Septic tanks

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Septic tanks
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judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 10:03 am Post subject: Septic tanks

I wasn't really sure where to put this question, so this will have to do.

To those of you who have septic tanks, how often do you have it emptied? OH thinks it is "about time" to have it emptied, I tend along the lines of "if it ain't smelling, it is OK".
I'm fairly paranoid about what goes into the tank, so it should be working properly. I've not noticed any smell whatsoever from it since we had it emptied when we first moved here.

Would you leave it to get on with it or have it emptied prophylactically?

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 10:34 am Post subject:
Once a year is your average, but it can vary depending upon your usage. If you have a good soakaway then it should be pretty unobtrusive.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 10:39 am Post subject:
It is sized for 4 people, but we are a 2-person household, so usage is pretty low compared to capacity.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 10:51 am Post subject:
You should have no problems then.

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 12:20 pm Post subject:
You shouldn't ever have to empty it if you don't put anything in it that destroys the balance of nature! Never put bleach or other "destroys all known germs" cleansers, or mouthwash, or loo cleaners, or any other nasties. HWH

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 12:27 pm Post subject:
That's what I think too, HWH. But OH was told that if it does fill up, the "solids" get backed up down the lines into the leach field, clogging up the system. The person who told him this was the chap that emptied for us in the first place, though, hence my suspicions that it probably isn't necessary!

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 12:35 pm Post subject:
We recomend that they're emptied once a year - but we would having an interest in it as we treat the muck and the EA are starting to get jumpy about septic tanks waste being sprayed o fields. Septic tanks will, over time, fill with solids and their perfomance will become less efficient. So they do need emptying. Cess pits apparnetly can be left alone a bit motre.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 12:44 pm Post subject:
Bah! So it looks like Severn Trent is going to get the money out of us one way or another. I've rather been enjoying the minuscule water bills we get.

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 12:47 pm Post subject: septic tanks

what he says is true judith..........

however if you don't allow people to throw the wrong things down the loo you shouldn't have that problem

we did and when my husband managed to unblock the pipe into the tank as the drain was backed right up to the house he found that next doors kids had thrown toys down the toilet and also that the thing was blocked up with the dreaded disposable nappies, tampons and dental floss.

i coughed to the floss but the rest of the stuff came from next door.

we then later had the leach finger blocked which was backing right up to the tank and had to sort that out as well...this had been due to the same problem as before and that was not a pleasant job as we had to find the soakaway and the pipe and well i don't want to go there ever again

since that and the words we had with next door, we have had no problems and haven't ever emptied the tank as it takes care of itself

i use ecover stuff and rarely any manufactured bleache etc and i have to assume that next door does as well though i have never asked

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 12:56 pm Post subject:
Eeew Nanny! I think the second time I would have stuffed the neighbour's head down the tank, or sent one of the kids in to scrub it clean with their toothbrush

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 1:10 pm Post subject:
This might help! https://www.inspect-ny.com/septbook.htm

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 1:25 pm Post subject:
Thanks Andy, that is brilliant .

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 3:25 pm Post subject:
Brilliant, but terrifying! We've not had ours emtied in the 3 years we've been here, and I don't think the last people did either. There are only 2 of us, and we only use Ecover stuff, and have noticed no problems. I might try to find a disinterested person to have a look, though!

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 5:01 pm Post subject:
Frankly, we hardly ever use ours! I'm not running two miles up a hill to go for a wee! HWH

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 5:03 pm Post subject:

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