We had our septic tank pumped yesterday and let me tell you Bob, I’m glad the HH keeps on top of the whole maintenance thing around here, because it made getting it pumped quick and painless.
If you are knew to the septic tank world, here’s a couple of guidelines to help you maintain it:
- Don’t overload it. Plain and simple. Try to minimize your water consumption, because when it’s full, you have to pay to pump it. Fix leaky faucets, wait until the dishwasher is completely full to use it {all of the stuff you are probably already doing}. The less water that drains into the septic system, the less often you will have to pay to have it pumped.
- On mature properties, tree roots can become an issue fast. They can damage the tank. Keep trees 100-150 ft away from the septic tank.
- Don’t wash things down the drain or toilet that will clog up your septic tank. Only flush toilet paper down the toilet–NOTHING else, and don’t dump coffee grounds, egg shells, grease, etc. down the sink. It clogs up the whole system faster than you’d think.
- Keep the drainfield clear. Don’t drive over it, build anything on top of it, etc.
- Don’t use harsh cleaning chemicals. This includes laundry. The more inorganic stuff that heads to the septic tank, the higher the likelyhood of trouble.
- Routinely check pumps, filters and controls. If something is broken or amiss in any one, fix it immediately.
- If your system has a filter, make sure to clean it regularly.
That’s about it. Any other septic tank people out there with more tips to offer?
~Mavis
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dawn johns says
Instead of paying for expensive monthly chemical septic system treatments, we were told to use a 1 pound yeast cake. You can buy them at Costco for like $3 in 2 lb. packages. use half for the septic and the other half for baking! we have a 1,000 gallon tank, if you have a larger tank you may wanna use two lbs rather than one. we dump it in a bowl with warm water to get the bacteria,going then flush it down the toilet. Works great! do this once a year in say January.. and you will always remember when to do it each year. We learned this from the guy who pumps our septic, also have read online about it. Chemical treatments can lead to problems by eroding things and can also leech into your ground water so this is far better and far cheaper, Can i get an Amen anybody?
Madam Chow says
My mom would flush a box of RID-X down the toilet every other month. It contains poop-eating bacteria that help break down the waste, keep the system running smoothly, and reduce the strain on the drain field. Thirty years without a problem.
Ashley says
I’ve never heard of that before! We use the once a year bottled ‘stuff’, but I really like the idea of the yeast. We’re due for new bacteria so I’ll definitely be looking into it.
Ashley says
We just had to re-do our drainfield this summer. Pain.in.the.rear. And expensive! It was just old and needed to be done. So, we are doing everything we can to keep our septic system in good working order! We were told to use liquid laundry and dishwasher detergent because the powdered stuff can clump together and clog the system. Also, try and do a load of laundry a day rather than all your laundry on one or two days a week.
kcb says
We had a septic tank before moving here. We were also on a lot that did not perk that well. I was extremely careful about what when down the kitchen drain. We intentionally did not have a garbage disposal installed when the house was built to remove any temptation to put things in it that would harm the system. On the advice of the city health dept (they had to ok the system when it was put in), we put Rid-Ex in the toilet once a month. We also had extra drain lines put in when the system was being installed. We had it pumped out on a regular basis & never had a problem.
Joy says
I’m confused. Our septic tank is connected to a drain field, and the “treated” water in the tank flows out through that drain field and percolates back into the ground. Thus the septic tank never overfills. We do have to have it pumped every 3 years (by law) but not because it is too full. On the other hand, at our far northern Wisconsin cabin we have a holding tank because the soil drains too quickly to oeprate a septic system safely. The holding tank accumulates *everything* that goes out our drains. That does fill up, and we have to have it pumped about once a year. Certainly there are plenty of good reasons to conserve water all the time, but we don’t do so because of concerns about overfilling a septic tank.
Paul says
Think of your septic tank like a large glass kettle of chicken noodle soup sitting in the frig.. Grease and scum float to the top, the heaver solids sink to the bottom leaving a clearer broth as the center layer. you put one gallon in, it enters the center layer where grease floats and solids sink. the center layer is the effective volume of the tank. When you pump a septic tank out you remove the top grease/scum and bottom solids making the center layer bigger. That bigger center layer means that each gallon that enters a tank spends more time in the tank. There is more time for floating and sinking which make the center layer (Sewage effluent) clearer. This center layer is what goes to the absorption area (field, trench, pit)
Kathleen says
At the risk of being somewhat offensive, but being a former septic tank “owner”, you need to remind the ladies NOT to flush sanitary products down the toilet….no matter what the labels say. They simply do NOT deteriorate quickly enough not to clog the drain fields. Plus of course no flushing disposable diapers or liners down the toilet. No, you simply cannot do that. Like the sanitary products, they do not deteriorate quickly enough.
Barbee says
Great topic (as usual) Mavis.
We are in the process of planning to build on acreage.
One key subject it sanitary systems and the one most recommended for our area includes ‘sprayers’.
Do you have those? Ever heard of ’em? ’cause I was planning on using them to water our front yard trees. (why waste?) and was looking for ideas.
I wonder of sprayers might reduce the excess water problem you described.
And why do my fellow readers advise against the g’bage disposal?
Small amounts of trimmings are going to slip down the sink, no matter how hard I try.—I’d assume it’s better them to be chopped to tiny bits rather than large chunks.
Keeping in mind that I am a home compotser, was wondering if maybe I was missing something important.
Any and all advice welcomed. Thanks. 🙂
Get that tooth fixed yet? Careful-you might get used to the look of it an forget to go.
Caroline says
I’m going to emphasize something you said. The ONLY thing that can be flushed is toilet paper – no tampons, wipes, flushable cat litter, NOTHING!. Yes, I know about all three of the above from experience and they weren’t cheap lessons.
susan says
We’ve had a septic tank for 17 years now, and have 16/13 girls and this is our experience. NO powder (laundry/dishwashing soap), NO bleach, NO food, ONLY toilet paper down toilet. Had the “lids” installed the first time we pumped which allow us to view the tank if necessary, and saves $$ when it is pumped. Had it pumped just two times.
They are pumping the “gunk” at the bottom of the tank. So if your not adding gunk (powder and food, sand, dirt, non toilet paper etc), and your not killing the good bacteria (no bleach), you should be good for years, as we are. I’ve been told (hold on, this is kinda gross) that poop is really all you need to run a septic tank!
TexasScout says
One more thing you should NEVER flush. Condoms.
The were sucked up into our field drain pump and locked it up and burned the motor out.
Tex
Barbee near Dallas says
I’m sorry. That’s just funny.
Good advice though. Thanks.
Sue P says
Recently had a back up of sewage into our house! Yikes! That is something that you DO NOT want to have! We have lived here for several years without a problem – but recently changed to double ply toilet paper – (OK for septic) – and suddenly it backed up. Plumber and the septic guy that pumped it both said NOT to use toilet paper in the potty! Hmmmm….well I compromise – #2 in potty – #1 in trash. (We have clay soil which doesn’t drain well.) We also have taken off the laundry from the septic – allowing it to go into a holding tank instead.
Deanna A says
After living for 10 yrs in Costa Rica we don’t put urine TP down the toilet just the other. It will save filling the tank. We could burn the paper but in the land fill it will decompose quickly. If you don’t have access to ‘septic bugs” or cant afford them as they are a bit expensive -but not compared to the cost of pumping a tank (RID-X is a good brand but others work well too) flush a 1/4 cup of baking yeast once or twice a yr it will help break down solids.
Laura says
Our septic tank hasn’t been pumped in 35 years, and doesn’t need it. The only thing that goes in it is poop and water from the kitchen sink which has Dawn in it. At the toilet we use a bidet instead of toilet paper. The washer and the shower are plumbed to the rear of the property where there is a garden. We use a Chapin Living Waters drip irrigation system to distribute the grey water to the plants.
It probably helps that yeast from bread baking is introduced frequently.
Tish says
Im new to septic tank living. There are 8 ppl in the hm we are renting. We werent told by the property managment company abt the septic tank, so 5 months after being in the hm we had a backup, called the management company & was informed they were sending someone out immediately to pump the tank. Needless to say I was baffled. I had been living in Houston TX for the past 30+ years, so never dealt with this situation. Got the tank pumped..did the ridix treatments once a month & everything was ok for abt a yr.started hearing the toilet gurgle again & that was my notice something was wrng with the tank. This time the filter was clogged. The guy that came out said the tank was almost full again & said it should only need pumping out every 3 yrs. Said there was a lot of toilet paper. We use single ply scott brand, which says its septic tank safe. I will be trying the yeast treatment, along with the cintinued ridix treatments. We stopped using the garbage.disposal. we make our own laundry detergent & cleaning products, tonreduce chemical use. Is there anything else we can do better or change?
Deanna says
We do NOT put TP into the septic lived in Costa Rica for 10 yrs and NO ONE puts TP down the toilet. Yeast is good RID-X is good too. We pump our washing machine water out to a barrel and use it on the grass and garden Since we have to pay for water it is good to get double use.
TexasScout says
We put in a new septic system over ten years ago. TP, grey water both go in. I use Biozime 2000 every month. No problems so far. No sludge build up.
Robo says
We have a rental house with a septic tank. This year we had to have the septic tank pumped because the tenants said it was backing up into the house. Two months later the toilets would not flush but no back up yet. We had the septic tank pumped again because it was full. Is this an indication that our lines needs to be addressed?
TexasScout says
I was told by a friend that he had a company pump out (suck out with a vacuum truck) is tank and when he was done he pulled the sp pump, hooked his vacuum hose to the field drain and pulled a vacuum on it. It unplugged the drain system.
Paul says
After 3 years as a septic tank inspector, soil tester and environmental educator, I have spent a lot of time thinking about this and talking to people about this. The name of the game here is to protect the absorption field not the tank. Think of your septic tank like a large glass kettle of chicken noodle soup sitting in the frig.. Grease and scum float to the top, the heaver solids sink to the bottom leaving a clearer broth as the center layer. you put one gallon in, it enters the center layer where grease floats and solids sink. the center layer is the effective volume of the tank. When you pump a septic tank out you remove the top grease/scum and bottom solids making the center layer bigger. That bigger center layer means that each gallon that enters a tank spends more time in the tank. There is more time for floating and sinking which make the center layer (Sewage effluent) clearer. This center layer is what goes to the absorption area (field, trench, pit)
besides putting less in and things that only go through you , your goal should be to maximize the amount of time each gallon spends in the tank. When ever possible spread you usage through out the week. Don’t do 15 loads of wash in one day. Also spread you usage throughout the day. buy dish washers and washing machines that have a delayed start. Have these machines run use water when people sleep or are gone. you will use the same number of gallons but each one will have spent more time in the tank.
o save water I found turning the valve on the water heater slow enough to simulate running out of hot water is more effective than yelling. I recommend waiting till your child’s wedding reception toast to reveal this practice.
Millie Hue says
Thanks for pointing out that harsh cleaning materials especially those that are inorganic can cause trouble in the tank. I guess this is the reason why our system is acting up. It started yesterday when I was about to do my laundry. Now, I have to send my dirty clothes to the laundry shop just to get them cleaned.
Roby says
Every tip are useful, maintaining your septic in good condition is a relief for the whole family, I’m glad I read your post. Very informative!