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When NOT to Pump Out A Septic Tank-FAQs

Q&A about when is it a bad idea to pump out the septic tank?

Examples discussed in this article series include pumping after a septic system has been flooded and pumping some systems which can lead to dangerous or even a fatal collapse.

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Q&A on When is Pumping a Septic Tank Not Recommended

Photo of a septic dye test indicating system failureThese questions & answers about when you should not pump a septic tank were posted originally at WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK - be sure to see the Don't Pmp the Tank situations and advice given there.

On 2019-01-15 by Carole

This is a terrific website. Thank you for such a thorough job.

On 2018-05-15 by (mod) - An outhouse or latrine is used until it's too full, then filled-in and moved

Well not to be a smarty pants, Anonymous, yes, sort-of. An outhouse or latrine is used until it's too full, then filled-in and moved to a new location. And a lagoon septic that receives all of the sewage and wastewater into a "lake" of sewage doesn't get pumped.

See LAGOON SEPTIC MAINTENANCE - https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Lagoon_Maintenance.php

But there's no modern septic system that uses a tank and separate absorption system (to receive effluent) whose tank doesn't need to be cleaned from time to time.

On 2018-05-15 by Anonymous - Is there such a thing as a septic system that does not need to be pumped?

Is there such a thing as a septic system that does not need to be pumped?

On 2018-01-31 by (mod) - why your septic system is failing.

Debbie

We need an on-site expert to diagnose why your septic system is failing.

It would be unusual for pumping the tank to cause of failure unless the pumper broke off and Outlet baffle which allowed solid sludge to flow into the drain field, clogging it up.

So let me know what your on-site inspector finds when she opens that inspects the tank. Don't try that yourself as it's dangerous.

On 2018-01-29 by Debbie

Septic tank was pumped about 5 months ago. Never had a problem until it was pumped. Now washing clothes the septic tank over flows in the yard.

On 2017-11-29 by (mod) - OK to leave septic tank empty after pumping; septic tanks are normally full; no additives are needed

Certainly, Susan, if the tank is concrete, as it will be filled again in a few days of normal use. No additives are needed in a conventional septic tank and drainfield and in some cases those are harmful.

But a fiberglass or plastic septic tank, **IF** the tank was not anchored or tied to the earth when it was installed, could, in an area of wet soils or flooding, float-up out of the ground if empty.

That's not a normal situation, so normally I'd be ok with leaving those tanks empty too, presuming that the building the tanks serve is occupied.

On 2017-11-29 by Susan

When having a septic tank pumped is it okay to leave it dry after the pumping ?

On 2017-07-17 1 by (mod) - frequency with which a septic tank should be pumped out depends

Judith

The frequency with which a septic tank should be pumped out depends on the tank size and the level of usage - typically the number of people.
Details that can give you a more specific answer are

at SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE

Please take a look at that article and don't hesitate to ask for more help if you need it.

Daniel

On 2017-07-17 by Judith P Bradley - How often does a septic tank need pumping?

How often does a septic tank need pumping?

On 2017-06-01 by (mod) - someone told me to pump the tank first, someone else said afterwards

Sarah,

With the caveat that you naturally need to be careful to look out for people with conflicting interests, such as those who are referred by a selling agent and don't want to upset the deal,

the opinions in the article WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK are based on 40 Years of legal experience and field experience with this issue as well as on a review of septic tank pumping guidelines published by a variety of experts (cited in references at the end of each of our articles). .

Basically it is impossible to perform a septic loading and dye test if the tank is pumped.

However there is important information found from pumping the septic tank. Therefore the question is not should we ever pump the septic tank, rather the question is in what order should the steps and inspections be performed.

To be thorough we need to make our visual inspection and any loading and dye test before pumping a septic tank. To be still more thorough we could follow that but having a septic tank pumped and inspected as indeed there is additional useful information that can be obtained at that point.

Watch out: if wastewater runs backwards from the drainfield into the septic tank when the tank is pumped, then the fields are flooded and have failed.

On 2017-06-01 by Sarah

@JOYCE,
I am in Michigan and was told this too...pump first, by one inspector...pump afterward, by another. So confusing. It's for home purchase and I don't want to make a mistake.

On 2017-05-01 by JOYCE

I'm selling a house in west/central Nevada and it has a septic tank.

NO company, large or small, will inspect the leach lines or field WITHOUT pumping the septic tank.

The way they test is to 1

. Pump tank; and

2. Run water into the "exits" and

if the water comes back into the tank, the leach field has failed.

Because of being in the desert, are we different?

Why is the "common" wisdom, here, so different from the article on When Not to Pump a Septic Tank?

On 2017-03-10 by Jade Brunet

Jade Brunet said:

It is good to know that inspecting and testing the septic system is a good idea before buying a home.

I am also glad to learn that one should find the age, location, type, and condition of the tank. I have heard that it is also a good idea to ask how long ago the system has been pumped so that there will be no unpleasant surprises.

On 2016-09-25 by Darlene Chavis

Lines cleaned. Bathtub gurgling and the commode. I am on a fixed income. Do you know of someone who would let me pay on time to have septic tank checked to see if it needs pumped out. I really need help.

On 2016-09-25 by Darlene Chavis

I am a widow on a fixed income. I have had lines snaked out all the way to septic tank. Why does bathtub and cajole still gurgle

On 2015-10-28 by Mag

How can a buyer know if a septic tank has been emptied recently or before a septic inspection?

Question: blue chemical poured down toilet to fix my leachfield - was I scammed?

(May 24, 2014) dougieashe@gmail.com said:
2 gallons blue chemicals poured down toilet after pumping for leach field ?

Did I get scammed for $120 bucks for this stuff ?

Reply:

I'm reluctant to say scammed, Douglas, but it is certainly the case that such additives are not required, most are generally are ineffective in that they don't solve a drainfield problem nor improve its performance, many or even all are illegal in some jurisdictions.

Details are at SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS

Comment:

timely-service said:

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Reply:

thanks for the nice comment Timely;

Questions, critique, content suggestions are most welcome and we're happy to cite and credit such contributors.

Question: you should not clean out your tank in late fall?

(Oct 13, 2014) Tracey said:
I heard that you should not clean out your tank in late fall, it's mid October is that ok? We are a family of 4 by the way. House was built in 89, cleaned out in 1997, 2001, 2008 is it time now or hold wait till spring?

Reply:

Jackson Willis said:
I didn't know that there were actually weather situations in which you would want to avoid pumping the tank. It definitely is interesting to think about though.

Like anything else there are times when even good actions shouldn't be done. This article does a good job of laying out this idea and explaining why it is that way.

Tracey:

There is no reason to avoid pumping out your septic tank in the fall.

In the depth of winter when the ground is frozen, if there is no septic tank riser to the ground surface then pumping may be more costly and thus we might prefer to schedule it when digging is easier, but in terms of effect on the septic tank, about the only thing that occurs to me is it may take longer for grass to re-grow if excavation was necessary.

On the other hand, IF pumping a septic tank is past-due, further delay means further risk of pushing solids into the soakaway bed and thus further risk of ruining the leachfields or beds.

At SEPTIC TANK OBJECTIVE DATA we explain how to determine, by actual measurement, whether or not the septic tank is in urgent need of a cleanout. - Editor.


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