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| Maintaining
Your System - What To Expect |
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Annual inspections of your septic system are recommended to ensure
that it is working properly and to determine when the septic tank
should be pumped. By inspecting and pumping your system regularly, you
can prevent the high cost of septic system failure.
Inspecting Your System
Although a relatively simple inspection
can determine whether or not your septic tank needs to be pumped, you
should consider calling your local health department or hiring a
professional contractor. A professional can do a thorough inspection
of the entire system and check for cracked pipes and the condition of
the tees or baffles and other parts of the system. A thorough septic
system inspection will include the following steps:
Locating the system-
Even a professional may have trouble
locating your system if the access to your tank is buried. One way to
start looking is to go in your basement and determine the direction
the sewer pipe goes out through the wall. Then start probing the soil
with a thin metal rod 10 to 15 feet from the foundation. Once your
system is found, be sure to keep a map of it on hand to save time on
future service visits.
Uncovering the manhole and inspection
ports-
This may entail some digging in your yard.
If they are buried, try to make access to the ports easier for future
inspections. Install risers (elevated access covers) if necessary.
Flushing the toilets-
This is done to determine if the plumbing
going to the system is working correctly.
Measuring the Scum and Sludge Layers-
There are two frequently used methods for
measuring the sludge and scum layers inside your tank. The contractor
may use a hollow clear plastic tube that is pushed through the
different layers to the bottom of the tank. When brought back up, the
tube retains a sample showing a cross section of the inside of the
tank. The layers can also be measured using a long stick. To measure
the scum layer using a stick, a three-inch piece of wood is attached
across the end of the stick to form a "foot," and the stick
is pushed down through the scum to the liquid layer. When the stick is
moved up, the foot meets resistance on the bottom of the scum layer,
and the contractor marks the stick at the top of the layer to measure
the total thickness. As a general guideline, if the scum layer is
within three inches of the bottom of the inlet baffle, the tank should
be pumped. The sludge layer is measured by wrapping cloth around the
bottom of the stick and lowering it to the bottom of the tank. This
should be done either through a hole in the scum layer or through the
baffle or tee, if possible, to avoid getting scum on the cloth. The
length of sludge sticking to the cloth can estimate the sludge depth.
If the sludge depth is equal to one third or more of the liquid depth,
the tank should be pumped.
Checking the Tank and the Drainfield
The contractor will check the condition of
the baffles or tees, the walls of the tank for cracks, and the
drainfield for any signs of failure. If your system includes a
distribution box, drop box, or pump, the contractor will check these
too.
When To Pump
How often your tank needs to be pumped
depends on the tank size, the number of people living in your home,
and the habits of your particular house hold. Garbage disposals and
high-water-use technologies, such as a hot tub or whirlpool, also
affect the pumping frequency. To estimate how often you should have
your tank pumped, refer to the table below This information combined
with observations from annual inspections will help you to estimate
your individual pumping schedule. When it's time to pump out your
tank, be sure to hire a licensed contractor. He or she will have the
appropriate equipment and will dispose of the sludge at an approved
treatment site. You can find listings for licensed pumpers and haulers
in the yellow pages, or contact your local health department for
assistance. It's a good idea to be present when your tank is being
pumped. Make sure the contractor uses the manhole, not the inspection
ports, to pump the tank to avoid damaging the baffles or tees. Also
make sure all of the material in the tank is removed. It is not
necessary to leave anything in the tank to "restart" the
biological processes, but it is also not necessary to scrub or
disinfect the tank.
To use the chart find the number of
people in your household in the top row and the size of your tank in
the left hand column. The number in the cell where the row and
column you have chose represents the number of years you should go
between pumping. For example a family of 4 with a 1000 gallon
tank should have their septic system pumped every 2.6 years.
| Pumping Frequency Chart |
Tank Size/Number of People in Household
Read Chart in years between
pumping |
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