And coffee grounds.
Septic Maintenance
- Thread starter Pablo
- Start date
My septic is legitimately 3 feet down and needs to be dug out every time - he usually brings a young lad with a shovel with him. Last time he was out we discussed putting in risers next time he comes out and that should be soon, thank you for reminding me!
I'm really amazed so many people don't have risers. Makes like zero sense. Did save the builder money though!
I am told nitrogen from septic water will flow with ground water to aquifer and eventually to bay or ocean.
In a similar manner, dump too much fertilizer on land, plants can only use nitrogen at one time, excess follows ground water to aquifer.
I have been looking at some Outback property of homes that were built a while ago and these homes are using septic tanks, I am un-educated about what to look for in an older house.?
Should I be looking for that so-called riser? If I understand it correctly that makes pumping out a lot easier. Is this true?
How do you know if your septic tank is maxed out and full and ready for $1,000 pump out? Or is that something that is disclosed on the sale of the house.?
Lastly how do you know how big it is? Meaning if you have a girlfriend that likes to run the water constantly! How soon would that tank fill up.? I thought that most of them they're all done in a PVC now or some type of plastic. Thanks in advance
Should I be looking for that so-called riser? If I understand it correctly that makes pumping out a lot easier. Is this true?
How do you know if your septic tank is maxed out and full and ready for $1,000 pump out? Or is that something that is disclosed on the sale of the house.?
Lastly how do you know how big it is? Meaning if you have a girlfriend that likes to run the water constantly! How soon would that tank fill up.? I thought that most of them they're all done in a PVC now or some type of plastic. Thanks in advance
Consult locally, most pumpers will chat a few minutes on good and bad in your area, plus the county too.
Technically you should have 3 risers. Google it and see how the thing works.
You know it with a long handy stick. Solids at bottom, over the limit.
County should have records unless ancient and then you are gambling anyway. Any septic and drain field/mound should be able to handle your girl. Just water into primary, secondary, tertiary and out to drain field.
Oh thanks for that it all sounds so complicated. And it seems like another bill down the road! I'm trying to uncomplicate my life as I am now retired. But I cannot Escape it, it seems everywhere things are becoming more costly and more complicated to fix. I'm not from the country and have no clue about well water or septic tanks when I hear that I think of Toothless folks running around chasing chickens! I know that is probably 100% wrong. But you're right I can't see being that complicated especially if it's been upgraded and assessed. Probably a good home inspector with check all that prior.
I used to work in Seal Beach so it's OK
Septic systems are easy in concept, expensive beyond that. BUTT no sewer bill!
Mine I had pumped because the previous clown..........well let's not GO there. Anyway pumping is not cheap, but not frequent. Problems are few. But sometimes a little difficult to interpret on an inherited system. Mine had a faint glow on one of the lights. Two septic guys (no charge) could NOT tell me what the problem was. Then the system alarmed one day (no fun). The tertiary pump float switch had crapped out. Dude did it for me. $100. Easy peasy. That dim glowing like went out. Ha!!
I have a mound system drain field. Very much like this:
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Many years of living with and working on septic systems here. Additives are a complete waste of money and effort. The nitrogen cycle that takes place in your tank to break down waste happnes on it's own, happens quickly and adjusts itself. Additives can send (loosen) solids and send them where solids don't belong.
Undigestable solids will eventually settle at the bottom of the tank. This layer slowly works it's way upwards. The layer that typically gets you first are oils, fats, paper pulp, hair and all the other yummy stuff that forms a thick, floating scum layer. This layer will work it's way downward to the point it chokes off the inflow or outflow riser on either end of the tank. You'll have a sewage backup in your house or out of vent on your lawn if so equipped.
Undermaintained tanks can get so bad, they become a solid mass of thick sludge that needs to be mechanically broken up with augers and water spray in order to be vacuumed out.
The best thing you can do living with a septic system is always be mindful of what is going down your drains. Organic matter only and go easy on your water usage. Use single ply toilet paper as multi layer turns into a giant ball of paper pulp in the septic tank. No tampons either as you will have a spaghetti ball waiting for you. I've been through it all.. Ugh.. lol.
I am currently on a ~53yr/old system with a 1000gal concrete tank and a absorbsion bed of unknown construction. I have it pumped every 2-3yrs with my family of 5-6 usage. Last time I had it pumped it was 10/2024 at a cost of $435. That is with me digging up the access cover.
In my NY house I finally called the local construction company that pumps septics. He showed up with the truck and a shovel. Dug for awhile then left and came back with a small excavator. He owns the construction company. I think he charged my $20 to dig out the septic tank cover.
He smoothed a few large ruts on my lawn with the blade on the small excavator.
$20 wow!! Nothing for 20 anymore
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Depending on the total cost of the bill, that does sound like a bargain. I think they charge $50 around me for something that can be dug with a shovel.
My lids are about 18-24" down. I leave them covered with soil as winter temps can be an issue freezing your in or out flow.
The best maintenance you can do on a septic system is regular pumping, based on your usage. Other than that, it's all about what you put down your drains.
My old house and the current house only have about a foot of dirt over the tank. After probing for the new house's tank and finding it I marked the foundation and how far out the clean outs were for the tank. With the new place I wanted to open it up and stick it to see how much sludge was at the bottom before calling the big straw. Fortunately only about a foot deep but had it pumped for a fresh start.
Septic guy told me not to waste money on septic treatments and to pump every 2-3 years. Yeah, right, I've got a 1200 gallon tank, at 350 currently per a pump out what's a waste of money when I know I can go 10 years easily with only 2 people.
Gravity system also. I've got friends with mound systems, they are way more sensitive and costly. One buddy already has had to replace the pump in his pump tank.
Septic guy told me not to waste money on septic treatments and to pump every 2-3 years. Yeah, right, I've got a 1200 gallon tank, at 350 currently per a pump out what's a waste of money when I know I can go 10 years easily with only 2 people.
Gravity system also. I've got friends with mound systems, they are way more sensitive and costly. One buddy already has had to replace the pump in his pump tank.
I suppose the $100.00 each year is keeping my nitrogen from entering the groundwater.
Who knows. I know with my septic with an air pump it's designed to vent the nitrogen into the air. Should be OK since air is 80% nitrogen. So the air around my house might be 80.0001% nitrogen.
Unfortunately for the 20 or so homes in my HOA with older septics, if the septic needs to be replaced they will be required to upgrade to one similar to mine that removes nitrogen from the septic water. Mine was replaced before we bought this home.
Here are my lids and controller and clean out
