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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 SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK 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 |
Why pump the septic tank? Here 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. How often should septic tanks be pumped? Then we discuss reasons to pump out or clean a septic tank "off schedule" such as before a big party or for diagnostic reasons. 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. WHY DOES A TANK NEED PUMPING? A Basic Explanation of What Happens in a Septic Tank
See SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE for details of what should be done during a septic tank cleanout. See WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK for some warnings about when a septic tank should not be pumped out. Also see Septic Tank Pumping Procedure Detailed step by step photo-illustrated guide to find, pump and clean a septic tank. © 2008-1978 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. 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 invited and are listed at "References." The most common domestic wastewater treatment system used in rural areas is the septic tank-soil absorption system. The septic tank removes settleable and floatable solids from the waste water. The soil absorption field then filters and treats the clarified septic tank effluent and distributes it through the soil. Removing the solids from the wastewater protects the soil absorption system from clogging and failure. In addition to removing solids, the septic tank also promotes biological digestion of a portion of the solids and stores the remaining undigested portion. The first stage of the treatment system, the septic tank, removes solids by holding wastewater in the tank. This allows the heavier solids to settle as sludge and the lighter particles to form scum at the top. To accomplish this, wastewater should be held in the tank for at least 24 hours. Up to 50 percent of the solids retained in the tank decompose; the remainder accumulate in the tank. Biological and chemical additives are not needed to aid or accelerate decomposition. The small, collapsing, and totally impacted septic tank shown here was ignored by the property owner for years, leading to total failure of the system.
As a septic system is used, sludge continues to accumulate in the bottom of the septic tank. Properly designed tanks have enough space for up to three years safe accumulation of sludge, but the actual time you can allow between septic tank pumpouts depends on tank size and level of usage - see TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE for a table relating septic tank size and usage to pumping frequency. When the sludge level increases beyond the maximum design point, sewage has less time to settle out as scum or sludge before leaving the tank (we explain this further at EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME) and more suspended sewage solids will flow out of the septic tank into the absorption area or drainfield. If too much sludge accumulates in a septic tank, no settling occurs before the sewage flows to the soil absorption field. Infiltration of sludge into the soil absorption field will shorten the drainfield life and thus cause system failure by clogging the absorbing soils around the field. To prevent this, the septic tank must be pumped on the proper schedule. The material pumped out of the septic tank is known as septage, raw sewage, or blackwater. Other reasons to pump out or clean septic tanks
We describe a list of circumstances that recommend an "extra" or unscheduled cleanout and inspection of the septic tank such as a marginal septic system that is about to be subjected to high usage during a party, or in response to a sewage backup into the building, following area flooding, and as part of diagnosing a failure of the septic system or any of its components. 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. This article is a supplement to Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. At WHEN to CLEAN THE SEPTIC TANK and in the table shown at Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide we've discussed the basic guidelines and tables used to determine when a septic tank should be pumped. But There are other reasons besides time or sludge/scum layer thickness that lead people to pump septic tanks out. Here's a list of other reasons to pump the septic tank along with links to more details:
Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about the requirement to clean or pump out septic tanks & about pumping the septic tank "off schedule" Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS - see detailed links at page left
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Design Manuals for Septic Systems
Onsite Wastewater Disposal Books
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Unscheduled septic tank pumpout advice: this document explains additional reasons for pumping the septic tank at times other than those provided by septic tank pumping tables.