Question:
“You only need to pump a septic every 10-12 years!” I’m hearing this more and more from people. My experience as a pumper says this is a dangerous standard to set. What say you?
Answers:
Most 1,000-gallon two-compartment tanks need to be pumped every three to five years to remove sludge buildup. A $3,000 field line replacement usually is the result of not cleaning the tank for many years. My motto is, “Pay me a small fee now or pay big dollars later, it’s your choice.’’
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I’ve been asked to give a presentation addressing proper maintenance at an association meeting. The idea that proper maintenance involves pumping your tank every 10-12 years is something many designers and installers are starting to spread, and I will definitely be met with some resistance, and probably have some guys that just ignore me.
Everything I’ve learned in seven years pumping tanks tells me this is a dangerous standard to set. We as pumpers need to get our voice out as to what we’re experiencing in the real world. We’re the ones who get called when the system fails after five years, not the installer or designer. Most people in my area have no clue who designed or installed their system.
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I tell all my customers to ask their local health department how often a tank should be pumped, and the response will be every two or three years.
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Our health department says three to five years, which I think is usually good. The problem is that there are a growing number of manufactures, designers, installers, and even regulators that are suggesting 10 to 12. I’m not quite sure why this is, but I think it’s dangerous.
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During an association conference I attended, there was a discussion about a new housing development the state approved. The system will be a STEP/STEG system, with each home having a septic tank. But the effluent will be treated at a centralized location. I like this idea, but the problem is the designer of the system used the figure of $300 for each pump done at 10 to 12 years to estimate long-term maintenance costs. For one thing, the price of pumping has doubled in the last five years in this area; who knows what it will be in 10 years, especially if they wait until it’s completely full of solids.
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We pumped one last year that had not been pumped out in 11 years. It was so solid my 285-pound brother stood on top of it. It took two hours to pump it, with back-flushing, water hoses, etc.
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I have been in the pumping business for 40 years. I have my customers clean their septic tanks at least every three years. I have many annual and two-year scheduled jobs. I guarantee my customers’ systems will pass any inspection when the time comes to sell their property. If a system fails, the new system may cost over $40,000. To make matters worse, in Massachusetts I have seen new systems fail in less than two years. About 95 percent of the bacterial action takes place in the soil absorption system, and the liquid going out of the tank will be treated very well if the tank is cleaned out often enough based on usage.
Many factors determine how long a tank should go before being cleaned. My customers would rather pay a small price to keep their systems working properly than be forced to install a new system.
