How often do you pump your septic tank?

[gritsar]

We had ours done about three years ago. The lid had to be replaced at that time too. Before that, DH said he couldn't remember it ever being pumped and it was put in when the house was built, in the early 70s. *knock on wood*

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
Thats exactly right If you are getting your septic pumped every two or three years you have problems

It is the solids that get pumped out. The water is what goes out into the lateral fields. Yes, if done right you can get by many years.

 

[CMV]

Our septic guy says every 5 years the storage tank needs to be pumped. We have a 5 y.o system with 2 adults and 1 child. It was pumped for the first time this year and was nowhere near being full.

 

[mamagardener]

We do ours every couple of years and use Rid-x for good maintenance.

 

[RIVERRAT]

Get It Pumped When Its Full. If Working Properly .u Shouldnt Have To Get It Pumped At All With Just 2 People.

 

[MissPrissy]

With the right enzymes doing their work you should not have a big sludge buildup. It should filter away. I know people who have had a septic system working for 30 years that has never been pumped.

 

[EweSheep]

When we lived in the country, we had asked our LL when was the last time it ever was pumped out, he said, I dont remember maybe 20 years or more?

When we opened it up, peeeeeeee ewwwwwwwww, and all that buildup of solids was FULL and the septic tank was not that big. It was something like two men's armwide length and eight feet deep and it had plate size holes all around it on the walls. I have not seen those type of septic tanks but for whatever how long it was, it was FULL! So the solids has been pumped out and our water outtakes worked well since then. When we asked our septic guy, he said to get it pumped out every two to three years with a family of four, dishwasher and washers. The water is already out to the "fields" so there was NO liquid. Obviously it has been working well but it is unknown HOW long it was sitting there.

Anyway with the city and sewer guys, they said that Rid X is a waste of money. The septic should do its job without any "additives" into the tank.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
That is right. That is why people shouldn't use garbage disposals when they have a septic tank. Also you should be sure what it is your are rinsing down the sink. Chemical decloggers and many cleansers kill the good bacteria and cause the septic system's ecological balance to die and then the problems begin. Any honest septic service will also tell you to use 1 ply paper and use it modestly. Charmin and other big name paper companies with big comfy 2 ply extra thick sheets and aloe and lotions is the worst for a septic tank.

 

[ffachicken2012]

we have 5 people living in this house and we get it pumped about every 2 years

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
That is right. That is why people shouldn't use garbage disposals when they have a septic tank. Also you should be sure what it is your are rinsing down the sink. Chemical decloggers and many cleansers kill the good bacteria and cause the septic system's ecological balance to die and then the problems begin. Any honest septic service will also tell you to use 1 ply paper and use it modestly. Charmin and other big name paper companies with big comfy 2 ply extra thick sheets and aloe and lotions is the worst for a septic tank.

How about our own homemade cleaning stuff like bleaches, borax, baking soda, vinegar? Wont they kill it too?