Septic System Debate

[IGBT]

..I got a septic tank that's been sealed for over 23 years. It never sees bleach or bleach products. Only poop and shower/sink drainage. I use Septonic in it every month and it's never backed up..I'am not even shure where the tank lid is.

 

[MCsommerreid]

It probably has to do more with what goes into the septic system than anything else. A "perfect" system would probably only need to be pumped once in a blue moon because it would only have easily decomposed organic material and a good level of bacteria. This would be the "perfect" system, which as we all know, doesn't exist.

Once things like bleach, non-organic solids, soaps, or too much stuff into the system clogs can occur and the system becomes imperfect and will thus require the ocasional pumping. Most systems would be imperfect because it's not like people are going to be super careful about what goes in, and chances are the septic system will be too small for their application.

I'm by no means an expert on the subject, or even a novice, but from piecing things together from the thread and some logic it's entirely possible to never pump a septic system in a "perfect" environment.

 

[AnthraX101]

Just a note, once your system is "clogged", the game is probably up.

If your system is clogged, it can be one of two reasons. One is that the system is overloaded, it has too many liquids for the drain field to handle. This is only solvable by either reducing your liquid disposals or by increasing your drain field capacity.

The second case is when your drain field has become clogged with solids. This is almost impossible to remove, some will come out when the tank is pumped but most will stay in there. The damage is already done. This is one of the big reasons that tanks should be pumped even when not overflowing. It's like changing your cars oil, once you notice a problem, damage is done.

AnthraX101

 

[DrPizza]

Hmmmm... I've thought about it... The lawyer is correct. Septic tanks do NOT have to be pumped out.
The alternate solution: Use it until the system fails. Replace the leach field.

 

[Tobolo]

Originally posted by: Witchfire
You know what? I don't have any links or addresses to appease you. I'm going by 20-odd years of experience with family homesteads in three states in different climates. My grandmothers house has been in the family for 3 generations, is in a rural area, has never has less than 3 people living in it at any time, and has never had to be pumped. Ditto for the septic at my mother's in Indiana, going on 25 years there now. I HAVE seen tanks that did need to be pumped, but again, that was because of foreign matter introduced that killed the bacteria, or tree root systems clogging the feed lines to the drain field. Sometimes tanks WILL need to be pumped, but in my experience, it is because of misuse or overuse/undersizing.

I'm not going to be dragged into a debate looking for online info to back me up. If you want to believe everything you read on the internet, be my guest, but I've found that usable, real-world knowledge is not always based somewhere in cyberspace in the form of 1's and 0's.

The people who've been around long enough to know the real answer to your question are generally not the people who give a damn about the internet anyways.

In short, I've answered your query to the best of my knowledge, and in good faith. Sorry if that's not good enough.

Just FYI, if you're going to send PM's to bait someone, don't be so childish as to not receive them in return. Have a nice day.

Someone is having a bad day

 

[Witchfire]

Originally posted by: Tobolo

Someone is having a bad day

Thank you.. that post cleared up SO much. I guess we can all sit back & be thankful that the main topic has now been thoroughly explained & evaluated by you. Are you always this insightful and helpful?

 

[wacki]

Originally posted by: Witchfire

Originally posted by: Tobolo

Someone is having a bad day

Thank you.. that post cleared up SO much. I guess we can all sit back & be thankful that the main topic has now been thoroughly explained & evaluated by you. Are you always this insightful and helpful?

Well no offense your post was pretty rude and emotional. You called me childish and I've tried everything I can to be civil and respectful. All I did was PM you letting you know I responded and you went off on me and accused me of "baiting" you when I'm simply trying to find out the answer.

Thankyou for your responses though,

wacki