Septic Service ?

[Slickcraft]

With only 2 in the house and a modern 3 BR system you should be good for 5 or 6 years.

[TheTimeTraveler]

When I had my septic system put in my installer told me that if I routinely pumped it every other year then it would last a lifetime. And I have.

Now, there are other factors to keep in mind; Do you have a garbage disposal and do you use it routinely? A garbage disposal seriously taxes the septic system.

Also, do you have a dishwasher and clothes washer?

I do have a garbage disposal but don't use it other to clean the small crumbs out of the sink after a meal. I use the trash for 99% of my garbage.

Treat your system well and it will treat you well.


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[TheProfessor]

Mine hasn't been pumped in 10 years.
The last time pumped I was advised that mine was "clean".

Strict rules as to what goes into system.

How old is your system ?
Do you have a copy of system on paper?
The town and the state should have a copy.

If all was designed and installed properly. Shouldn't have issues.

But of course, if it makes you satisfied, have it pumped.

Lamprey is one company that does pumping.

LINK

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

With only 2 in the house and a modern 3 BR system you should be good for 5 or 6 years.

We know it is 3 BR. We don't know if it is "modern". Yes, I'd call the company that did it before--they likely have a recommendation for a pumping schedule, although your use may be different than the previous owner. Tank size isn't necessarily related to how many BR, usually yes, but as you go back in time, tanks were smaller. I have one 4 BR with a 750 gallon tank and another 4 br with 1000 gallon tank because that was the requirement at the time. Most "modern" systems have a 1250 gallon tank. If you do all the chores first thing in the morning, showers, dishwasher, laundry, cooking etc you put a heavier flow through the tank and there is less time for solids to settle and the leach field may be under more pressure. Same applies if you've been at home all year instead of using water at work on a sewer system. BTW, those disinfectant wipes that say "flushable" on the container will clog both a septic and a sewer system Do not flush them.

The company that pumped previously will likely have a location map for the cover to be dug up, saving time for a search. If you do the digging yourself you may save $100.

[Woody38]

When we lived on the Cape there was a problem with the septic. It was pumped and they told me to use Rid-X and it would be fine. Did that and it was perfect when we sold it years later. Advance forward to today. We have been in this house for 15 years and the septic was pumped and checked 2 years before we bought. Since then I have put Rid-X in every 3 months. There are only 2 of us in the house. Garbage disposable is used only for leftovers. We have a clothes washer and use HD detergent. Dishwasher is run approximately 3 x weekly. We have not had a problem with the system in that time. Last time I used the contractor Rid-X

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I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

[MeredithMan]

...Rule of thumb is to have it pumped every other year. We've done that with several septic-system homes over the years and it has served us well. Also, make sure they check the Distribution Box, (D-Box), each time you have it pumped if it is a system that is over 10 years old. They tend to fail beginning around 15 years old.

When we sold our house in MA in 2019, the D-Box on that house had to be replaced as a result of the Title V inspection...about an $1800 repair out of our pocket. When we bought the house in Bedford shortly thereafter, I had the septic people inspect the D-Box on the place we were buying and it was on the verge of failure, so the sellers had to cough up the $1800 to replace that one. Both houses were about 17 years old.

We use Lamprey for the Meredith house. Very good to deal with. I think they charge us $550-600.00...somewhere in that range, for a 2500 gal tank.