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.

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

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.

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:

• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency: providing you are starting with a functional and reasonably-designed septic system, the most significant step you can take to extend the septic system life is to have the septic tank cleaned or "pumped" on schedule.
  
  See TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE for a table that determines how often a particular septic tank needs this service.
• How the Septic System is Used: including the wastewater usage level and what materials are flushed down the septic system drains. Conserving water reduces the load on the absorption field. Avoiding flushing chemicals or items that don't biodegrade reduces the solid build-up rate in the septic tank.
  
  See "Don't Flush these things into a septic system" for a list of what's ok and what's not ok to put into septic tanks and building drains.
• Soil Conditions & site drainage  such as the soil percolation rate and the amount and level of ground water or surface water that affect the soil absorption area or drain field.
  
  See SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
  
  Even a septic tank that is properly located & designed will fail if the drainfield or tank are flooded by groundwater or by running toilets or by water softeners stuck in regeneration mode.
  
  See SEPTIC TANK BACK FLOODING
• Septic Tank Materials: a steel septic tank rusts away, first losing its baffles (which lead to drain field clogging) and eventually rusting at its bottom or sides. The rate of rust depends on the soil conditions and soil acidity and other factors.
  
  A concrete septic tank can have a very long life, in excess of 40 years, except for cases of poorly-mixed concrete or possibly acidic soils which may reduce that span.
  
  Plastic or fiberglass septic tanks can expect to have a similar life unless they are mechanically damaged.
• Life of Special Components such as effluent pumps or septic grinder pumps, septic filters, septic media, and sand bed filter systems often determines the need for repair of alternate-design septic systems that use these components.

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

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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

• SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
• SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS
• SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE - home
• SEPTIC SYSTEM AGE

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

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Citations & References

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

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