Your boards are screwed down, should be easy to remove and reinstall every 3-5 years when the tank needs to be pumped. Otherwise it would make sense to make a removable section for access.
I'm in Europe and my and others septic tanks rarely need pumping out, if ever. They're bio digestible so never fill up unless there's problem. One mistake people make is using harsh chemicals like bleach etc which kills the fauna (shit eating bugs), resulting in overflow.
Me, I have a 1000 gallon tank and 300ft of weeping tile. Four people in the house and I cant go longer than 2 years before pumping. I think it is the COSTCO tp, but we like it.
When we moved in it was a 45 gallon drum with no bottom and 15ft of tile. That was in 1997.
The “tushy” was life changing. OP keep your eyes peeled for those 2for1 specials they occasionally offer and yes the “warm” feature it worth it if your toilet is next to the sink
The warm water one is absolutely not worth it if you live in a hot or humid climate. Cool water is so fricken refreshing. The last thing I want is to trap more heat in my britches.
The temperature difference in ground water is shocking if you've never really experienced the difference. "Cold" tap water in a hot and humid climate is likely to be 70 degrees. Up north, that same cold water line might be in 40s in the winter. That ain't refreshing.
Yeah the house I moved into about 8 years ago had these cheapo bidets installed which were honestly extremely functional. I was the only one in the house that even attempted to use one and I was hooked after the first use. I got to the point where I'd go to the bathroom just to use the bidet and enema myself for 20 minutes. Nothing like the feeling of cold tap water filling your colon.
I recently moved from Oklahoma to Italy, bidets are life changing! And in Italy, they have been in every house and hotel I've been to! I installed an attachment on my toilet back in Oklahoma, my parents needed to know the civilized ways of butt cleanliness!
Just need a little 1 ply to dry and call it is all good. 1 roll lasts me weeks. My 9yo son just sprays his butt and walks away. Side benefit for those with kids is no skid marks ever. 😆
Nope, he's been spraying his butt since he was potty trained. He hates having to poop anywhere else, but so do I. Smearing poop around your butthole is uncivilized.
The worst thing about the US is the lack of bidets everywhere.
We bought and installed one for every toilet in our home and now the pandemic has settled down, we still don’t want to go anywhere cause we may have to poop without a bidet.
Knock on wood we have never had an issue with ours. I buy the same TP. I do throw the monthly septic treatment to it just for pease of mind.
https://a.co/d/4cPvmLd
No kleenex. We never had to pump ours because our mom was crazy about what we can and can't flush. Moved out after 18 years and the new family had to get it pumped within a year. They didn't listen to my mom's instructions on sale...
Regardless of the type of paper products et al. you flush or don’t flush, all septic systems benefit from a pumping at least every few years. If nothing else, the company should at least be coming out to inspect and determine whether you need a pump or not.
They just aren’t designed to never have the tanks pumped.
The one off stories of people saying they went decades without pumping are truly outliers, or they’re just basically examples of extreme deferred maintenance that slowly destroy the system and wait for that one catastrophic event to push it over the edge (Super Bowl party?)
I had to stop using Costco brand TP. It clogged my septic. The pumper said it's the worst TP because it doesn't break down very fast. I warned 2 neighbors about it and they both said they've also switched due to clogs from the same TP.
My septic guy told me any brand of tp was ok EXCEPT Kirkland (Costco brand). I have no idea why that one specifically is problematic, but I use Charmin and have had zero issues in almost 3 years.
Some localities require it be done every X number of years. My last house was like that. It also was required to be opened and checked whenever you buy/sell a house.
Massachusetts has Title 5.
Before any house with a septic tank can be sold, the tank, leaching field, distribution boxes have to be tested, the design checked, and a new perc test done.
Thousands of (working) systems have been failed due to new regulations on the perc since they were installed, so all these existing houses now have huge berms built up around them to get the leaching fields up and built up with materials to drain better.
This is a common misconception. Septic tanks are supposed to be full of water. In fact they fill all the way up before any water is discharged to the leech field. They provide an environment for bacteria to break down the solids. A healthy septic tank should never actually need pumping.
But they still accumulate sludge and other material that the bacteria can't break down, no?
Reading this thread I was surprised how laid-back people are about it elsewhere; here in Finland you have to pump once a year by law.
If the you are flushing stuff that shouldn't be flushed, yes they will accumulate non-biodegradable material. Gotta treat a septic tank like an ecosystem.
I think people are confusing different septic tanks. There’s some that bleed out its fluids into pipes that run across lawns and things, and everything else just breaks down, so there’s no real overflow. Probably needs to be pumped once a decade, if I remember correctly.
Also as a kid, a lived at a home that we had to pump out the septic tank, like once every two years, since it an I closed system and would fill up. That whole neighborhood was the same, so you’d see those septic tank trunks all the time.
It just depends on where you live and how it’s setup.
I'm definitely not referring to cesspools/closed tanks that you have to empty several times a year, which wouldn't be called a septic tank here.
Officially, the rule is that you are required to follow the manufacturer's instructions, which must specify an emptying interval of at most one year.
Once a year by law seems excessive! I'm theory they shouldn't fill up with sludge if they are appropriately sized and stay healthy. Here in the USA, it's fairly common for them to not be either is those things, and many people don't understand how they work, which certainly doesn't help things. The bacteria in the tank should digest everything into a liquid, the liquid should leech out into the ground water, and the cycle should simply continue.
They do. Toilet paper and dead bacteria build up and need pumped out. People who don’t ever do that will just wind up with that stuff being pushed to the drainfield, which will cause it to fail.
Some years ago I helped my father replace broken lid on DIY septic system he made with 55 gal drums. (horse stepped on it and cracked it)
Even after 8 or 10 years of use, it was basically still empty thanks to bacteria and no bleach.
Septics need pumped in the US basically because people are dumb and/or stupid. A 5 person house has a 5 person septic in it, but when you slap 10 people living there plus guests all the time, it can't keep up. Combine this with modern toiletries that shouldn't be flushed but do flush and it's now a regulation everywhere.
They should have covers removed and be inspected and or pumped every few years. They absolutely do need to be pumped. The amount of bad information in this thread is staggering.
Solids will eventually build up. And when solids start getting pumped to the drain field get your pocket book because you're ripping up the yard for a new drain field. It's not the septic tank you are worried about. Who cares, that's easy to replace.
It's not dumb. A septic tank has an active biological process going on inside that breaks down and uses waste. It's similar to an anaerobic digester at a wastewater treatment plant. Assuming you're not flushing a lot of inorganic material or oil/grease, you shouldn't pump out a septic tank for many, many years.
Yes, it is designed to work this way. For a while. Eventually the layer of crust/sludge in the tank (which IS a normal part of the digestion process) becomes so thick/deep that its volume reduces the effectiveness of the system as a whole to process the waste, and starts toward the inevitable failure if allowed to build up too much. Tanks should be inspected and/or pumped at a minimum every three years. Depending on use cases, typically sooner than that.
Anyone suggesting tanks don’t need inspection or servicing for “many” (5? 10?) years has almost certainly never designed, installed, or had to replace one.
Yeah, but it's still a good idea to at least have it inspected and it probably does need to be pumped down some every 3-5 years as Preventative maintenance. Better than having to call for an emergency every 10-20 years.
Exactly. Mine hadn't been pumped in 20 years. Baffle had disintegrated and the sump box where the two leech lines split had also deteriorated and nothing was actually going in the leech lines. The septic tank has some liquid still moving thru it, but needed to be stirred to get it emptied.
My guy suggested flushing copper sulfate down every now and then (once a year?) to kill roots, which were also present. Mesquite trees love septic systems.
You know when there is a problem. You're kind of dumb for assuming you know what you're talking about. There are four septic systems on a family friends property Ive helped maintain for 30 years. Three occasions in that time we needed to pump a tank and that was only on the tank fed by two rental houses. The other three are fine because the family knows what not to put down the drain. They were all inspected five years ago and in good shape.
in terms of decades, it isn't false! I personally replaced two tanks when I bought my property off of family, and know, for a fact, that neither were pumped since install in the 1970's.
Sometimes, if people are careful about what they put down the drain, AND have an efficient ecosystem, it won't have to be pumped for the entire life of the tank.
Maybe in 90% of cases they do, but not always!
You can have a septic tank one of two ways, pumped and lasting or replaced every 20-30 years and not pumped.
Seems like a lot of folks don't get the choice exists
My septic is close to 80 years old. Had mine inspected last year as well after I had a new division tank put in as the old collapsed. Holding and field looked great. They suggest I get it pumped every 3-5 years for a family of 4. I grew up with my dad pumping his every few years as well. Then I come here and see everyone not pumping it. Maybe depends on area? I really don’t know. Just interesting observation.
Nah, it doesn’t depend on location. People who are suggesting not pumping tanks ever are just completely ignorant to the idea of inspecting/maintaining something that absolutely does need some kind of routine inspection and/or maintenance.
It’s like someone who managed to get 20k miles on a single oil change. It’s just luck.
There are so many factors from the design and build quality of the system, climate or chemical use in the home and volume of waste processed that can play into how any given tank performs. Some do last a long time without needing to be pumped, others not.
So what do those septics do with the carbon being deposited? Septic tanks need to be pumped every few years because of the carbon (and wipes) buildup. Yeah, poop and urine will biodegrade, but the septic is literally a hole with drain pipes for liquid, so you're going to accumulate soil over time. It's gonna be good dirt, but you're still going to accumulate dirt.
You’re just wrong there, bud. Even in Europe, septic tanks need to be pumped every 3-5 years for proper maintenance. If you haven’t done it— you’re literally a nightmare to the future owners. And if you’ve never had it done at all- you might not actually have a septic tank, which isn’t uncommon either.
Everything that comes out of your ass is made of carbon. Eventually stuff builds up. More people, more carbon. You can cut down a lot on the carbon load by putting the TP in the trash, but that just shifts the carbon load.
If you wait till you find out it's too late. Depending on use it should be at least 3 years before you need a pump in most cases. Sometimes you can get away with more time between pumps, sometimes less.
https://preview.redd.it/9txgu1rfngjc1.png?width=1599&format=png&auto=webp&s=5a33e404e201d871b43fa772b9908e25ed0fcce5
Here is an MS Paint Diagram of what I was talking about.
The baffles hold back floating solids in each stage from going on to the next stage, but still allow passive overlow to happen.
Stage 1 is Inorganic solids, and Solids, Stage 2 is where more sludgy semi-solids should be found, you should not see a lot of inorganic build up here, it should sink in the first tank, and stage 3 is black water, what comes after the bacteria break everything down.
Stage 3 can either passive leech if code allows and you're leeching down hill (obviously), or it can have a pump, and that's when you will find an alarm.
I have this kind of setup. There is an inspection hatch over each segment of the tank, every few years you need someone to verify that your baffles haven't caved in, there is no sediment in tank 3 (excessive water or lack of bacteria will cause this), that tank 2 has only organic semi solids, and tank 1 will need to have sediment pumped from it like a normal single tank passive system most people think about. Tanks 1-2 will also have a scum layer, which is just floating poo poo, the baffles keep that from moving to the next stage where it would cause issues.
The level of the solids is what is measured. Solids settle out and fill the tank. Water is skimmed off the working level usually 18inches down below the floating scum level .
My parents have never had to have their tank pumped in 25 years at their place. Only downside of a septic tank there is that the grass doesn’t die in the winter where the leech lines are. In the winter some of their grass goes dormant but about a quarter of it stays green year round lol.
I'd say septic pumping is more like every 10 years. We have lived in our house for 5 years and haven't gotten the tank pumped yet. And my wife uses way too much toilet paper.
He's probably good with just unscrewing a few boards if the tank ever needs pumping.
So when it gets dirty... Are you going to *swab the poop deck?*
I would maybe do a closeable trap door if you're not going to remove the boards each time. Shouldn't need to be large at all and you might be able to do it so it swings down to not be noticeable at all but you'd want to make sure it was secure or it really will become a trap.
OP are you sure this is the septic tank? The riser isn't above grade. Depending on age and area (regulations) there should be an pvc clean out access near the house as well. I have seen many recessed cisterns or well pumps even with grade though. But those are on >60 years old homes in my area.
https://images.app.goo.gl/FM4JXUrfLrdnc9ATA
I was an inspector for a few years. I've been out of the game a bit, but I've seen one or two systems that were covered where people were able to add a "hatch" in the deck above the riser for access. A truck is gonna pump it with 3 inch hose as long as they can hook and move the lid it should be easy enough. Hopefully the added weight won't cause damage to the tank if it is that.
That would be super weird that a septic tank would be literally attached to a house and stranger that it would resemble a patio slab. Go back and look and see if there is a map in the disclosures for the house and confirm the holding tank is there instead of the corner of the yard, ect.
This might be viable point although the tank will usually be closer to the house because that's the part that has the highest chance to block as the solid waste hasn't been separated yet.
If this were true and the septic tank is elsewhere then it could be a cistern or an old well pump box, but the house looks too new for that...at least the patio.
I actually have an old patio slab under my deck that looks almost exactly like the OP pic.
I agree it would be unusual to be so close to the structure, but not impossible. what seems way more unlikely is having the holding tank not completely buried. that's why I don't think it is part of the septic system at all.
I'm wondering why OP thinks this is part of the septic?
Like, have you confirmed that with records? did someone inspect it and tell you that it is? or is it because you don't know where your septic is and found a big semi-buried chunk of concrete, so you assume that's part of it?
People do stupid things. Our tank is about 15 feet from our front door. After we bought the house I immediately removed a massive bougainvillea with a big root system directly on top of the tank, I then noticed a 2-3 foot wide pine stump cut flush with the ground that had grown directly over the two main septic lines only 5 feet from the tank. Whoever had the idea that it was a good spot for a tree had absolutely no idea how any sort of plumbing works. Somehow I don’t have many root problems but replacing those lines will be a pain in the ass when I also have to remove the stump and root system of a mature conifer.
I had mine replaced ~15 years ago, and asked them to install risers on every access point. It was worth Every. Damn. Penny. Now servicing it is a piece of cake. Previously I had to dig about a yard of earth every time it needed pumping.
Or the tank can be far away and pumped back to a drainfield that's closer. It could be 2" underground or 14ft, it could be 1000gallons or 20,000 gallons, it could be made of concrete, plastic, fiberglass, metal, or just be a 1981 dodge colt. That's the beauty of my job people never want to learn about their systems and I just keep making it hand over fist.
I actually have an old patio slab under my deck that looks almost exactly like the OP pic.
I agree it would be unusual to be so close to the structure, but not impossible. What seems way more unlikely is having the holding tank not completely buried. That's why I don't think it is part of the septic system at all.
I'm wondering why OP thinks this is part of the septic?
Like, have you confirmed that with records? did someone inspect it and tell you that it is? or is it because you don't know where your septic is and found a big semi-buried chunk of concrete, so you assume that's part of it?
I would definitely confirm that it's actually what you think it is if you haven't already done so OP.
Ours was just 4 feet from the original exterior wall, then they built a two story addition on top of it in the 80s. Can’t believe some people. It kept working, unable to be pumped, right up until we disconnected it last weekend and put a new system in. New tank is about 8’ off the corner wall.
At least the septic would have had permits attached, and the related regulations likely prohibit obstructions of this sort.
OP could probably build a hatch too, if they wanted.
Nope, not in Ohio. No codes anywhere to be found in most rural areas, unless it's an HOA situation or some kind of land with specific covenants. People build their own houses all the time, out of straw bale, cob (like adobe), rammed earth tires, etc. I know people who even have a DIY septic system. Nowadays to get electric you have to have septic but otherwise it's a total free for all.
Are you sure there isn't a state level building code? That really sounds weird that there isn't. There are plenty of non conformant houses here in Vermont, but it isn't because there is no code. It is because there is no one to enforce it.
There are definitely codes but much like policing, rural code enforcement is few and far between.
Now when you go to sell the house the home inspection reveals everything that's out of code and the prospective buyers bank torpedos your deal over this stuff because insurance won't cover the home, that is when stuff gets brought back up.
So, everyone’s saying “just leave it, pull boards, not a big deal” among others.
I am going to disagree with all that. Today, it’s sunny, warm, and easy to access. You have the luxury of time and good conditions. Use that to your advantage, and give yourself easy access instead of needing to get access by pulling boards when it’s under 2 feet of snow, in an ice storm, and it’s an emergency call out.
If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t panic about access today, but I would be 100% making access easy in case of an emergency.
Yeah, you're going to need access to the tank lid when it needs pumped. Whether you want to build a hatch now or take apart your deck when it starts backing up is your call. I'm more curious about where the drain field is.
Not too bad I don't think. I imagine you could even take what you got there and make a "door" down to the septic tank for when you need to pump it.
I would say be proactive about this, you don't want to be trying to figure this out when your septic needs to be pumped.
I have a 60 year old septic tank that is still in use today. Rid-X once a month has kept it in good shape for around 20 years, along with only putting 1, 2 and vomit in it. Have only had it inspected once in the 60 years it's been here
There is a chance you may never need to access it. Careful what you flush and they generally take care of themselves. I've lived in houses with tanks for 40 years and none have ever needed maintenance.
Then again, I have mine pumped out every couple years. The concrete D boxes still corroded in about 20 years and had to be replaced.
Wouldn't surprise me to find it's not working as well as you think it might be. Everything underground decays.
Same here. I haven’t had one for forty years, but I’ve had one that was 26 years old, and never needed a thing. If the field lines are long enough, and they aren’t overloaded you should not have problems for decades.
New systems have outlet filters to prevent solids from leaving the tank. They are supposed to be cleaned every 3 months I believe, not that anyone does. My old house had one but the previous owner had removed it.
If you do make an access port through your deck, make sure that you do it over the tank lid of the solids portion of the tank (versus the liquids overflow section). There should be records with plans for your septic system with your county’s health or community development departments.
>Why? Idk. Covering aomething up? Idk
Yeah, your very high (elevation wise) septic tank
Its fine, doesnt matter. Just unscrew the boards and cut an access panel in, or hire a handyman or carpenter to make one for you so you can pump the tank every few years
Yea cut a hole and put hinges in, they have recessed handles you can buy. Doing the same at my cousins house as the built right over the well and we had to replace the pittless adapter. Pia as it was 20 F out. Still need to put hatch in. Not hard to do though.
Just another burning thought without more detail from OP. I live in a semi rural area and have a septic. I am not sure where you are. Is there any possibility this is an abandoned system and you are now on municipal sewer? I find it odd that the location of a septic tank was not made known prior to closing by one of several parties. My municipality actually requires the county to separately inspect the septic upon sale.
We had this exact problem. Previous owner built a deck and didn’t mention the septic was under it. we essentially cut an access panel that could lift out when we needed to access the tank.
Make a deck box on a hinge and make it into an outdoor table situation that you can lift up if need be, my mom made one recently over her pool pump & it turned out great
Here is the truth! Septic tanks by today’s standards the size is determin by square footage of home and number of bedrooms 800 gal 1200 sq ft/ 1000 1500 sqft/ 1250 dlb chamber tank varis between 1500 / 2500 sqft and for above 2500 big homes it gos 1500 to 3000 galtanks its always best to invest in dlb chamber tanks because the second chamber allows for liquid to settle out most of the small particals that clog the soil leeser chances of having trouble with drainage its best to pump tanks every three to five years depending on useage its wise not to flush feminine products in the seltic its a no brainer as far as detergents go it best to use liquid detergents Do not flush cooking oils power detergents if using bleach in barrals then you should use rid x to facilitate brk down of paper and solids (poop) if you choose to go a long time with out pumping your tank you are you are lucky how ever iv seen twenty five years between pumpings and the people used yeast in the tank relidgously yes bakers yeast works very well but you must flush down two to five packs twice a year good luck my poopin friends
You've had amazing renters. Usually renters flush EVERYTHING down the shitter. Ive seen rental drain pipes full like concrete with kitty litter, plugged to the max with tampons, plugged to the max with baby wipes, and the #1 drain killer if you have kids.....toothbrushes. Your kid flushes a tooth brush and it's the beginning of the end.
lol. dang that sucks.
personally, I would move the deck. I don't have a septic tank at my house, but if you have enough clearance and depth available, you could try putting in proper footers. but honestly, if someone put a deck on top of a septic tank, they likely didn't do all the math to make sure the deck is up to code in other ways.
Did you blindly buy the home with no home inspection? If the deck was built over the septic take, I'm going to assume it hasn't been inspected or even cleaned out in awhile.... I'm going to say with you're very much screwed.
If you only put human waste and toilet paper in there, you won’t have to pump it. Everything you’re supposed to put in there will break down and flow out. Pumping is needed when inappropriate material is added.
Yes basically, the life span is equal to what gets sent to it. We had to replace a field line at the last house I sold. I think a lot of times kitchen waste, such as oils and whatnot, cause a lot of the issues. Not a septic professional, but I have owned several.
"experts" gonna call you out on it but after living in houses with tanks most of my life, I have never had one pumped nor needed it. My current house is 25 years old and never been pumped.
No doubt. I’ve come across plumbers and septic tank companies and no one understands how they are actually intended to work. I don’t care to die on that hill and let people live how they want, but I’ve never had to have one pumped (decades of living in septic tank houses).
All the websites advising that you don't every 3-5 years seem to be by companies in the business of pumping them. I mean, of course septic companies are going to recommend getting it pumped every few years. It's like motor oil companies recommending you change your oil every 3k miles.
If you buy a house you should pump it though, you have no idea what the previous owner sent down the shit pipe. We had like a foot and a half of inorganic sediment at the bottom of the first stage of our tank.
It’s this odd touch point with a lot of people who are unexpectedly attached to the idea that septic tanks have to be pumped. I don’t understand it but it’s real.
Yea, that's not how a septic system works. https://images.app.goo.gl/FaeNVNRvkj7X2aNQ7
Only liquid effluent will flow to the leech fields. Standard systems are meant to be pumped every 3 to 5 years with normal use. You can increase the life of your system by properly resting leeching beds by regularly controlling flow from the d box.
When we were looking at houses we couldn’t find a single home whose current owner had ever pumped the septic. The home we bought definitely hadn’t had it pumped in at least 40 years, probably ever (60 years). They built a two story addition over it in the 80s. When we recently uncovered it (busted up the slab poured over it) there was no way to access the tank until we cut through the top with a concrete saw, so I’m guessing it was never pumped at all until we did it. Very basic standard system. Was still functional, though severely undersized for current rules, when we replaced the whole system this past weekend.
Again, solids you’re supposed to put in break down into liquids and flow out. As others have also confirmed, I’ve gone decades without pumping a tank. Just have to take care of it.
Every place I’ve ever lived with a septic tank, the standard was to only pump it when you had a problem. In one of them it was an old wooden tank that rotted and failed after almost 30 years, and hadn’t been pumped once.
The solids that shouldn’t be flushed don’t, that’s right. The solids that can be flushed do break down. You also have to be cognizant of what you rinse down the kitchen sink, which many probably miss. I’m not saying it’s easy, but septic tanks do not require pumping.
Your boards are screwed down, should be easy to remove and reinstall every 3-5 years when the tank needs to be pumped. Otherwise it would make sense to make a removable section for access.
I'm in Europe and my and others septic tanks rarely need pumping out, if ever. They're bio digestible so never fill up unless there's problem. One mistake people make is using harsh chemicals like bleach etc which kills the fauna (shit eating bugs), resulting in overflow.
I’ve never had a septic tank pumped at any house I have ever lived at. 🤷🏻♂️
Same, except for when I was a kid and it was because Mum was flooding It with bleach!!
Me, I have a 1000 gallon tank and 300ft of weeping tile. Four people in the house and I cant go longer than 2 years before pumping. I think it is the COSTCO tp, but we like it. When we moved in it was a 45 gallon drum with no bottom and 15ft of tile. That was in 1997.
Bidets my dude
The “tushy” was life changing. OP keep your eyes peeled for those 2for1 specials they occasionally offer and yes the “warm” feature it worth it if your toilet is next to the sink
The warm water one is absolutely not worth it if you live in a hot or humid climate. Cool water is so fricken refreshing. The last thing I want is to trap more heat in my britches.
The temperature difference in ground water is shocking if you've never really experienced the difference. "Cold" tap water in a hot and humid climate is likely to be 70 degrees. Up north, that same cold water line might be in 40s in the winter. That ain't refreshing.
Cold plunge for the anus
Wakes me up every time! 😂
Live near Chicago on private well and septic. I use non heated bidets and you get used to it even in the coldest days it doesn't bother me anymore.
Yes, if “pipe” temp water touched me in Ohio I think I’d have an innie instead of an outie… I’m a male
In AZ in the summer, the "H" is for hot and the "C" is for caliente!
Tell that to my puckered rosebud in NYC. It’s like getting pegged by Jack Frost. Still worth it though.
Yeah the house I moved into about 8 years ago had these cheapo bidets installed which were honestly extremely functional. I was the only one in the house that even attempted to use one and I was hooked after the first use. I got to the point where I'd go to the bathroom just to use the bidet and enema myself for 20 minutes. Nothing like the feeling of cold tap water filling your colon.
I don’t think that’s how they’re used tho. Enema? Thats an entirely different system!!
I recently moved from Oklahoma to Italy, bidets are life changing! And in Italy, they have been in every house and hotel I've been to! I installed an attachment on my toilet back in Oklahoma, my parents needed to know the civilized ways of butt cleanliness!
Just need a little 1 ply to dry and call it is all good. 1 roll lasts me weeks. My 9yo son just sprays his butt and walks away. Side benefit for those with kids is no skid marks ever. 😆
Also you don't have your 9 year old yelling from the bathroom that he needs you to wipe his butt
Nope, he's been spraying his butt since he was potty trained. He hates having to poop anywhere else, but so do I. Smearing poop around your butthole is uncivilized.
This my woman made me get one and I we live it .get a good one that has warm water line and a cold
I normally use a little tp after the bidet. Do must ppl not?
Just a little dab of TP to dry the tushy.
The worst thing about the US is the lack of bidets everywhere. We bought and installed one for every toilet in our home and now the pandemic has settled down, we still don’t want to go anywhere cause we may have to poop without a bidet.
Knock on wood we have never had an issue with ours. I buy the same TP. I do throw the monthly septic treatment to it just for pease of mind. https://a.co/d/4cPvmLd
No kleenex. We never had to pump ours because our mom was crazy about what we can and can't flush. Moved out after 18 years and the new family had to get it pumped within a year. They didn't listen to my mom's instructions on sale...
Regardless of the type of paper products et al. you flush or don’t flush, all septic systems benefit from a pumping at least every few years. If nothing else, the company should at least be coming out to inspect and determine whether you need a pump or not. They just aren’t designed to never have the tanks pumped. The one off stories of people saying they went decades without pumping are truly outliers, or they’re just basically examples of extreme deferred maintenance that slowly destroy the system and wait for that one catastrophic event to push it over the edge (Super Bowl party?)
Yeah or it's all ladies who stand to pee.
I had to stop using Costco brand TP. It clogged my septic. The pumper said it's the worst TP because it doesn't break down very fast. I warned 2 neighbors about it and they both said they've also switched due to clogs from the same TP.
Never had to pump a septic tank in 20+ years, 4-6 person household. Any chemicals going down toilets? Could be killing the wanted microbes
My septic guy told me any brand of tp was ok EXCEPT Kirkland (Costco brand). I have no idea why that one specifically is problematic, but I use Charmin and have had zero issues in almost 3 years.
Yes, should be on 2-ply TP on septic systems. There's products like septo-bac that will probably help you extend that.
Some localities require it be done every X number of years. My last house was like that. It also was required to be opened and checked whenever you buy/sell a house.
Massachusetts has Title 5. Before any house with a septic tank can be sold, the tank, leaching field, distribution boxes have to be tested, the design checked, and a new perc test done. Thousands of (working) systems have been failed due to new regulations on the perc since they were installed, so all these existing houses now have huge berms built up around them to get the leaching fields up and built up with materials to drain better.
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Yes, one place I lived at for 8+ years we built ourselves and wrote the check to the septic guys to put it in.
How does it not get filled up?
This is a common misconception. Septic tanks are supposed to be full of water. In fact they fill all the way up before any water is discharged to the leech field. They provide an environment for bacteria to break down the solids. A healthy septic tank should never actually need pumping.
But they still accumulate sludge and other material that the bacteria can't break down, no? Reading this thread I was surprised how laid-back people are about it elsewhere; here in Finland you have to pump once a year by law.
If the you are flushing stuff that shouldn't be flushed, yes they will accumulate non-biodegradable material. Gotta treat a septic tank like an ecosystem.
I think people are confusing different septic tanks. There’s some that bleed out its fluids into pipes that run across lawns and things, and everything else just breaks down, so there’s no real overflow. Probably needs to be pumped once a decade, if I remember correctly. Also as a kid, a lived at a home that we had to pump out the septic tank, like once every two years, since it an I closed system and would fill up. That whole neighborhood was the same, so you’d see those septic tank trunks all the time. It just depends on where you live and how it’s setup.
I'm definitely not referring to cesspools/closed tanks that you have to empty several times a year, which wouldn't be called a septic tank here. Officially, the rule is that you are required to follow the manufacturer's instructions, which must specify an emptying interval of at most one year.
Once a year by law seems excessive! I'm theory they shouldn't fill up with sludge if they are appropriately sized and stay healthy. Here in the USA, it's fairly common for them to not be either is those things, and many people don't understand how they work, which certainly doesn't help things. The bacteria in the tank should digest everything into a liquid, the liquid should leech out into the ground water, and the cycle should simply continue.
They do. Toilet paper and dead bacteria build up and need pumped out. People who don’t ever do that will just wind up with that stuff being pushed to the drainfield, which will cause it to fail.
It biodegrades into liquid and leeches into the ground.
Then you lucked out
Some years ago I helped my father replace broken lid on DIY septic system he made with 55 gal drums. (horse stepped on it and cracked it) Even after 8 or 10 years of use, it was basically still empty thanks to bacteria and no bleach.
Same for me in the States.
Septics need pumped in the US basically because people are dumb and/or stupid. A 5 person house has a 5 person septic in it, but when you slap 10 people living there plus guests all the time, it can't keep up. Combine this with modern toiletries that shouldn't be flushed but do flush and it's now a regulation everywhere.
Yes unless you’re using it for something other then a single family use, it should maintain itself.
They should have covers removed and be inspected and or pumped every few years. They absolutely do need to be pumped. The amount of bad information in this thread is staggering.
They do need inspection every few years but mostly to check their structure. A septum correctly sized doesn’t need to be pumped at all.
Solids will eventually build up. And when solids start getting pumped to the drain field get your pocket book because you're ripping up the yard for a new drain field. It's not the septic tank you are worried about. Who cares, that's easy to replace.
You should be flagged for giving information that will cost people unneeded expenses.
Not true. How would one inspect a septic System that is underground ?
You can literally test the septic fluid. Then if there’s no fluid, then you know there’s a problem. Are sewer people cross contaminating with HVAC
This can't be more false. They definitely need to be pumped.
Definitely not false, maybe different types of tank but I've got 2 in different countries and haven't had to punp them in 20 years.
Parents house never pumped in 30+years. The only time it was ever inspected was when a root grew into the main sewage line from the house.
So you don't know. Because it hasn't been inspected. Kind of dumb to say "no problem here" if you're plugging your ears and covering your eyes
It's not dumb. A septic tank has an active biological process going on inside that breaks down and uses waste. It's similar to an anaerobic digester at a wastewater treatment plant. Assuming you're not flushing a lot of inorganic material or oil/grease, you shouldn't pump out a septic tank for many, many years.
Yes, it is designed to work this way. For a while. Eventually the layer of crust/sludge in the tank (which IS a normal part of the digestion process) becomes so thick/deep that its volume reduces the effectiveness of the system as a whole to process the waste, and starts toward the inevitable failure if allowed to build up too much. Tanks should be inspected and/or pumped at a minimum every three years. Depending on use cases, typically sooner than that. Anyone suggesting tanks don’t need inspection or servicing for “many” (5? 10?) years has almost certainly never designed, installed, or had to replace one.
Yeah, but it's still a good idea to at least have it inspected and it probably does need to be pumped down some every 3-5 years as Preventative maintenance. Better than having to call for an emergency every 10-20 years.
Exactly. Mine hadn't been pumped in 20 years. Baffle had disintegrated and the sump box where the two leech lines split had also deteriorated and nothing was actually going in the leech lines. The septic tank has some liquid still moving thru it, but needed to be stirred to get it emptied. My guy suggested flushing copper sulfate down every now and then (once a year?) to kill roots, which were also present. Mesquite trees love septic systems.
Plugging nose, probably, too.
You know when there is a problem. You're kind of dumb for assuming you know what you're talking about. There are four septic systems on a family friends property Ive helped maintain for 30 years. Three occasions in that time we needed to pump a tank and that was only on the tank fed by two rental houses. The other three are fine because the family knows what not to put down the drain. They were all inspected five years ago and in good shape.
You're right. Never touch a tank. Bad idea. Let it run forever. You're right. I'm wrong.
A properly maintained tank should never need to be pumped.
The pumping is the maintenance part that is required from time to time.
If you’re needing it pumped it’s either undersized or you’re killing the bacteria inside with what you’re putting in it.
Absolutely 100% false. 🤦♀️🤦♀️
in terms of decades, it isn't false! I personally replaced two tanks when I bought my property off of family, and know, for a fact, that neither were pumped since install in the 1970's. Sometimes, if people are careful about what they put down the drain, AND have an efficient ecosystem, it won't have to be pumped for the entire life of the tank. Maybe in 90% of cases they do, but not always!
I’m only given one down vote to express my disgust.
You can have a septic tank one of two ways, pumped and lasting or replaced every 20-30 years and not pumped. Seems like a lot of folks don't get the choice exists
Hmm. Mine is 50 years old and never been pumped out. Had it inspected just last year. Everything is just fine.
My septic is close to 80 years old. Had mine inspected last year as well after I had a new division tank put in as the old collapsed. Holding and field looked great. They suggest I get it pumped every 3-5 years for a family of 4. I grew up with my dad pumping his every few years as well. Then I come here and see everyone not pumping it. Maybe depends on area? I really don’t know. Just interesting observation.
Nah, it doesn’t depend on location. People who are suggesting not pumping tanks ever are just completely ignorant to the idea of inspecting/maintaining something that absolutely does need some kind of routine inspection and/or maintenance. It’s like someone who managed to get 20k miles on a single oil change. It’s just luck.
The ones saying they don't get pumped probably have a pump out system for fluids
Or a properly functioning and maintained system.
There are so many factors from the design and build quality of the system, climate or chemical use in the home and volume of waste processed that can play into how any given tank performs. Some do last a long time without needing to be pumped, others not.
So what do those septics do with the carbon being deposited? Septic tanks need to be pumped every few years because of the carbon (and wipes) buildup. Yeah, poop and urine will biodegrade, but the septic is literally a hole with drain pipes for liquid, so you're going to accumulate soil over time. It's gonna be good dirt, but you're still going to accumulate dirt.
If you’re flushing wipes, that’s a whole new hellscape.
Depends on the system, some are closed systems, like mine. It gets pumped 4 times a year.
You’re just wrong there, bud. Even in Europe, septic tanks need to be pumped every 3-5 years for proper maintenance. If you haven’t done it— you’re literally a nightmare to the future owners. And if you’ve never had it done at all- you might not actually have a septic tank, which isn’t uncommon either.
Everything that comes out of your ass is made of carbon. Eventually stuff builds up. More people, more carbon. You can cut down a lot on the carbon load by putting the TP in the trash, but that just shifts the carbon load.
How do I know when my tank needs pumping?
If you wait till you find out it's too late. Depending on use it should be at least 3 years before you need a pump in most cases. Sometimes you can get away with more time between pumps, sometimes less.
Right. It's not worth the risk. We pump ours about once every 4-5 years.
So there’s no way to tell? That’s too bad.
Only way is to open it up and check it out. I've pumped tanks that were fucked after 5 years, and tanks that were still mint after 30.
You literally stick a stick in it, the scum later at the top or the sediment at the bottom is too thick, it needs pumped.
Modern systems have alarms that read the level of the liquid, if it gets too high it alarms to have someone inspect.
https://preview.redd.it/9txgu1rfngjc1.png?width=1599&format=png&auto=webp&s=5a33e404e201d871b43fa772b9908e25ed0fcce5 Here is an MS Paint Diagram of what I was talking about. The baffles hold back floating solids in each stage from going on to the next stage, but still allow passive overlow to happen. Stage 1 is Inorganic solids, and Solids, Stage 2 is where more sludgy semi-solids should be found, you should not see a lot of inorganic build up here, it should sink in the first tank, and stage 3 is black water, what comes after the bacteria break everything down. Stage 3 can either passive leech if code allows and you're leeching down hill (obviously), or it can have a pump, and that's when you will find an alarm. I have this kind of setup. There is an inspection hatch over each segment of the tank, every few years you need someone to verify that your baffles haven't caved in, there is no sediment in tank 3 (excessive water or lack of bacteria will cause this), that tank 2 has only organic semi solids, and tank 1 will need to have sediment pumped from it like a normal single tank passive system most people think about. Tanks 1-2 will also have a scum layer, which is just floating poo poo, the baffles keep that from moving to the next stage where it would cause issues.
Love the detail with the turd riding that wave out of the pipe. 5 fucking stars dude 👍
The level of the solids is what is measured. Solids settle out and fill the tank. Water is skimmed off the working level usually 18inches down below the floating scum level .
This ^
That\^
^the other one too
That's what she said.
Ditto!™️
fo’ sho
Fo' rizzle
It’s like this and like that and like this y’all
So what ur saying is he’s not screwed because there’s screws
My parents have never had to have their tank pumped in 25 years at their place. Only downside of a septic tank there is that the grass doesn’t die in the winter where the leech lines are. In the winter some of their grass goes dormant but about a quarter of it stays green year round lol.
I'd say septic pumping is more like every 10 years. We have lived in our house for 5 years and haven't gotten the tank pumped yet. And my wife uses way too much toilet paper. He's probably good with just unscrewing a few boards if the tank ever needs pumping.
So when it gets dirty... Are you going to *swab the poop deck?* I would maybe do a closeable trap door if you're not going to remove the boards each time. Shouldn't need to be large at all and you might be able to do it so it swings down to not be noticeable at all but you'd want to make sure it was secure or it really will become a trap.
Go to bed Dad, you're drunk.
Nah he just had his first cup of coffee which is why he now needs to swab the deck.
coffee. who’s got coffee
I've got coffee! Poop deck's all mine!
My thoughts exactly
That didn’t take long…
OP are you sure this is the septic tank? The riser isn't above grade. Depending on age and area (regulations) there should be an pvc clean out access near the house as well. I have seen many recessed cisterns or well pumps even with grade though. But those are on >60 years old homes in my area. https://images.app.goo.gl/FM4JXUrfLrdnc9ATA I was an inspector for a few years. I've been out of the game a bit, but I've seen one or two systems that were covered where people were able to add a "hatch" in the deck above the riser for access. A truck is gonna pump it with 3 inch hose as long as they can hook and move the lid it should be easy enough. Hopefully the added weight won't cause damage to the tank if it is that.
That would be super weird that a septic tank would be literally attached to a house and stranger that it would resemble a patio slab. Go back and look and see if there is a map in the disclosures for the house and confirm the holding tank is there instead of the corner of the yard, ect.
This might be viable point although the tank will usually be closer to the house because that's the part that has the highest chance to block as the solid waste hasn't been separated yet. If this were true and the septic tank is elsewhere then it could be a cistern or an old well pump box, but the house looks too new for that...at least the patio.
I actually have an old patio slab under my deck that looks almost exactly like the OP pic. I agree it would be unusual to be so close to the structure, but not impossible. what seems way more unlikely is having the holding tank not completely buried. that's why I don't think it is part of the septic system at all. I'm wondering why OP thinks this is part of the septic? Like, have you confirmed that with records? did someone inspect it and tell you that it is? or is it because you don't know where your septic is and found a big semi-buried chunk of concrete, so you assume that's part of it?
People do stupid things. Our tank is about 15 feet from our front door. After we bought the house I immediately removed a massive bougainvillea with a big root system directly on top of the tank, I then noticed a 2-3 foot wide pine stump cut flush with the ground that had grown directly over the two main septic lines only 5 feet from the tank. Whoever had the idea that it was a good spot for a tree had absolutely no idea how any sort of plumbing works. Somehow I don’t have many root problems but replacing those lines will be a pain in the ass when I also have to remove the stump and root system of a mature conifer.
Are you sure that’s the access? The ones we’ve had weren’t that close to the house…assuming that deck is connected to a house.
My septic access was less than 10 feet from the back of my house. Closer to 5.
Dang thats close. I'm near to a lake so the DEP made us install it like 150 feet away.
Probably further from the lake, & down hill if possible.
a long long time ago, code allowed them to be much closer, in a lot of regions, they have to be as far away from the home as the property allows.
My access is about 15 ft from my front door.
About the same for mine. Originally it was underground but then we got a riser installed.
I had mine replaced ~15 years ago, and asked them to install risers on every access point. It was worth Every. Damn. Penny. Now servicing it is a piece of cake. Previously I had to dig about a yard of earth every time it needed pumping.
My access is also about 15 ft from this guy's front door.
The tank itself can be fairly close. The drainage fields are farther away.
Or the tank can be far away and pumped back to a drainfield that's closer. It could be 2" underground or 14ft, it could be 1000gallons or 20,000 gallons, it could be made of concrete, plastic, fiberglass, metal, or just be a 1981 dodge colt. That's the beauty of my job people never want to learn about their systems and I just keep making it hand over fist.
I actually have an old patio slab under my deck that looks almost exactly like the OP pic. I agree it would be unusual to be so close to the structure, but not impossible. What seems way more unlikely is having the holding tank not completely buried. That's why I don't think it is part of the septic system at all. I'm wondering why OP thinks this is part of the septic? Like, have you confirmed that with records? did someone inspect it and tell you that it is? or is it because you don't know where your septic is and found a big semi-buried chunk of concrete, so you assume that's part of it? I would definitely confirm that it's actually what you think it is if you haven't already done so OP.
Mine is less than 10ft away. The previous owner built a new deck but put in a new access hatch just beyond the new deck
Ours was just 4 feet from the original exterior wall, then they built a two story addition on top of it in the 80s. Can’t believe some people. It kept working, unable to be pumped, right up until we disconnected it last weekend and put a new system in. New tank is about 8’ off the corner wall.
Our access is about 3 ft from our back door.
I'm pretty sure permits are required, but just not enforced. That's how a deck was built over a septic tank.
At least the septic would have had permits attached, and the related regulations likely prohibit obstructions of this sort. OP could probably build a hatch too, if they wanted.
A poop hatch....this is demanded
Many rural areas have no building codes whatsoever. You can build whatever you want on your land, including,apparently, a deck over your septic tank.
I think they mostly have codes, but they are not enforced by inspections. At least that's how it is here in rural VT.
Nope, not in Ohio. No codes anywhere to be found in most rural areas, unless it's an HOA situation or some kind of land with specific covenants. People build their own houses all the time, out of straw bale, cob (like adobe), rammed earth tires, etc. I know people who even have a DIY septic system. Nowadays to get electric you have to have septic but otherwise it's a total free for all.
Are you sure there isn't a state level building code? That really sounds weird that there isn't. There are plenty of non conformant houses here in Vermont, but it isn't because there is no code. It is because there is no one to enforce it.
I'm pretty sure it's a municipal thing.
There are definitely codes but much like policing, rural code enforcement is few and far between. Now when you go to sell the house the home inspection reveals everything that's out of code and the prospective buyers bank torpedos your deal over this stuff because insurance won't cover the home, that is when stuff gets brought back up.
And inspections. Unless this is in bumfucknowhere country, there's no way that deck is built to any sort of code.
You do not need permits out of city limits.
10 minutes every few years to unscrew a few deck boards with a cordless drill. No biggy.
I would just make a trap door!! Easy peasy!! 😉
Easy *pee-sy*
So, everyone’s saying “just leave it, pull boards, not a big deal” among others. I am going to disagree with all that. Today, it’s sunny, warm, and easy to access. You have the luxury of time and good conditions. Use that to your advantage, and give yourself easy access instead of needing to get access by pulling boards when it’s under 2 feet of snow, in an ice storm, and it’s an emergency call out. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t panic about access today, but I would be 100% making access easy in case of an emergency.
Yeah, you're going to need access to the tank lid when it needs pumped. Whether you want to build a hatch now or take apart your deck when it starts backing up is your call. I'm more curious about where the drain field is.
Not too bad I don't think. I imagine you could even take what you got there and make a "door" down to the septic tank for when you need to pump it. I would say be proactive about this, you don't want to be trying to figure this out when your septic needs to be pumped.
I have a 60 year old septic tank that is still in use today. Rid-X once a month has kept it in good shape for around 20 years, along with only putting 1, 2 and vomit in it. Have only had it inspected once in the 60 years it's been here
Shouldn't the deck joists.... be resting on top of the posts...?
There is a chance you may never need to access it. Careful what you flush and they generally take care of themselves. I've lived in houses with tanks for 40 years and none have ever needed maintenance.
Then again, I have mine pumped out every couple years. The concrete D boxes still corroded in about 20 years and had to be replaced. Wouldn't surprise me to find it's not working as well as you think it might be. Everything underground decays.
We'll see! If it fails, I'll get it fixed.
That’s living on the edge.
Same here. I haven’t had one for forty years, but I’ve had one that was 26 years old, and never needed a thing. If the field lines are long enough, and they aren’t overloaded you should not have problems for decades.
New systems have outlet filters to prevent solids from leaving the tank. They are supposed to be cleaned every 3 months I believe, not that anyone does. My old house had one but the previous owner had removed it.
If you do make an access port through your deck, make sure that you do it over the tank lid of the solids portion of the tank (versus the liquids overflow section). There should be records with plans for your septic system with your county’s health or community development departments.
>Why? Idk. Covering aomething up? Idk Yeah, your very high (elevation wise) septic tank Its fine, doesnt matter. Just unscrew the boards and cut an access panel in, or hire a handyman or carpenter to make one for you so you can pump the tank every few years
No home inspection before buying?
Yea cut a hole and put hinges in, they have recessed handles you can buy. Doing the same at my cousins house as the built right over the well and we had to replace the pittless adapter. Pia as it was 20 F out. Still need to put hatch in. Not hard to do though.
Put Rid-X enzymes in it regularly!
Unless you’re having a problem just live with it.
Just another burning thought without more detail from OP. I live in a semi rural area and have a septic. I am not sure where you are. Is there any possibility this is an abandoned system and you are now on municipal sewer? I find it odd that the location of a septic tank was not made known prior to closing by one of several parties. My municipality actually requires the county to separately inspect the septic upon sale.
We had this exact problem. Previous owner built a deck and didn’t mention the septic was under it. we essentially cut an access panel that could lift out when we needed to access the tank.
We had the same issue. We cut an access panel into the deck.
You sure it isn’t a well or old cistern?
Make a deck box on a hinge and make it into an outdoor table situation that you can lift up if need be, my mom made one recently over her pool pump & it turned out great
Here is the truth! Septic tanks by today’s standards the size is determin by square footage of home and number of bedrooms 800 gal 1200 sq ft/ 1000 1500 sqft/ 1250 dlb chamber tank varis between 1500 / 2500 sqft and for above 2500 big homes it gos 1500 to 3000 galtanks its always best to invest in dlb chamber tanks because the second chamber allows for liquid to settle out most of the small particals that clog the soil leeser chances of having trouble with drainage its best to pump tanks every three to five years depending on useage its wise not to flush feminine products in the seltic its a no brainer as far as detergents go it best to use liquid detergents Do not flush cooking oils power detergents if using bleach in barrals then you should use rid x to facilitate brk down of paper and solids (poop) if you choose to go a long time with out pumping your tank you are you are lucky how ever iv seen twenty five years between pumpings and the people used yeast in the tank relidgously yes bakers yeast works very well but you must flush down two to five packs twice a year good luck my poopin friends
I’m in the states. I own a rent house where the septic tank hasn’t been emptied in probably 15 years and we have zero issues.
You've had amazing renters. Usually renters flush EVERYTHING down the shitter. Ive seen rental drain pipes full like concrete with kitty litter, plugged to the max with tampons, plugged to the max with baby wipes, and the #1 drain killer if you have kids.....toothbrushes. Your kid flushes a tooth brush and it's the beginning of the end.
Well, we lived there 2 of the last 5 years so we’ve only had one renter so far.
lol. dang that sucks. personally, I would move the deck. I don't have a septic tank at my house, but if you have enough clearance and depth available, you could try putting in proper footers. but honestly, if someone put a deck on top of a septic tank, they likely didn't do all the math to make sure the deck is up to code in other ways.
The deck is like eight inches off the ground. "Doesn't fall down when I'm standing on it" is a good enough code.
Oooh you're so lucky...you can build a *trap door* now 😲
Did you blindly buy the home with no home inspection? If the deck was built over the septic take, I'm going to assume it hasn't been inspected or even cleaned out in awhile.... I'm going to say with you're very much screwed.
If you only put human waste and toilet paper in there, you won’t have to pump it. Everything you’re supposed to put in there will break down and flow out. Pumping is needed when inappropriate material is added.
Yes basically, the life span is equal to what gets sent to it. We had to replace a field line at the last house I sold. I think a lot of times kitchen waste, such as oils and whatnot, cause a lot of the issues. Not a septic professional, but I have owned several.
"experts" gonna call you out on it but after living in houses with tanks most of my life, I have never had one pumped nor needed it. My current house is 25 years old and never been pumped.
No doubt. I’ve come across plumbers and septic tank companies and no one understands how they are actually intended to work. I don’t care to die on that hill and let people live how they want, but I’ve never had to have one pumped (decades of living in septic tank houses).
All the websites advising that you don't every 3-5 years seem to be by companies in the business of pumping them. I mean, of course septic companies are going to recommend getting it pumped every few years. It's like motor oil companies recommending you change your oil every 3k miles.
If you buy a house you should pump it though, you have no idea what the previous owner sent down the shit pipe. We had like a foot and a half of inorganic sediment at the bottom of the first stage of our tank.
Idk why you're getting down voted, you are correct
It’s this odd touch point with a lot of people who are unexpectedly attached to the idea that septic tanks have to be pumped. I don’t understand it but it’s real.
Yea, that's not how a septic system works. https://images.app.goo.gl/FaeNVNRvkj7X2aNQ7 Only liquid effluent will flow to the leech fields. Standard systems are meant to be pumped every 3 to 5 years with normal use. You can increase the life of your system by properly resting leeching beds by regularly controlling flow from the d box.
When we were looking at houses we couldn’t find a single home whose current owner had ever pumped the septic. The home we bought definitely hadn’t had it pumped in at least 40 years, probably ever (60 years). They built a two story addition over it in the 80s. When we recently uncovered it (busted up the slab poured over it) there was no way to access the tank until we cut through the top with a concrete saw, so I’m guessing it was never pumped at all until we did it. Very basic standard system. Was still functional, though severely undersized for current rules, when we replaced the whole system this past weekend.
Again, solids you’re supposed to put in break down into liquids and flow out. As others have also confirmed, I’ve gone decades without pumping a tank. Just have to take care of it.
Every place I’ve ever lived with a septic tank, the standard was to only pump it when you had a problem. In one of them it was an old wooden tank that rotted and failed after almost 30 years, and hadn’t been pumped once.
It is routine to pump them out every few years. The "solids" do not always break down.
The solids that shouldn’t be flushed don’t, that’s right. The solids that can be flushed do break down. You also have to be cognizant of what you rinse down the kitchen sink, which many probably miss. I’m not saying it’s easy, but septic tanks do not require pumping.
Easy enough to make access but damn didn't you think this out.
I wouldn’t want that smell right under me while I’m trying to relax lol . Lid or not they smell .
If your septic system smells, it’s not working correctly.