose/s down the pipe...no digging.

 

[turnkey4099]

$175? Wish I could get that. Used to be around $150 here but last time it jumped to the $350 range. Explanation was that they are no longer allowed to dump on farm ground and had to install a complete sewage treatment facitlity to dump into. Only company around this area of course.

I pump every 5 years (when I remember) and it is about time again. I may boost that to 7 years as no 'problems' have ever be in evidence in the past.

Harry K

 

[czechsonofagun]

We have it pumped every 5 years. I dig out the lid, remove it and put it back again. The guy stirs it up and pumps. He told me 5 years is about right.
I asked about his truck and he explained that the tank is used as a vacuum holder - simply pumps the air out of the truck tank, puts the hose in the septic and let it suck it out. Pretty smart in my book.

You can buy plastic extensions to create a manhole for the septic tank lid if you don't want to dig it out again. Risers.