I have been servicing(pumped)every 2-3 years with no issues. I'm am getting differing information from who neighbors, no pros. saying there no set
guide lines..I've been pumping mine every 2 years Family of 4, washer, and standard dryer; bath tub
I'mot having any issues but have always wondered what ypu experts thoughts are

 

sorry I posted this in wrong thread

 

IMO for most folks 2-3 yrs is more often than needed, every 5 yrs or so should be fine. I went 25 yrs before I had mine pumped - mainly because I couldn't find a company willing to come up my driveway. While it definitely needed pumping, it was still usable. Just to be clear - I don't recommend anyone going that long before pumping!!

 

I had a new concrete 1000 gallon Septic Tank installed in 1987 when I first bought this Farm. A Tenant had allowed the Cows to graze on the area occupied by the Leach Field and portions had been crushed . . . . as well as the metal lid of the old steel tank itself.

I waited two years before having the new tank pumped in 1990 and the Pumper said "Gosh, the way you people use this system, you could go 10 years" . . . . so that's what we did.

We don't put any caustic liquids down the drain; no bleach or ammonia; and all organic kitchen waste except cooking fats and grease is sent out to the compost. We don't wash down any handi-wipes or feminine hygiene products, and no condoms or anything we suspect of not readily de-composing.

So we went 10 years until around 2000 without pumping; and then called the Pumpers out to check out our system. They pumped it and found just a little over 1 foot of Sludge at the bottom (the Tank is about 5' deep). They did observe that my concrete Baffle on the outlet was deteriorating so, to protect my Leach Field from anything floating in the Scum Layer, I installed a filter similar to this:



For the past 15 years or so, I have pulled this plastic Filter Cartridge out twice a year (Spring and Fall) and rinsed it off. At the same time, I also use a 6' probe to check the level of my Sludge Layer and make sure that it doesn't start developing beyond 18" to 24" . . . . but I've gone nearly 18 years without any pumping. We don't put may demands on it, and to make it easy to locate, I did install a few Risers so that I can easily find to various Ports to periodically monitor what's going on inside . . . . and I don't waste a lot of time trying to remember where exactly they're located:



Those Green Polylok Covers allow access to the Tank's Inlet (closest), Observation (from which it's usually pumped), and Outlet Ports (furthest), and that area down the hill is where our Leach Field is now located and where the Cows were once allowed to crush the previous distribution/absorption area. Pumping every two years is probably wise for most people who don't want to think about such mundane matters; but this way of managing the system seems to have worked for me . . . . so far.

PS: Those are old Real Estate Signs in amongst the Peonies surrounding the Septic Tank just to provide a little supplemental support after a heavy rain . . . . not something germaine to how my Septic System works !

 

Much depends on you and your family and what you put down the drain. Some families need their tank pumped every two years while others that are more careful about what goes down the drain can go 15 or 20. If you're getting your tank pumped every 2-3 years and seeing a normal top crust (without grease) and the sediment layer on the bottom is thin then I'd go 4-5 years. If it still looks good then I'd consider going longer between pumpings.

Having a filter on the outlet is a big help and insurance. I never remove and clean my filter and go about 10 years between pumpings. But I've seen people clog filters in a few months. It all depends on what goes down the drain.

 

Septic systems come with a lot of variables, such as configuration, soil conditions, the lay of the land, lifestyle, etc., so whatever works and makes you comfortable is the way to go. For the past 35 years we've had ours pumped about every 5 years, and every other time they have typically pumped just the first tank because the second one contains only gray water, no sludge. But there are two of us, quite conservative, so short showers, low volume shower heads, septic safe paper, no food down the disposer, etc. But the more people in the household the more hair, soap, etc. going down the drain, making it harder for the system to work effectively. There is definitely science involved, but I don't believe that you could find anyone who give you a definite and accurate answer, so, again, if it's working for you stick with it and let the neighbors do what they choose.

 

Thanks all,
I feel better getting your inputs I'm going to be more careful that only what the system supposed to, and dumping spot for anything other than what it is designed to do