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 Mobile ViewSEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR ADDITIVES / TREATMENTS for SEPTIC SYSTEMS AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BOOKS, RECOMMENDED SEPTIC BOOKSTORE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR D BOX TROUBLESHOOTING DEFINITIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM TERMS DIFFICULT SEPTIC SITES DISTRIBUTION-BOX INSPECTION, SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS LEACHFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? ODORS, PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SYSTEM ARTICLES SEPTIC AUTHORITIES, DESIGN REGS SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEPTIC BOOK, FREE ONLINE SEPTIC BOOKSTORE SEPTIC BIOMATS SEPTIC CARE INSTRUCTIONS SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES SEPTIC CODES & REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD RESTORERS? SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE SEPTIC DRAWINGS SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC HOLDING TANKS SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL - Online SEPTIC SYSTEM, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION LEVELS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES SEPTIC TANK COVERS SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE Safety Warnings CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS WHEN to CLEAN THE SEPTIC TANK WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK Find the Septic Tank - a Photo Guide How to Open Septic Tanks Open the Septic Tank SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE Inspect Before Pumping SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME Pumper Truck Operation Pumping the Septic Tank Inspect During Pumping Washing Septic Tank Sides/Bottom Inspect After Pumping Close the Septic Tank Record Septic Tank Location Safety Warnings to Owners SEPTIC PUMPING CONCLUSIONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TANK SAFETY SEPTIC TANK SIZE SEPTIC TANK TEES SEPTIC TESTS: DYE & LOADING TESTS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS SEPTIC VIDEOS SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SOAKAWAY BED FAILURE DIAGNOSIS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS, SEPTIC VIDEO GUIDES: Septic Videos WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS WASTEWATER TREATMENT BASICS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
Determining septic tank cleanout frequency based on physical inspection of the septic tank scum & sludge layers. This article explains when to pump the septic tank and sludge and scum layer thicknesses. We explain that making these basic observations when a septic tank is pumped, and knowing how long it has been since the previous pumpout can tell us more accurately when the septic tank is going to next need cleanout. This approach can save you money in pumping costs or it may save you money by properly protecting the life of the septic system drainfield. We discuss the floating scum and sludge layer thicknesses and their measurement for evaluating the septic tank net free area and overall condition. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. How the Septic Tank Scum Layer or Sludge Layer Determine Pumpout NeedA Photographic Guide to Pumping a Septic TankThis article series provides a step by step, photo-illustrated guide to opening, pumping, and inspecting septic tanks, how a conventional septic tank is located, opened, pumped out, cleaned, and inspected. This guideline is intended for septic pumping tank truck operators and as general information for homeowners or septic service companies concerned with septic system care. Readers should see Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for a table explaining when to schedule a septic cleanout. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical reviewers are welcome and are listed at References. How to Determine If and When a Septic Tank Needs to Be PumpedStandard Method 1: Pump the septic tank based on usage level - using the septic tank pumping tablesThe most common method used to determine when a septic tank should be pumped is to use a tank pumping frequency table which suggests the tank cleanout interval as a function of tank size and the level of usage of the system, such as the number of occupants in the building. We provide a table to give a septic pumping schedule at SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE. Refer to the table to see the recommended pumping frequency for the particular septic system being considered. For example, (from the septic tank pumping table), a 1000 gallon septic tank serving a home with five occupants should be cleaned out about every two years. If the tank has only a 500 gallon capacity, it needs to be cleaned about every six months! Why a septic tank pumping table may be wrong - other septic tank pumping schedulesSeptic tank shape affects its pumping needs. What septic tank pumping tables may not recognize is the effect of tank shape on the need to pump it out. Most septic tanks are 4ft. to 6ft. deep. But if the tank in question is a "low boy" or shallow septic tank (used in areas where there is not enough soil depth to bury a conventional septic tank) it may need to be pumped more often. Septic tank usage affects its pumping schedule. Septic tank pumping tables presume a number of occupants based usually on the number of bedrooms in a home. If your home has more occupants or other reasons for heavier septic system use the tank needs to be pumped more often. Alternative Method 2: Use actual septic tank conditions to decide its next pump out timeBy inspecting the conditions in the tank at pumping time you can decide if your septic tank should be pumped more or less often than called for in the pumping schedules. The thickness of the floating scum layer and bottom sludge layer determine how much net free area remains in the septic tank. The size of the net free area in the septic tank in turn determines the EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME - which means that we want effluent to stay in the tank long enough for new solids and greases to separate out before effluent leaves the septic tank. Pump the tank based on sludge/scum thicknessIt is in fact quite possible to MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE thicknesses in the septic tank.The exact point at which a septic tank needs to be pumped could be determined by opening the septic tank and measuring the sludge and scum levels in the tank. As long as the sludge and scum layers are minimal (just a few inches of thickness) or in other words, as long a the "net free area" in the tank (see below) is adequate, the tank does not need to be pumped. (See "EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME" and MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE for details of these procedures). Depending on the size of the tank and its dimensions, as the sludge and scum layers become thick the net free area remaining in the tank becomes so small that there is inadequate time for solids to separate into sludge and scum layers. At this point, even though the septic system appears to be "working" its remaining life is in jeopardy because suspended solid waste is being pushed into the drain field. The volume of net free area in a septic tank determines the time available for this solid and grease separation. That time is referred to as "septic effluent retention time." Short effluent retention time means that the tank sewage remains agitated which in turn means floating and suspended solids are being pushed into and thus are clogging the drain field. Method 3: there are other reasons people pump septic tanksThere are other reasons besides time or sludge/scum layer thickness that lead people to pump septic tanks out, such as diagnosing septic system problems, odors, backups, or inspecting / repairing septic tank baffles. We list and discuss these in detail at Reasons For Pumping the Septic Tank. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & Answers about when to pump the septic tank based on sludge and scum layers Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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