Septic Tank Maintenance; How Often To Pump ?

[JTK]

He says pumping too frequently is not good for the system either. He says "Pumping the septic tank before solids accumulate to 25% or after 55% can have negative effects in the dispersal field area, so should be avoided. "

I'm not trying to be offensive, but I would seriously question your specialist based on this statement.

You not only have solids build up from the bottom, but you will also have a scum layer forming from the top down. By the time ~50% solids build up from the bottom up, the scum layer is going to take up most if not all the other space and there will be zero room for water, which will mean a backup.

Systems can be pumped completely empty and will still contain enough beneficial bacteria on the walls and surfaces of the tank, to restart the digestion that happens in the tank.

 

[slo town]

1,200 gallon tank, three adults, living in house 18 years, and we never put food waste down the sink via garbage disposer. I have ours pumped every 3 years. We've never had any problems.

FWIW,

Scott

 

[GSCJR]

Might want to think about how much toilet paper people are flushing rather than looking for an additive.

I know who it is, but what do I know.; I've only said it to her 100 times.

 

[JTK]

I know who it is, but what do I know.; I've only said it to her 100 times.

LOL, I hear you. It's tough when you have ladies or lots of guests. I know it sounds like a stone age move, but you have to keep single ply toilet paper only in the house and don't keep "flushable" wipes in the bathrooms. Guests may still flush tampons, etc., but you have to tell the main ladies of the household that is definite no-no.

 

[GSCJR]

single ply toilet paper only

I tried for a while; the complaints! They'll just use more; kids included!

 

[alarmguy]

I get ours pumped at 5 year intervals. Just wife and I but we do have lots of company. Daughters house has never been pumped till this year when it backed up. It had been in use over 40 years. got it cleaned out and working again. I would never wait that long. Last time I had it pumped it cost over $500 bucks. But if you have sewer it'll cost you over $100/yr too.

OMG ... I wish I had a Septic System!

Your way off on the sewer costs, at least where I live. Its insane!
Even though property taxes are low ... We pay $72 a MONTH = $864 a year for sewer. Its insane the price increases we have been getting for so called system upgrades.

Trust me, your way better off being "off the grid" and wish I was but no other choice.
Well, at least my post will make you feel better!

 

[JTK]

I tried for a while; the complaints!

Scotts tissue isn't that bad. We're probably just used to it because we've been on septic systems so long, but in reality, it's easier on any plumbing or system.

Multi ply tissue is brutal with today's low water use toilets as well.

 

[loneryder]

I have been in my house almost three years now. It was built in 2018 as a second home but the previous owners were only here a few times. I'm thinking it may be about time to do some maintenance or preventive maintenance on some of the household systems.

The house is 2 bedrooms and the septic tank is 750 gallons. I live alone so there is not a tremendous amount of waste going into the tank. How often should I have the tank pumped out ? The plumbing is working fine with no signs of backup but I'd rather do some P.M. than have an incident.

Ive been in my house since 2008. It is just me and an occasional guest. Never had it pumped out. I put in a Rid X type product everytime I go away for at least a couple of days. It's bacteria and enzymes to digest the solids. I don't see why you would have to pump it out this early in it's life.

 

[loneryder]

The Maryland Department Of The Environment has done a study and recommends a pump every two years. In your case since you are alone I recommend three years. Get it done and ask the pumper if it was very full of sludge and solids. That would be a good indicator of what to do in the future. Sort of like an oil analysis.

There's the tie in to an oil forum!

 

[ecotourist]

I'm not trying to be offensive, but I would seriously question your specialist based on this statement.

You not only have solids build up from the bottom, but you will also have a scum layer forming from the top down. By the time ~50% solids build up from the bottom up, the scum layer is going to take up most if not all the other space and there will be zero room for water, which will mean a backup.

Systems can be pumped completely empty and will still contain enough beneficial bacteria on the walls and surfaces of the tank, to restart the digestion that happens in the tank.

No offense taken.

I looked into the tank right after the covers came off. There was essentially no scum on top during our use. There was a thick scum on top when we did our first pump out (meaning from the previous owner's use) so I do know what scum looks like.

We're quite obsessive about not flushing excess toilet paper. Only the dirtiest paper goes into the toilet. The rest goes into the garbage.

What I can say is this guy has gotten our old system working well. And I think our field was close to needing a tear out. By local regulation if you update any part of your septic system you have to update the whole thing - which means a bill for +/- $25,000. That's what the all new system cost our next door neighbour.

 

[thastinger]

Ours moves through 3 tanks before it heads to the drain field. The manufacturer (aqua safe) recommends pumping the first tank in line every 5 years. The design of the system should be based on the number of bedrooms you have in your house, ours is 4 beds and has a 600 gallon a day capacity. We are only part timers in the house right now but will retire to it someday.

 

[MParr]

We are the second owners of this house. The house was built in 2013 and we had it pumped in 2018. We had it pumped again last week. It was pretty full and we were getting some gurgling in one of the toilets. We now know to have it pumped every three years.

 

[AZjeff]

My toilet paper also goes into a wastebasket.

Trying to grasp doing this. Definite not an option here.

A pump out after 3 years of use will give you a baseline value, every system and situation is different. Hopefully you get a knowledgeable pumper who can give you some guidance on future intervals. Going 10, 15 years doing nothing is just asking for big trouble, you won't know things have gone bad until it's REALLY bad. Just because the toilet flushes doesn't mean everything is alright in there.

I've had 3 septic systems and God willing will never have another.

 

[IveBeenRued]

I’m in Virginia. Just got my tank pumped after 7 years of use. No issues noted by the service company and when asked about when I should do the next service he said to keep to the 7-10 year intervals unless we start having more people live there. Washing machine and paper goes directly into the system, no issues. I do a dose of RidX once or twice a year if we are leaving town for a while.

 

[CB22]

This is interesting, can you expand? The reason I'm asking is, I recently had to deal with sewage backing up from my basement floor drain and excess toilet paper appeared to be the problem. I cured the problem, but I'm looking for a maintenance plan. Thanks in advance.

Additionally, a product named Rid-X came up often when searching for a solution, but it seems to be a product intended for septic tanks, if that even matters.

RidX is ok, but I've found this stuff to be much better. I use it on a rental, and it's never failed me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WMZCFC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Andrew1972]

 

[Bud]

Trying to grasp doing this. Definite not an option here.

A pump out after 3 years of use will give you a baseline value, every system and situation is different. Hopefully you get a knowledgeable pumper who can give you some guidance on future intervals. Going 10, 15 years doing nothing is just asking for big trouble, you won't know things have gone bad until it's REALLY bad. Just because the toilet flushes doesn't mean everything is alright in there.

I've had 3 septic systems and God willing will never have another.

Saw this comment also, and thought oh H no. When I lived in the country I had my system pumped every five years. Gray water went to the woods (my acreage) and I flushed a packed of yeast or two down the toilet every month per the pumping service.

 

[JohnnyG]

This is interesting, can you expand? The reason I'm asking is, I recently had to deal with sewage backing up from my basement floor drain and excess toilet paper appeared to be the problem. I cured the problem, but I'm looking for a maintenance plan. Thanks in advance.

Additionally, a product named Rid-X came up often when searching for a solution, but it seems to be a product intended for septic tanks, if that even matters.

Sounds like you have a different problem. Sounds to me that someone may be putting to much OR THE WRONG KIND of paper into the toilets. Never flush paper towels, baby wipes, or other personal hygiene paper into a toilet. Even if they say FLUSHABLE , sometimes they are not and will not degrade quickly enough.

 

[MParr]

Rid-X is useless
Single ply paper : Angel Soft, Cottonelle, and Scott’s
NO BABY WIPES or FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.
NO GARBAGE DISPOSALS
Do not pour grease from the cooking process.

 

[GSCJR]

Sounds to me that someone may be putting to much

Definitely. Additionally, no wipes, paper towels or feminine products go down the toilet. Also, we haven't used our garbage disposal in over 5 years and cooking oil goes in the composting bin.