When NOT to Pump Out A Septic Tank-FAQs

What if a Septic Tank is Never Pumped? FAQs

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 2018-05-15 by Anonymous -

by (mod) - Sort-of: 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.

Septic Failures Vs Septic Tank Pumpout Problems FAQs

Tip: See SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE CAUSES

Never had a septic problem until we pumped out the septic tank

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 2018-01-29 by Debbie

by (mod) - Here's how events at a septic pumpout could cause a failure; we need to find out 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 septic pumper

• Broke off an outlet baffle which allowed solid sludge to flow into the drain field, clogging it up - SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES
• Drove heavy equipment over septic piping, crushing or breaking a pipe - DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC
• Returned "effluent" back to the septic tank after pumping, thus sending a volume of small floating solid waste into the drainfield, causing an early soil clog failure - RETURN SEPTIC "WATER" BACK TO THE SEPTIC TANK?

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.

Re-Fill the Septic Tank After Pumping? FAQs

Tip: See our complete explanation at RETURN SEPTIC "WATER" BACK TO THE SEPTIC TANK?

Is it okay to leave the septic tank dry after the pumping ?

When having a septic tank pumped is it okay to leave it dry after the pumping ? On 2017-11-29 by Susan

by (mod) - Yes it's 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.

See details at SEPTIC TANKS FLOATING UP

Pumping the Septic Tank at Time of Home Sale FAQs

Tip: see our complete guide at HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC SYSTEMS if you are selling your home,

If you're a home buyer, follow the advice at HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Watch out: pumping a septic tank before the system has been inspected and tested will prevent an effective septic system inspection and test and could expose the parties involved in a charge of fraud.

Nevada septic inspectors insist on pumping the septic tank

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 2017-05-01 by JOYCE

@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.

by (mod) - If a loading and dye test are to be performed that must be done before pumping the septic tank

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).

Watch out: either your understand and description of what your septic inspectors are doing is mistaken or they are dead wrong.

Watch out: it is essentially impossible to perform a septic loading and dye test if the septic tank is pumped before a loading and dye test

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 by having a septic tank pumped and inspected as indeed there is additional useful information that can be obtained at that point.

For example, 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.

But the order of inspecting and testing and the pumping is critical.

Chemical Treatments Needed When Septic Tank is Pumped? FAQ

Tip: See Details at SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS

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

2 gallons blue chemicals poured down toilet after pumping for leach field ?

Did I get scammed for $120 bucks for this stuff ? (May 24, 2014) dougieashe@gmail.com

Reply: that magic blue chemical won't work and may be harmful or even illegal, with just a couple of exceptions

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.

Really? Well there is an exception: some advanced septic systems such as some aerobic septic designs require a disinfectant or other chemicals, as we explain

at AEROBIC SEPTIC DISINFECTANTS and at DISINFECTION SYSTEMS, SEPTIC EFFLUENT

And some aerobic or biologically-accelerated treatment (BAT) septic system design may require or use

a SEPTIC TANK BACTERIA BOOST

 

OK to Pump Septic Tank in Cold or Winter Weather FAQs

Is it true that you should not clean out your septic tank in late fall?