How often do you pump your septic tank?

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Funny this should come up... I've been worried about ours. I started noticing that the ground right around it is wet, not puddling, but muddy. I asked the prior owner and they said they had it done in 2001 when they purchased. We have had a ton of rain here this year so I wondered if that could have anything to do with it or if I should get it pumped?

 

[fosterchick]

I have a 1500 gal tank. I put it in 4 years ago. (old one was no good) We are a family of 8. I have it pumped every 2 years and it is 3/4 full. I like to pump it in the summer do to living in new england there is snow on the ground.

 

[pips&peeps]

We built our house in 96, have never had it pumped. We now have 5 in the house.

We do recommend using this:

http://mclendons.com/item.asp?s=eb&sku=10114180

 

[Julie08]

Never, just put regular yeast in it, its cheaper and more effective the then treatments on the market.

 

[Elite Silkies]

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.

My husband was a plumber for 25 years, and this is exactly right. You have to maintain bacteria in your tank. If your lateral lines are working properly, then you should not have any problems as long as their is the bacteria needed. The chemicals that you use in your home, do kill the bacteria needed for the system to break down the solids.

This is really gross, but if your system isn't breaking down solids correctly, and you can't afford to put anything in it, you can throw some sort of dead carcass in it (like a squirrel, nothing big), and the bacteria will start growing and start breaking down the solids.

You can also put yeast in it also.

 

[EweSheep]

How old of a squirrel that one would need to maintain a friendly bacteria in septic?

 

[luvchicks8]

every 2 years

 

[wombat]

Unfortunately, a lot of jurisdictions require pumping. Fortunately, most of them don't enforce their rules.

If your septic system is propoerly sized, and working as it should, you should not need to pump it out (unless you flush all sorts of junk down your toilets and make excessive use of your garbage displosal!). We also don't make much use of harsh cleaning chemicals. We do use bleach, but we don't generally run that down our drains. A lot of cleaning chemicals will kill off the "friendly" bacteria that make a septic system work properly.

We almost never use the garbage disposal; between a dog and chickens, there little wasted. That goes a long way towards not having maintenance issues with a septic system.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
I guess it really wouldn't matter, eventually it is going to produce bacteria. I sure wouldn't gather one up that already stunk

I would be extremely sick!

 

[debilorrah]

We use Riddez on the first of every month. Keeps it ship shape!