Septic Systems - School Me!

matt86m

matt86m

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This is a little premature but never too soon to learn!

What are the "ins and outs" (see what I did there? :lol: )?

I hope to buy a place in Prescott and it is likely to have a septic system. What do I need to know?

Do's?

Don'ts?

Tips and tricks?

 
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put enzyme in every month,  don't use bleach in your wash.   Needs to get pumped out about every 5 years max. That is the main stuff but I am sure someone will add.  Mine is 20 years old and no problems.  as long as my leach field doesn't get over saturated I should be good.  

 
I don’t know if it’s highly suggested or just preference. But a friend who lives in Descanso and is on septic only uses a septic safe toilet paper. I guess all toilet paper will break down, but the septic safe paper breaks down quicker? 

 
Costco TP is septic safe. Other than not cleaning auto parts in the sink and using septic safe kool aid in the RV (I dump the tanks at home), I treat it like regular city sewer. Had it pumped after 6 years, dude said I still had a couple of years before it was necessary. Never add anything other than my personal contributions. 

I’d scout where the leech field is and clear large trees, and keep in mind you might eventually need another if you’re adding accessory buildings, since they can’t be under concrete. 

 
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All good info keep it coming! 

 
I use regular toilet paper. Used 1/2 box of rid-x once a month. Had it inspected when I bought the place and they said I need to have it pumped. I didn’t (cause I thought it was a sales job—it was) went 10 more years and just had it done last year for the first time. No complaints from the septic guy

 
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I’ve lived on septic tank properties since 1992. Bought current house in 2006, it has a 1250 gallon system, pumped it in 2006. Have not since. Probably should do it pretty soon. Have never added anything to the septic system. Just try to avoid putting too much down the system, scrap food, tampons and so on.

shop has a 1500 gallon system since 2011 and I dump the rv pretty much every trip. No issues.

just take into consideration the chit that’s going down the drain

 
Septic works best with sandy soil. Not good with clayey soils or bedrock. 

Maybe check nearby areas and see if you find clay soils at surface.

The more clay in soil, the less perk rate you get.

We do these perk tests for new homes.

 
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First time Septic for me. Had it installed last week. The lateral lines will have spray heads on them (30" radius). Where to put them was a chore. Thy have to pass inspection by the State (Not city). I'll turn them down or off once I learn how much water we're using. Timer set between 12:00-5:00AM for spray heads. Guy told me only put down the drains what comes off / out of your body! Peace

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Been on septic for 36 years now. If your tank is sized properly, you will not need to pump much. Last time I had it pumped the people who did it said the system seemed to be perfectly balanced as it had been 10 years prior when pumped and there were no solids in the bottom. Told me it didn't need pumping then other than leach lines were clogged and need replacing. Actually, we found the transite pipe used between tank and junction box had dissolved. Replace that pipe, j box and put in 2 new leach lines. Did entire job on a Saturday complete, so no permit or inspection was required as they did not answer phone on Saturday when I called. 

I try to watch what goes down the disposal and drains, (food only) and do add enzyme, but I only do this 4 time a year ( rid-x).

 
ChEFF said:
First time Septic for me. Had it installed last week. The lateral lines will have spray heads on them (30" radius). Where to put them was a chore. Thy have to pass inspection by the State (Not city). I'll turn them down or off once I learn how much water we're using. Timer set between 12:00-5:00AM for spray heads. Guy told me only put down the drains what comes off / out of your body! Peace

View attachment 30246

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That would be a (30ft Radius). Peace

 
Only tip I was given was don’t let female hygiene products go down the drain. This is our first new to us septic system, and going on 11years of no pumping. Never had an issue. I’d like to pump it for piece of mind, but the original owner poured part of the driveway over it. 
 

I do flush some treatment every couple of months (usually do it when I know we’ll be gone for a few days to make sure it gets to do its job). 

 
If you are buying a property that has an existing septic system, collect all record documentation from the previous owner and make sure it gets properly inspected/certified by a certified septic company prior to purchase. If the last inspection/pumping was completed in the past 5-10 years you are most likely in good shape. The record documentation should provide an as-built of the system and record of how they maintained it. This should give you a good view on the systems condition. Verify that there are no trees or bushes planted above the system. If there is, expect some risk there with root damage. Like others have said, be mindful of what goes down. You can use normal TP, but treat the system on a regular basis with your choice of septic treatment chemicals. We do ours every other month with rid-x. Personally, I would have it pumped for peace of mind and a fresh start to owning the new property.  

We have (2) septic systems on our property in So Cal. One was installed in 1985 and the other I just installed myself in 2020. The older system is still working properly and had passed inspection back in 2013 with zero issues. Just had it inspected and pumped in 2020 still no issues. Wasn't necessary, but Riverside County made me do it for the new system install. 

The new system I installed was very easy to install, but the county was a pain to deal with permit wise. However, the inspection team was very easy to deal with. We installed a 1250 gal tank with 150 FT on leach lines for a 1800 SQFT 3 bed 2 1/2 bath home. County made me make sure I had enough room for 100% expansion (room for another 150ft of leach line). Sounds like you are in AZ and probably wont have as much regulator BS to deal with.

 
Everyone has covered most, just make sure there is no future plan to connect to City Sewer system, it is pretty pricey.

 
Some good info here. I only add enzymes immediately after having the system pumped. I would forget the garbage disposal in favor of a sink strainer that you can take out and empty in the trash. 

 
Sepic tanks love beer, wine, soda, fruit, poop and light food scraps.

Dont not do:  liquid plumber, bleach cleaners, womens things, papertowels, baby wipes, cleaning your K&N air filter in the sink, meth and planting trees/bushes above the leach lines/tank.  

Adding Rid X is a positive.  

 
The big thing; be careful what cleaners and “enzymes” you use. Your septic tank has bacteria in it already put there by the company that pumps it out. Adding certain septic treatments can actually kill these and eff up your system. I’ve always been told dont put anything in your tank. It has its own eco system.

tree roots kill leach fields. Even trees hundreds of yards away can ruin your leach field. I use root kill twice a year and i have a special access tube to put it directly into my leach field so it doesnt interfere with my tank.

the other thing that kills leach fields is slurry overflow from your tank entering it from not pumping often enough.

my leach field had to be replaced due to roots 5 years ago that is how i got schooled on all of this. The new leach field was $6k.

i pump every 3 years. 2 adults 3 kids, 1400 gallon tank

 
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