Septic tank

soulglo79

Hi,

I bought my house almost 4 years ago. The septic tank is the old ceramic variety. I'm wondering get when I should have it emptied, do you do it periodically or how do you judge how often?

Also one of the drains outside my kitchen, served by the sink and dishwasher is backing up. But no other drain is backing up. I assume that this is a pipe blockage rather than anything related to the septic tank?

_Brian

If your not overusing chemicals and the tank is installed well it may never need emptying.
My mums tank has only been emptied twice in 40 years.

Depending on when your system was installed grey water may be plumbed seperate to the tank, new systems everything goes to the tank but on older systems it was standard to plumb grey water direct to the soak pit.

..Brian..

We just had ours empitied this morning and the guy said it should be emptied every 2 to 3 years. It's a new house to us but I don't think it'd been emptied in a very long time.

Also impound like a blockage in one of your pipes. Get a drain rod set from woodies or wherever and stick em down it to dislodge the blockage.

_Brian

Of course the guy emptying it would love if you did it every 2 years. But if it's working properly is shouldn't need that at all.

muffler

Septic tanks should be de-sludged every year and if you dont want to believe me have a look at the EPA recommendations here

_Brian

muffler wrote: »

Septic tanks should be de-sludged every year and if you dont want to believe me have a look at the EPA recommendations here

Important part there are the terms recommendations or guidance !!
Septic tank at one of my properties hasn't been desludged in about 15 years and the other in 9 years.

At more than €250/year/tank that would have been some serious waste of money.

muffler

_Brian wrote: »

Important part there are the terms recommendations or guidance !!
Septic tank at one of my properties hasn't been desludged in about 15 years and the other in 9 years.

At more than €250/year/tank that would have been some serious waste of money.

€40 - €50 would be the norm here (farmer) or if employing the bigger companies who specialise in this it could be €100 - €150

_Brian

It's illegal to have a farmer empty a tank, last tank I had emptied by a liscenced operator was €260.

muffler

_Brian wrote: »

It's illegal to have a farmer empty a tank,

Im sure it is but I never said that I got it done.