Septic Tank question?

Question

We just bought our first home that runs on a septic tank instead of city sewer. It was pumped about 6 months ago. Anything I need to know? Preventative advice?

Answer 1

Hello Sunshine...

Yes, if there is anything that I know about it is
for sure septic tanks since my homes have
had that method of waste disposal for years.

First. You will need to check with the previous
owner and locate the exact placement of the
drain field. Mark it out with some permanent
stakes so you can identify it many years from
now. Do not drive heavy equipment over that area.

Second. Place all cooking waste oils and greases
into lidded jars and deliver them to the trash collector.
Do not send oily greasy waste from the kitchen
down into your septic tank.

Third. Your local hardware store sells septic tank
treatment kits which have a little jar of this bacteria
stuff you need growing inside your septic tank. I
would stick a bottle of that into your septic tank
every six to nine months to replace the bacteria
killed by chlorine from your washer dryer system.

Fourth. Get a good measurement of the depth of
local ground water in your subdivision or on your property. What you want to learn about is the
estimated distance between the bottom of your
septic tank and the local water table. If the tank
sits with its bottom close to the water level below
ground, there is a chance that in time of flooding,
extended rains, etc. the tank could float to the
surface. An empty tank could do that fairly easily
and that is a major problem for a home owner. To
combat this issue you need to fill the tank with
water - almost to the top. It cannot float up if full of
water and sludge. At that point, however, keep in
mind that new flushes will not work for a while...the
waters must receede first.

Hope this helps you folks out.
Zah

Answer 2

I was on a septic tank for 10 years and never had any problems with it. Watch what you flush down the toilet. Many "feminine" products don't dissolve in the septic tank and will cause a build-up that has to be pumped out (wife just threw it away in the trash instead of flushing). Soaps can also upset the septic tank, so when you have a big load of clothes to wash, it's better to space the washing out. I also tried to add a box of Ridex once a month to keep the "bugs" in the tank active.

Answer 3

Have it Pumped. Then use a product such as RIDX / YEAST CAKES once a month. Do not use Powered Laundry Soap ever. Use a bio-degradable bleach. Do not use Powdered dish soap. This will not only help the Septic Tank / But the Septic Field as well. Many years of trouble free Tank and Field.

Answer 4

be careful about what goes into the tank. grease, plastics, excessive amounts of tissue, tampons and cleaning chemicals can all cause backups and/ or other problems. as for the septic treatment chemical, they can cause problems if you put it into the system when the tank is empty or if the tank is really old (15 years or more). usually the tank takes about a month to full up again and start the decomposition process, so don't add any septic chemicals for at least 2 months. if you live in a northern climate (winters that average temp below 32 degrees) i would recommend not adding any treatment chemicals as the winter changes the decomposition process drastically.

Answer 5

There's a product you should put down the toilet once a month to keep the system working properly. RidX is one brand. It's available in many grocery stores, WalMart, Lowe's Home Centers, etc., where the other plumbing products are. Then you should plan to have the tank pumped evey 5 to 7 years for safety's sake. Don't EVER put anything down the drains except water, normal toilet waste, and toilet paper.

Answer 6

Yes...there is a chemical that you put in your toilet once a month which keeps the septic system running well. Also avoid using antibacterial cleaning agents because it kills the good bacteria that is necessary for septic systems

Answer 7

This is kind of personal but don't flush tampons down the toilet, they don't decompose. They will eventually clog the holding tank and it's embarrasing when the septic people have to come out and clean it. Trust me, I learned from experience.

Answer 8

Yes, upkeep is good. If you use a lot of TP you probably need to have it pumped once every 12 - 18 months. Also there is bacterial organisms you can use to keep it working. Call your mom and she will give you the number.

Answer 9

Here is a good site concerning septic tank use and maintainance.
http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt9401.html

Answer 10

Buy RidX it keeps bacteria levels high which is what you want for waste material in tank also maybe some root killer to rid of any roots that may grow and cause problems