Septic tank - empting period and appearance

MrThrifty

Have a conventional septic tank system in a house that's been lived in for ~6 years. Was surprised when someone asked the other day how often do we empty the tank. Me, in my ignorance, grew up in a house where the septic tank would only emptied when all the toilets were backing up for a week or two and thought this was how it worked! There's only 2 of us living in the house but is it still no harm get the tank emptied straight away?!

Also, there are 2 tall pipes sticking out the ground either side of the main tank for ventilation purposes I presume. They look an eyesore in the front garden and I was wondering if they can be cut down? I could add a mesh screen afterwards at the top to prevent stuff falling in if that's the reason why they're so tall in the first place.

gsxr1

you may want to have a read at this. There seems to be more and more press following new strict inspections. Who know if anything will come of it, but there are few lads I know that are panicking about digging out there bad tanks



http://blog.kevinjmurray.com/2010/04/25/septic-tank-nct-%E2%80%93-a-proposal-for-regulation-inspection-certification-in-ireland/