- I was told that you do not need to pump your septic tank
- What types of things are bad for my septic tank?
- How often should I pump my septic tank?
- What should I know about maintaining a healthy septic system?
- What exactly is a septic system and why do I have one?
- Do I need to buy "additives" to maintain my septic tank?
Q: I was told that you do not need to pump your septic tank.
A: If this were true, then we would not be running around like crazy people pumping poop out of septic tanks. Unfortunately, poop does not disappear. Poop breaks down if you have good bacterial action in your septic tank and forms a "sludge" on the bottom of the tank. Water from your house is housed in the center section of the tank and a "crust" layer called "scum" sits on the top level of the tank. A healthy scum layer is typically thin to about 2". An unhealthy tank will have a thick scum layer on the top and we have to fight through it, break it up, suck it up, before we can even get to the sludge we are after at the bottom of the tank. There are many reprecussions from the belief that a septic tank does not have to be maintained. Most of them are financial.
You pump the sludge and scum out of the tank so that this material does not flow out into the drainage area called the drain field. If the tank is not cleaned out (and we see this way too often), the solids that flow into the drain field will plug it up. Once the drain field (and this can occur slowly over years of neglect) is plugged, you're now talking about a replacement system in most cases. This is not an easy process, as approvals have to be sought, ground water monitoring has to be done and there is nothing cheap about having your yard dug up and a new drain field put in.
Too many people wait until they have an emergency to call and have their system pumped and inspected. Too many people waited too long. It's a maintenance issue. You wouldn't wait until you have a cavity to start brushing your teeth...
Q: What types of things are bad for my septic tank?
A: Any product, including bleach, that kills the good bacteria produced from your body. This includes cleaning products with skulls and crossbones. If they are hazardous to humans, they are exterminators of good bugs in the septic.
Q: How often should I pump my septic tank?
A: Please refer to the chart on the main Septic Services page. It depends completely on the number of people using the system, the age and condition of the system, the size of the system, and of course, how well you are treating your system.
Q: What should I know about maintaining a healthy septic system?
A: Whatever you put in, must come out. It is best to avoid putting products in the system which the bacteria cannot easily break down. These items sit on top of the tank and just become part of a thick scum layer. If you are on a garbage disposal, it's best not to use it heavily, as those raw carrots and potatoes just sit on top of the tank and do not decompose quickly. In additon, baby wipes, tampons, cigarettes, all bad for the system. While it may seem that stuff floating on the top of the tank is not such a terrible thing, all of these things can produce plugged lines at the inlet side of the tank and cause you to back up in the house.
IMPORTANT HINTS FOR A HEALTHY SEPTIC SYSTEM
Do not overload your septic system. Use water sparingly.
Do only full laundry and dishwasher loads at off-peak times if possible.
Do not put kitchen grease down the drain.
Do not flush cigarettes, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, or other inorganic materials down the toilet.
Do not put gasoline, oil, anti-freeze, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, etc. down the drain.
Use garbage disposal sparingly or increase septic system maintenance schedule.
Check all plumbing fixtures for leaks.
Ask your contractor if you think that roots are clogging your pipes.
Water softener use requires increased septic system maintenance schedule.
Rule of Thumb: Waste and toilet paper are the only items that should be going into a septic tank to maintain a healthy system.
Q: What exactly is a septic system and why do I have one?
A: Households that are close enough to the City Sewer Plant and have City services, will be connected to the sewer plant and all waste leaving the house will go directly there. However, if you live in a rural setting, as most of us do in Montana, or in an area that the City has not expanded it's services to, you will have your own individual treatment plant, right in your yard, called a septic system. Below is a graphic of a healthy septic tank.
Q: Do I need to buy "additives" to maintain my septic tank?
A: Absolutely not! The bacteria produced by the human body is the only "input" your septic tank ever requires to function properly. However, if you are knowingly using products that kill the good bacteria produced by your body, then you will need to put "good bugs" back into your system on a regular basis to keep the anarobic activity alive and healthy. It's a good idea to use a different format, such as bold, for the questions, so that it is easy to distinguish them from the answers.