Septic tank pumping...

[...Whitepower...]

How often do they need to be pumped and at what cost? I saw something on Google saying $500 on average. Is that correct?

Im sure it depends on size and I don't know that.

[lspencer534]

Septic tank pumping has no interval. I have 2 at my house, and I've lived here since 1990 with no pumping needed. They are the old drain line type, not the more modern "clean" tanks. The only way I know to establish an interval is to wait for them to get full and maybe back up, pump them, and use that as a interval to gauge when to do it again.

BTW, a septic tank "backing up" isn't like being on a sewer system when your toilet overflows since there's no backward pressure in a septic tank.

[DukeAllen]

We looked at a house a few years ago with a septic tank, that price sounds right from what they told us. I forget the frequency tho.

[DAB]

had ours done 2 months ago. $350 for the pair (house and guesthouse), he recommends doing it every 2 years.

[Superstreet]

Seems high. Our last house had a Norweco septic system.It was about 750 gallons and it cost $125 to get it pumped out. We have a sand filter type system now at our new house. Depends how many people live in the home, but the standard is between 2-5 years.

[DaveK88]

Fred's just pumped mine 3 weeks ago. I paid her $179.00 and that included the state inspection. In Wisconsin it has to be inspected every 2 years.

[6spdC6]

Systems are normaly rated by bed rooms to figure out size.

We have 2 bedrooms and get it pumped every 3 years in OCT. The cost is $200. Most pumpers up here want you to dig it or there is a steep extra charge. My tank cover is only 9'' under the ground and its only about a 20 minuit job to dig and only a couple minuits to backfill!.

[VITE1]

I have 1500 gallon Septic tank. I have it done once a year and it costs < 300.00 USD If i do the uncovering myself.

Once every two years is recommended. It depends on your soil, Seepage rate and other factors.


I have it done yearly simply to reduce the strain on the system since the leach field is in clay and the drainage and Bio mass build up are a problem.

[mrvette]

My folks house was built in '62 they bought it in '63 and upon Dad's passing wooden you know it, the tank backed up into the basement tub....house built on a hillside with a walkout back basement door, and the tank about 20' from the house....leach-field down hill to a creek flowing about 300' further back....

since it was '85 when needing pumped, and many parties, but just mainly Mom/Dad.....it lasted a LONG TIME, and so we had it pumped, and sold the house a decade later.....

Wife's family home here in Florida, on this sand bar, they did the obvious, all the washer/tub/basin/shower goes to the side of the driveway where the bushes grow like MAD.....the toilets do still go into the septic tank, ALL shit in the tank.....but that house been there since '55 or so, so no wonder the shit tank needs frequent pumping.....

[Parkrat]

I paid $200.00 a couple months ago. I haven't had it pumped out in 10 years. Recently I've had it done twice. My lid had a crack so he replaced it. It caused it to fill up fast. That time i think it was around $350.00. He digs the lid up.

Really depends on your area.

[lspencer534]

I suppose that there's no right or wrong answer to OP's question, but I disagree with the notion of 2-3 year pumping or even 5 year pumping as a precautionary measure. Based on my experience and others who I know, pumping isn't needed for a much longer interval than 2, 3, even 5 years. I've gone almost 25 years without pumping mine.

As I already said, your tank isn't going to back up into your house and cause your toilets to overflow when the tank gets full. I'd just let it get full, then pump it, and pump it again in however many years it took it to get full the first time (minus a year or two). BTW, in most areas septic tanks are rare, so the pumpers can get to you usually the next day. We have only one pumping company here to serve an area of 300,000-400,000 people.

On final thing: People advise you to inspect your septic tank fairly often, and some places even require an inspection about every two years. Think about what they're asking you to do: Inspect your septic tank. Uh...inspect it...how? It's a big ole concrete tank buried in the ground, folks. There is no way to inspect it.

[Chuck A]

had my done recently and water jetted cost was 325$ usually get it done every 4-5 years, they also add 10 gal of acid to kill anything in their

[...Whitepower...]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

Based on my experience and others who I know, pumping isn't needed for a much longer interval than 2, 3, even 5 years. I've gone almost 25 years without pumping mine.

As I already said, your tank isn't going to back up into your house and cause your toilets to overflow when the tank gets full. I'd just let it get full, then pump it, and pump it again in however many years it took it to get full the first time (minus a year or two). .

I agree with you. The house i grew up in that my dad had built only got pumped once in 30 years.

Where this is coming from is we have someone expressing interest in the flip and they are asking when the septic was last pumped. Per the previous owner it was 7 years back. At $300 or so i have no problem doing it to get the house gone but at the same time i don't think it's necessary. We'll see what happens.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by ...Whitepower...

I agree with you. The house i grew up in that my dad had built only got pumped once in 30 years.

Where this is coming from is we have someone expressing interest in the flip and they are asking when the septic was last pumped. Per the previous owner it was 7 years back. At $300 or so i have no problem doing it to get the house gone but at the same time i don't think it's necessary. We'll see what happens.

Thank you. I think it's $300 wasted. Plus, you won't have to deal with crooked pumpers, either. There are some that charge you an additional $300-$400 to dig the lid off the tank, which is a rip-off. If it were one of those very old tank that's completely covered by a piece of 1/4" steel, maybe, but still too much.

I noticed that it's even written into some guidelines that 30 years may be often enough depending upon family size and tank size. The worst that can happen is the family moves in and the tank immediately needs pumping. Only then would I shell out the $300.

[DAB]

when we bought, it was required that the seller pump out the tanks prior to closing (local practice). gives the buyer some piece of mind (short lived, the leach field failed 2 years later). i'd get it pumped, get a receipt, and pass along the contact to the new owners. system is good to go, your problem now.

[Kerrmudgeon]

300 bucks up in God's country if I dig it up first. Takes 15 minutes.

They ONLY need pumping if the solids fill the tank....and if you're system is working well the solids break down into liquids so it will last a loooonnnngggg time. Ours is going on 8 years now with only two of us living here. TP is the biggest cause of a full tank....it doesn't break down as fast as ...

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

300 bucks up in God's country if I dig it up first. Takes 15 minutes.

They ONLY need pumping if the solids fill the tank....and if you're system is working well the solids break down into liquids so it will last a loooonnnngggg time. Ours is going on 8 years now with only two of us living here. TP is the biggest cause of a full tank....it doesn't break down as fast as ...

That's all true. I buy a bag of bacteria from a woman who supplies septic tank bacteria on a commercial basis. I have no idea what's in it or even if it works, but I'm going to keep using it. Lowe's has something to flush down the toilet that supposedly does the same thing.

[DAB]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

That's all true. I buy a bag of bacteria from a woman who supplies septic tank bacteria on a commercial basis. I have no idea what's in it or even if it works, but I'm going to keep using it. Lowe's has something to flush down the toilet that supposedly does the same thing.

we have a little container of stuff from HD/Lowes, add a scoop once a month.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

That's all true. I buy a bag of bacteria from a woman who supplies septic tank bacteria on a commercial basis. I have no idea what's in it or even if it works, but I'm going to keep using it. Lowe's has something to flush down the toilet that supposedly does the same thing.

Originally Posted by DAB

we have a little container of stuff from HD/Lowes, add a scoop once a month.

I put a dead fish down the toilet at the lake ....accomplishes the same thing basically.
The other major problem with systems is the use of bacteria killers like anything with bleach, ammonia, any strong cleaners, etc. They stop all the good breakdown actions.

[LATB]

properly installed and with minimum maintenance, it should never need pumping. In theory.