New to Septic Tanks!

[SCM1959]

We brought our horses home 5 years ago and built a house 4 years ago. It has been a learning process!

For the first time, we have a septic tank rather than being connected to the sewer system.

I have been very careful - we are sure to never allow the horses to walk on top of the septic tank area. I have bought all “septic tank friendly” toilet paper. We have a garbage disposal, but I use it very rarely because I have been told that food garbage can damage the septic system.

I have no idea what (if anything) we are supposed to do to keep our septic system working properly. The installer is long gone; the builder is out of business.

Is there a “what to do list” anywhere? Can anyone give me any advice?

Thanks in advance!

[Bluey]

Very important, get someone that pumps those systems out to evaluate what you have and tell you how often you need to pump it.
You want to do it little, the organisms growing in there need to be fairly undisturbed, but eventually the solids fill the first tank too much and are filling the second one and then it needs cleaning.

For a standard household with four people, that may mean every four to five years.

After you pump it out the first time, knowing how long you have been using it, you can guess if you waited too long or could have gone one more year.

[Graymaresrule]

One of the worst things for a septic system is grease. As much as I hate paper towels if you cook something like bacon or sausage wipe the pan out with a paper towel and toss it before you wash the pan or pour the drippings into the trash

[JanWeber]

Your county health department should have some guidelines for septic care. If not, I can send you one from Hunterdon County, NJ which discusses septic design, operation, and care.

[use_szoo]

RID-X septic tank treatment every month! You can get it at a grocery store or hardware store, in either powder or liquid form. It feeds the bacteria in the tank(s) that break down the solid waste and keep the tanks and pipes operational. It gets flushed down the toilet closest to the sewage outflow in the house.

Often, towns or municipalities have regulations regarding the frequency of tank pumping/inspection. Check with the local health department about this.

It’s good practice to keep anything heavier than a riding lawn mower off of the area that the piping to and from the tanks runs through. In addition, figure out where your leaching bed is and treat it the same way. We have an elevated mound for leaching because our soil doesn’t perk well. It would make great grazing, but it off limits on the advice of many a septic contractor. The evaporation tubes are laid close to the surface and are vulnerable to crushing or breakage under a horse’s weight.

A well maintained septic system is efficient and trouble free for a long, long time. One that isn’t is an expensive and nasty problem waiting to happen.

[use_szoo]

Biodegradable food that has been sent through the disposal is ok in a septic system. This excludes meats, bones and meat by-products such as fat/grease. They don’t decompose well and will gunk up pipes and traps as well. In addition to meats, we avoid eggshells or anything else that seems like it would not break down quickly.

[baysngreys]

Ditto the Rid-X - once a month, every month. I’ve had septic systems for years, never had a problem. I use regular toilet paper and a garbage disposal.

You can get what’s called a “traffic top” for the septic. When we added a septic tank for the barn, trailers, shoer, etc. would be driving right over the tank. The traffic tops are designed for use in driveways, etc.
It cost $150 extra.
Peace of mind - Priceless!

[tasia]

I try to limit the amount of water going into the septic tank. The septic people told us no more than 2 loads of wash a day. I have an older top loading washer (it refuses to die) You could probably do more loads with a front load machine. Also go easy on bleach. My septic is 7 years old.

[HappyTalk]

Hello, old health department person here. Pump your tank regularly; you do not want to let solids get out into the leach lines. Alternate your leach fields every 6 months to a year to let one rest. Limit garbage disposal waste into tank. Try to keep grease from entering into the tank. Don’t bother with Rid-X; you do not need it. The bacteria are fine on their own. Keep chemicals out of the tank as they might kill the bacteria. Do not drive or graze horses over your leach lines; you do not want to crush them. Make sure that your sump and down spouts are not connected into your system. Limit water usage if you are in a tight (clay) soil.

My own system is about 30 years old.

[HPFarmette]

Don’t ever…

don’t ever use drano or any type of drain cleaner other than a plunger. Ask me how I know…$$$$$:eek:

[fanfayre]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!! DO NOT use ANY septic tank additives!!! All they do is stir up the separated components and clog your field. A septic tank is supposed to be a quiet zone, for the settling out and separating of solids, fats and greases from the “clear liquid” (grey water). Additives add Hydrogen Peroxide which causes bubbling and remixing of those separated components.
The additives just waste your money. Using a garburator adds an extra 50% of loading to your system, and your tank should be up-sized accordingly. Everything HappyTalk said is completely accurate, and I’ll add, that depending on usage (# of people living in house, use of garburator[especially], # loads of laundry per week, etc), you may need to pump as soon as every 3 years, or you may be able to stretch it out to 10 years, but as a start I’d try calling a pump-out company at 5 years and have it assessed then. You may also want to consider, if it’s not already there, a simple plastic tube known as an effluent filter. It fits into the outlet tee of your tank to the field, and is about a $50 insurance policy for your field. It traps the solids and greases that would be stirred up if you used that additive stuff, or anything that gets carried over into the 2nd compartment. We have to use one in our tanks
Yes, I AM a septic expert :D; I design systems for my living so I can afford my horse The stories I could tell :eek: …

[baysngreys]

Thanks to the experts for your advice.

Dumping my Rid-x in the trash and restricting my disposal use from now on

[fanfayre]

Excellent!!! I’m happy to be of assistance.
And to keep it horsey, just think of the extra goodies you can buy for you horse now with the money you won’t be wasting on unnecessary and potentially harmful septic additives

[Nes]

I once heard an old farmer say it was good to throw a dead ground hog (you could substitute whatever pest is available in your area) into the septic once a year, good for the bacteria.

Or not…:lol:

[Foxtrot_s]

Agree with all the above.

Our system is so ancient it is Nature’ Little Miracle that it works at all since we are on clay. Someday we will have to have Fanfayre redesign our system before we sell if we don’t go out boots first. Most of our grey water goes into the soap box. We are very fussy about what flushes - not even dental floss and no bleach.

[2DogsFarm]

No Rid-X? Really?

I’d be glad to stop buying Rid-X - $6 for a box & then I have to remember when I used it last…

It’s just me here & my septic is nearly new - installed to replace the old one when I moved here 7 years ago.
I called the installer Year 3 and he told me I could probably go nearly 10 years before needing it pumped.

OP:
I assume you also have a well?
You will never miss the City Water bill

fanfayre:
I was told to pour spoiled milk or yogurt (whenever I had it) down the drain to help the septic dwellers.
True or False?

Happytalk:
How do you alternate leach fields?

[SCM1959]

Thank you to everyone for the replies. I have such a horror of septic tank overflow - I remember growing up that it happened to a neighbor. The entire street stunk!

We do not have a well. We have city water. It was explained to us that we had to have a septic tank because the sewer pipes “could not be run that far” down our long driveway.

How do I find a reputable pump-out company?

I am looking up Effluent Filter so that I can get one. Who installs it? The pump-out company or is this something my husband can do?

I am glad I don’t have to add Rid-X or anything else where I would have to keep track of when did I do it last. I have a hard enough time keeping up with dewormers and heartworm pills. My calendar is covered with reminder stickers already.

SCM1959

[cloudyandcallie]

You should run your dishwasher and washing machine and sink water off of the septic tank if you have a drain field.

[HappyTalk]

In our state two leach fields are required. One should be resting while the other takes the effluent flow. After your tank and prior to your fields there should be a diversion valve. Mine is clearly visible in a plastic riser as is my septic tank covers. The easiest way to find it would be to go to the health department and ask for a copy of your septic permit. The system diagram should designate where it is located. Sometimes they are buried for esthetics so you may have to probe for it. I had to help my new neighbor locate his last summer.

I have a large perennial flower garden planted around my septic tank to hide the risers.

[fanfayre]

[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;5467885]
I’d be glad to stop buying Rid-X - $6 for a box & then I have to remember when I used it last…

fanfayre:
I was told to pour spoiled milk or yogurt (whenever I had it) down the drain to help the septic dwellers.
True or False?

Happytalk:
How do you alternate leach fields?[/QUOTE]

False!!!
The bacteria naturally occurring in our waste is all that’s needed to get the system started and running. The first flush is the ticket!!!
I can also answer your question to HT: you install a valve that separates two(or more) fields or the single field into 2(or more) sections and then turn the valve to dose the new field at a prescribed time (every 3, 4, 6 12, etc months)
OOPs, didn’t see HT answered before I did.

“You should run your dishwasher and washing machine and sink water off of the septic tank if you have a drain field.”
C&C: yes, generally that’s what the septic tank is for. Some jurisdictions allow soap boxes, but not our Province, and as far as I know most jurisdictions are fading out their approvals for them, as it’s another component to be looked after and serviced (or most normally forgotten and ignored). There’s more bacteria in these soap boxes than there are in the black water tanks, believe it or not!