InspectAPedia®   -   Search InspectApedia

Septic System Maintenance, Septic System Life, Septic Tank Pumping Conclusions

Septic Tank pump-out schedule & procedure onclusions:

This article contains our conclusions to the septic tank pumping schedule guideline. We explain why a septic tank needs to be pumped regularly, how septic tanks are cleaned, how much it costs to pump a septic tank, how to inspect and clean septic tanks safely, what is septic tank effluent retention time, how to measure septic tank scum and sludge levels, and other septic tank maintenance advice for homeowners.

We point to the role played in septic system life & pumping frequency when a food waste grinder is connected to the system, and when septic treatments or additives are used. We give more information about how often septic tanks should be pumped.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

SEPTIC PUMPING CONCLUSIONS - Septic Pumping Conclusions, Garbage Disposers, Septic Tank Additives, Buying a Home with a Septic System

Garbage Disposers and Grinders Effects on Septic Systems

Food waste grinder © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Garbage grinders impose an additional solids load on the system. Solids must be removed periodically to prevent them from entering the soil absorption field. If a garbage disposer or food waste grinder is installed in your building you may need to increase the frequency of septic tank pumpout/cleanout.

Review GARBAGE GRINDERS vs SEPTICS and garbage disposal units - effects on septic systems for details.

Septic tank additives

Biological and chemical additives are not needed to aid or accelerate decomposition in conventional residential septic systems.

Products such as yeast, "septic helper" or "septic un-clog chemicals" and the use of additives in septic tanks to reduce the sludge volume or substitute for pumping is not recommended. In fact, relying on additives rather than conventional tank pumping may result in failure of the septic system.

Septic treatments & chemicals © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com

While there may be special procedures to address soil absorption problems, in general chemicals and additives are not needed.

Such septic treatments are illegal in some jurisdictions (and throughout Canada) because they may are not only of marginal effectiveness but also they may contaminate the local groundwater.

What about adding yeast to the septic tank?

Really? "Yeast" which some of our clients like to toss into their septic tank is not helpful and may actually speed drain field failure by keeping the septic treatment tank contents in an agitated state.

 

Be sure to review details about this topic
at SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS

How Quickly Does A Septic System Fail?

The life of a septic system depends on the following factors:

So provided you've addressed these factors in septic system life, how long can you expect a septic system to last before costly repairs to the septic tank or septic drain field are required?

Septic systems (tank and absorption system, or onsite wastewater disposal systems) will not fail immediately if they are not pumped. However, an un-maintained septic tank is no longer protecting the soil absorption field from solids.

Continued neglect shortens the drain field life and may result in system failure and even require complete replacement of the soil absorption field. In some cases, site limitations may make replacement of the absorption field impossible - at least impossible using a conventional drainfield design. Alternative designs are available to solve these problems.

The septic tank is only one part of an on-site wastewater system. It is designed to remove solids prior to the effluent entering the soil absorption field, provide for the filtration, digestion of a portion of those solids, and storage of the remaining solids. Taking care of the septic tank will, however, extend the life of the costly second half of the onsite wastewater treatment system - the absorption system, leach field, or drainfield.

More details about the life expectancy of a septic system can be read at

If you have just moved into a home with a septic system

If you've just moved into a home with a septic tank you may not know the size of the septic tank, its maintenance history, or even where the septic tank is. In this case, you should have the tank pumped and inspected. The company pumping the tank will tell you its size, age, and condition.

Below at in the form of individual detailed articles are the Steps in Septic Tank Cleaning Procedure in the order that they should be performed


...

Continue reading  at SEPTIC TANK & SYSTEM CARE BASICS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Septic System Condition & Life Articles

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC PUMPING CONCLUSIONS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification
when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Comment Form is loading comments...

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.



ADVERTISEMENT