Septic Tank poll

Hey Guys...
Had some "crappy" issues this weekend...
Thought we had a malfunctioning toilet...or maybe we're victim's of sabotage from our 2 year old...just had been flushing funny for a a couple weeks...inconsistent...it was odd...my "B" option was a plugged vent...
Then yesterday while laundry was going, I noticed the toilet was not flushing at all and was not slowly draining and our waste pipe was completely full and slowly backing up...

Found the tank cover...got it dug up

Called a septic guy...pumped 1000 gallons for $200 which included a $20 Sunday call fee (I don't think that could have been more reasonable).

First time it had been pumped since '87....to be fair, no one lived in the house from '52 until 2007, but in the last 7 1/2 years' we have had some heavy usage...

So...
How often should my septic tank get pumped?

Also,
What are the odds that Jan 31 in upstate NY would allow me to find and dig this with a shovel...no snow, no frozen ground...
 
Where in upstate NY? I paid $250 a little over a year ago. It was not an emergency call. Our system had been acting similar to how you describe yours. I can't remember when it was pumped previously. It's a 1000 gal tank with 200' drainage for the two of us. I think our major challenge here is getting drainage through heavy clay.
 
IM in SC, I have both if mine pumped every 3 years. I had one put in just for gray water. It doesn't really need pumped as much, but since the guy is already here he pumps it. My main tank had so many problems since its pretty much in red clay, this second one helps a lot!!
 
It's recommended to be pumped every 2-3 years. But it all depends on what you flush down the drain. You can check the scum and sludge levels and tell if it needs to be pumped at all. I feel you have a drain field problem. Your effluent is not able to leave your septic tank.
 
As someone previosly stated what chemicals & type paper that go down the pipe contribute to length of time between pumps. Do you routinely induce yeast or product such as Ridex to the septic system? If not you should. I've lived on a septic system since '68 and have had mine pumped 3 times
 
Hopefully that will take care of your problem. I have seen a full septic tank fill up the field lines. That would be a big problem. When my kids were home I had the tank pumped every 5-6 years and added tank treatment every month or so. I haven't had mine pumped in about 7 years now so it may be time.
 
Here in Madison County Illinois before installing a new septic system it's required that the county does a PERK test on your soil first to see if it's absorbent enough for laterals and if not you need to install an aeration system. They also require 300 feet of laterals. We have 1500 gallon septic tank and I had them install it as close to the house as possible which is no closer than 10ft by county law. I did this because our toilets are only 1.5 gallon flush. I could adjust them to flush more gallons but this also keeps the toilets from overflowing in the bathrooms if and when they clog for some reason. We have our septic tank pumped out every 5 years whether it needs it or not. Just peace of mind and the main reason is the wife read that some where...LOL
Last time we had it pumped out it was $100 but $80 if we left the name blank on the check or paid cash to the man...he owns the business...
 
lot depends on how many people use it along with size of tank, i've worked in the field for over 40 yrs. but the 3 yr. pump is good. i pump mine every 5 yrs. with 2 people. it's not so much the tank you have to worry about, what happens is the solids in the tank die and sink to the bottom and keep building up until they go out the rear baffle and plug the leach field. that's gonna take more then pumping to cure......good luck
 
John, Ours was put in in 1978 with 2 lines 80 feet long. Never had to pump it. (just knocked on wood).
At times there were 5 people living in the house for several years. Ours is in red clay also.
Think I will knock on wood again..
Richard in NW SC
 
When we sold our house in 2000 the buyer had some concerns about the septic tank. I had it pumped out by an older fellow who had been in the business for over 40 years. He told me it was working just fine. 1250 gal tank. it cost $200 to do it. every so often I had put some stuff in the drains to help the tank. one thing I didn't have was a garbage disposal. people tend to forget that some things you put through there wont dissolve and things you run through there has chemicals that probably aren't good for the tank. adding some septic tank cleaner once a year will help.
 
Here in Jefferson county Wisconsin you must pump every 3 years or you get a fine.
Some of this quilted toilet paper is like flushing a diaper. Septic safe paper dissolves (somewhat) in water.
 
West if Albany, Between Duanesburg and Amsterdam.
Rotterdam Septic Services. No complaints, great guy, thorough, family owned business.
 

I get my 1500 gal done every seven years. With kids in the house it should be every 3-5 years. I had it done by a different guy this last November and it cost $325, but everything costs more here. He has to fill out a form with each pump and send them to the state every month, and he is required to check the baffles while he has it open. They used to make tanks with baffles held in by wire, and the wire would rust away and the baffle would fall down. At church we have a 1,000 grease trap that lost its baffle and I was able to make one from PVC pipe and jam it into the inlet hole. If you don't get it pumped, eventually enough floating solids accumulate at the top so that the solids start going out under the baffle and into your field. Once your field starts to get the solids it is just a few months or possibly a year or two before it is all plugged and you need to give the dirt guy $10,000 to replace it. It is very surprising that among all the common sense guys here that there are a number that advise to never pump them.
 
Mileage will vary but if a properly working septic should in theory never be pumped. Her is where and why most fields fail, LAUNDRY BLEACH if the woman of the house uses the snot out of it your in trouble. Bleach kills off all the bacteria that digest the solids. I have had to replace fields that were only 5yrs old and when we cracked the ground open all you could smell was bleach. So reduce the bleach going in and put some baking yeast in the toilet and flush for a low maintenance septic.
 
Mine only had to be pumped once, maybe twice since the house as built in 74. Dad had done something highly illegal, which was putting in a drain line for the washer and bathtub. When we remodeled the house, I had the power lines to the house put underground, and of course all that had to be county inspected, and the inspector wouldnt pass it because he saw the pipe, and checked it and found the line was set up to drain the washer and tub. So to get that, I had to reconnect the lines to the septic. It was code back in 74, but not now, and wasnt going to handle the house in its current configuration, but I got the electrical approved, and my buddy who use to do septic tanks said I should put in another one for the gray water. Works great, and it really doesnt have to be drained, but I have it done when the other one is done. I am NOT going back through the nastiness I had to go through 10 years ago again.....
 
If the tank actually needed pumping, you may be OK. A tank that "needs" pumping is a tank that is full of solids that have settled to the bottom and are built up high enough to block the outlet to the second tank or lateral lines.

Of course it is better to catch the problem first to prevent this, as solids in the lateral lines is bad news.

But if the lateral lines are plugged, the pumping will only be a temporary fix until the tanks fill with water again. Lateral lines are prone to fill with roots, and sludge. Once that happens, not much can be done but replace them. A treatment port behind the septic tanks to add copper sulfate will help prevent roots, but won't remove existing roots.
 
My house was built in 1952, septic system was a homemade tank made of brick and next to it a hand dug dry-well. Would not meet today's board of health standards. In 1991 I had to connect onto city sewer. Only had that tank pumped twice, last time was to fill it in.

I have another place purchased in 1987. Before sale, the septic had to be up graded. Good thing it was installed with a permit from board of health, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to add a room or even build a pole barn on property. Don't ask, it makes no sense, no plumbing in barn but I need a septic permit to house before I could build a barn.

So if you have an old system installed in 1952, you are lucky it still works. Bleach and grease are two things that cause septic to fail. Like the sayings says when you need it pumped, IT HAPPENS.
 
A properly designed septic system should never need to be pumped. The main reason for doing so is so that the outlet and baffle can be checked. If this is not done money is wasted. The tank will fill up in a few days, it is when it is not running out into the drain field and becoming over full that trouble ensues.
 
In Minnesota your septic tank must be pumped or have a sludge test performed every 3 years by a registered septic guy who then documents it with the county zoning people otherwise it is designated out of compliance.
 
You got off cheap. I had my tanks pumped last fall. $420. And far as never having to pump them, not true. The solids accumulate and reduce the water volume in the tank. That reduces the breakdown action.
 
(quoted from post at 14:06:48 02/01/16) Here in Jefferson county Wisconsin you must pump every 3 years or you get a fine.
Some of this quilted toilet paper is like flushing a diaper. Septic safe paper dissolves (somewhat) in water.

It's not just Jefferson county, it's Wisconsin state law that you have to have your septic pumped every three years. I often wonder which lobbyist pushed for that law? With that law in force I see no reason to put in a full septic system. You could put in a holding tank of the proper size and save on the expense of a drain field.
 
Our has been pumped 4 times in 50 years. Last was 2 years ago. They used a gas powered stirring wand before sucking it clean. Seemed a much better process than just dropping the hose in and hopefully getting it clean. About 15 years ago I had 18" x 3' heavy culvert pipes made with covers. While top of tank was open I placed one over each lid and pored 3-4" of concrete around it. Now that I'm mid 70ish will never have use the shovel if it has to pumped.
 
Central Virginia - we are required to have our septic inspected/pumped every 5 years as required by the Chesapeake Bay Act
 
As mentioned in an earlier reply, Wi requires that the septic tank be pumped every three years. In my mind this is one of the stupidest rules to come down the pike. I had to have my system replaced six years ago. The lateral lines which were made of that old tar coated cardboard started to collapse. Tank was made of concrete and in good shape. When they put in the new system the old tank was left in place with the sewage running through it to the new tank. With the old 750gal tank plus the new 1000 tank I now have plenty of space to fill with sludge before there should be any problem. I live alone and there is no way in hxxx that I can produce that much sludge in three years. My shower and sink drains are disposed of by a different system.

Also as mentioned earlier by the other WI resident, a perk test is required before a septic system can be installed. There are three types of systems that can be installed. They are called conventional, at grade, and mound. Conventional is the regular type, At grade is where the laterals are placed on top the ground, and some stone and sand etc. is placed over the lines. The last and most expensive is as the name implies is the mound system wherein there is an actual mound is built up of only a specified kind of sand.

The mound system usually will cost in excess of ten thousand dollars. Some as high as twenty thousand. Hauling all that sand from a long distance away gets mighty expensive. The mound is used when you can't pass the perk test. Lucly mine only cost me $9,000 for the at grade system.
 
My septic system was installed in 1990 and has never been pumped out.
It has a air induction system that pumps air into the tank keeping everything stirred up so it degrades better.
Does not even have a field bed; just a solid pipe from the tank to the ditch.
 

Glen sw wi.,
Is it necessary to go through the expense of a drain field now that the tank has to be pumped every three years? I'd think that a holding tank would be sufficient.
 
Have a 1000 gal w/ family of 4. I try not to go more than 5 years. It may go longer but don't want to find out the hard way. Costs about $250. I have my washer rinse water routed to an outside 'french' drain which helps the bacteria do it's job better.
 
Now wonder people were dying from raw sewage after Katrina. I don't care how much air you pump into the tank, without treatment and filtration, you are dumping raw sewage into the ditch. All the air is doing is helping to break down the solids. If you don't believe that, pay to have it tested. Better yet, try drinking it.
 
I built my home in 2000, Put in a 1200 gal. tank and used "Infiltrators" for my drain field. The house only required 80' but I installed two 50' lines 10' apart. Google Infiltrators and see what they look like! I also do use a product sent to me from California that I put a bag down the toilet every two to four weeks and I don't ever have any solids in the bottom of my tank. The product is sent on the honor system, he sends it and than you send him his money... If interested in it let me know and I'll send you the contact.....Jim in N.M.
 
If it backed up like that I think you waited too long! We used to get ours pumped every 2-3 years, 4 people, we stayed home a lot. After 30 years it passed inspection and we sold it, Cheap insurance, a new system would of been thousands, and the yard all dug up. Last summer we had our current home one pumped, only part time use, only 2 people, after 7 years it didn't need it. If I live there another 10 years I might get it pumped by then, but the county might force us to hook up to city sewer before then, it's only 200 yards away.
 
Hi, I think you should use your own judgment when to pump your tank. Unless laws make the call for you. You don't want the tank to fill with sludge and start into field.That is serious money to repair. The tank size and how many people are factors. I pump mine every 3 yr. Ed Wi ll
 
Some families would fill a 1500 gal. tank in less than a month, that would get kind of expensive. I have neighbors on the lake that
have too small a lot for a mound so they have to do that, they want city sewer! City sewer will be $15,000+ per household.
 
A complete working septic system is required unless you want to have problems when you try to sell the place.

Have to remember that every time you flush you would be adding 2-5 gal of water to the tank. Wouldn't take too long to fill the tank without an outflow.

Don't even know if the code people would let you get by with just a holding tank.

Wouldn't even be surprised to find in the future that all septic systems will be outlawed and everyone will be on holding tanks unless they are hooked up to a municipal system. The ground water nuts will be in control. Even cows and wild animals will need to start wearing diapers. Then what do we do with all those diapers?
 
Your right about wisc I live alone and still have to have it pumped and inspected. My problem is the tank is pre 1960 the top has to be dug off and the lid (4 x 6 with horseshoes for lift points set in the concrete) lifted off I'm getting now where I can do it with a loader. The Grey water was split and the kitchen sink hit the road ditch the back part sinks and bathtub go into an old cistern all that has been redone and everything goes into septic . Next year new septic I hope
 
I guess I may have been a little miss leading now that I read my post again but you guys are jumping the gun also.
You have a picture in your head of a septic tank with a air hose in it.

I do not have a septic tank.
I have a sewer treatment system called Aerobic treatment unit or a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System.
My daughter has the newer updated system that has a bleach tank and a seepage system but not a true field bed.

And Russ it is kind of odd you would say this system is "certainly not legal in MN" considering I can find pictures of the system on the University of Minnesota Extension web site.

a213154.jpg
 
Which part not in our county? The documented part? Pretty sure that's part of the Minnesota Septic Rules Statue 7080. In our County if it's not documented you can't get any building permit on the property or sell it because the septic system is tagged out of compliance until it's pumped or sludge tested per the State Septic Statue mentioned above.
 
You could probably have some concrete rings added to your tank at the cleanout hole and move the cover up to ground level. The old tanks had the lid under ground to prevent freezing the tank. Nowadays that doesn't seem that is much of a problem.

Don't wish for a new tank unless you have to replace it. A new one isn't cheap by the time you pay for the tank, backhoe, and the ridiculous fees you pay the state to review and approve your plan plus what the county will charge you. Can't see why someone sitting at a desk in Madison should cost $350 to review your plans. A review by the county should be enough.
 
If I could I would leave it but got plans for a new house and it wouldn't work out where it's at besides that the town ship when they widened the road they cut the end of the drainage field off and so far nobody has figured out why I let the nettles grow there
 
You got a super deal. I wonder if your septic pumper guy will come to Ca? We get charged 435.00 Why does everything need to be so much more money in Californi? Stan
 

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