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Joined: May 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2001
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New to a septic system. There's only two of us. Had it pumped right before we moved in a year ago. House is 6 years old, so newer system.
When should we get it pumped or look at it to see if it need pumped? I'm guessing at least two more years. Am I in the ball park?
Carpe' Scrotum
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Joined: Jul 2016
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,196 Likes: 12 |
If it's a 1000 gallon tank which most are should be good for 5-6 years.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,154
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,154 |
Is it an aerobic system that pumps the clear water out or just a regular tank? Ours is a grandfathered septic and we usually have to pump it ever 5-6 years. I made some improvements in the tank piping and expanded the field lines a few years ago so we may get 10 years out of it this time. Only time we ever have trouble otherwise is when the sister in law stays a few days. She thinks she needs two long hot showers ever day. (Insert rude comment here).
Big thing is to minimize paper and trash of course, and don't use those toilet bowl hanger cleaners, women like so well. Put some Rid-X in it once in awhile and flush spoiled milk down it to feed your bugs in the tank. You shouldn't have any trouble.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost....
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,354 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2001
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It's a passive system with drain field. Not aware of a pump. Certainly no breaker in either of the panels for one.
Not sure the size. We're careful about what we put down it.
Guessing I'll give it another two years then get it pumped to get an idea of how we're doing.
Carpe' Scrotum
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,379 Likes: 38
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,379 Likes: 38 |
Tank size should be in closing P/W somewhere. Bank usually wants a well and septic flow check done.
As noted, it depends on tank size, 3 of residents, and ground temp. Up here with cold ground, we have ours pumped every 2 years. I'm sure you could go 2X that.
Remember it is a septic system (poop processor) not a garbage can. I knew people that put every damn thing down their insinkerator into the tank. Chicken bones don't digest well in the tank.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436 |
The drainfield stays happiest when the water that flows into it sits in the tank long enough for lots of solids to settle to the bottom of the tank and stay there. None of the back to back laundries that some womenfolk love when they get on the cleaning horse and ride like there's no tomorrow, running down all too slow or stupid to get out of their way as they gallop towards some bright and sparkling world where they drink mimosas and talk about starched sheets with well groomed young men dressed in tight whites with earrings.
Last edited by 5thShock; 12/30/16.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 69,813 Likes: 46 |
You should be gtg for another 5 years or so.
Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla!
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,776
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,776 |
There are two of us also. We installed a new 1000 gallon concrete tank about 5 years ago. (The old one was a site built tank installed in 1948 and it caved in.)
Two years after we installed it we pumped it out and the pumper said, based on what he saw and there just being two of us we could likely go 4 years between pumping. As an aside we also put in a new drain field that uses shallow diffusers and it has performed well.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,379 Likes: 38
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,379 Likes: 38 |
The drainfield stays happiest when the water that flows into it sits in the tank long enough for lots of solids to settle to the bottom of the tank and stay there. None of the back to back laundries that some womenfolk love when they get on the cleaning horse and ride like there's no tomorrow, running down all too slow or stupid to get out of their way as they gallop towards some bright and sparkling world where they drink mimosas and talk about starched sheets with well groomed young men dressed in tight whites with earrings. It SHOULD be a baffled tank, and if so, that should not be an issue.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,152 Likes: 18
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,152 Likes: 18 |
Our local pumper sends a reminder card every three years.
We've been going with that, but it's probably not needed quite that often. Good for peace of mind though.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,152 Likes: 18
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,152 Likes: 18 |
First go-round I had to dig to uncover the access. We put in an extension with a concrete lid, and also a baffle on the exit line toward the drain-field. Don't need any floaty stuff leaving the tank.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,340 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,340 Likes: 6 |
Working well and fed right, I have gone 10 years with no issue, on several houses.
You absolutely should NOT feed them fat, grease, meat scraps, anything that doesn't come out of YOU. A disposal into a Septic System is begging for trouble.
Printed tissue is also a DO NOT, the ink doesn't break down supposedly.
If you haven't fed them Rid-X or similar from the start...DON't. This from a Minn. Septic guy, he says it aerates the tank and pushes solids out.
I never have used it. That which comes out of you is sufficient..........
I have only lived south of Atlanta, your results may vary.
"...A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box and the cartridge box..." Frederick Douglass, 1867
( . Y . )
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 69,813 Likes: 46 |
Working well and fed right, I have gone 10 years with no issue, on several houses.
You absolutely should NOT feed them fat, grease, meat scraps, anything that doesn't come out of YOU. A disposal into a Septic System is begging for trouble.
Printed tissue is also a DO NOT, the ink doesn't break down supposedly.
If you haven't fed them Rid-X or similar from the start...DON't. This from a Minn. Septic guy, he says it aerates the tank and pushes solids out.
I never have used it. That which comes out of you is sufficient..........
I have only lived south of Atlanta, your results may vary. Rid-X also eats and dissolves concrete. Very much shortens the life of your concrete tank.
Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla!
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,354 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,354 Likes: 2 |
Thanks for all the info guys. We don't put much solids down it unless it's from the care and maintenance of our backsides.
We'll pencil in 2019 to get it checked barring any issues in the mean time.
Carpe' Scrotum
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Joined: Dec 2016
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,783 Likes: 2 |
if mama takes those 45 minute showers and uses 3 or 4 different hair products, you're best off to have a separate gray water system installed and have a sewage only tank. it'll last a lot longer.excess soap kills as many as toilet paper.
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Joined: May 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 18,354 Likes: 2 |
Naw. She's pretty low maintenance.
Carpe' Scrotum
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Joined: Dec 2016
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
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you'll probably be able to go a good while between pumpings then. i burn my paper and don't put any bleach down the spout. good luck
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 31,038 Likes: 30
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 31,038 Likes: 30 |
No bleach........!!
homemade mixture to add to tank..
brown sugar.....yeast........corn meal.......mix equal portions
well with warm water....flush in toilet......every...
4-6 weeks depending on usage.....
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,921 Likes: 1 |
my septic guy says a good healthy [bleep] is the best thing for them
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
When we had our septic system installed the guy said our soil was some of the best he's seen and our field should last forever...
...provided we didn't use powdered laundry detergent or dish detergent. So we've been using only liquid detergents. And the garbage disposal only gets the small bits that get past the strainer in the sink.
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