Garbage disposal and septic
- Thread starter czechsonofagun
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AlanB
Elite Member
I guess I don't really know.
I assumed it was from sitting, low usage, low turnover, and more solids then liquids going in and just sitting for years.
It was very apparent when we put the spud bar down in there and started breaking it up.
I assumed it was from sitting, low usage, low turnover, and more solids then liquids going in and just sitting for years.
It was very apparent when we put the spud bar down in there and started breaking it up.
dmccarty
Super Star Member
What did you do with the spud bar when you and the turd herder were done busting up dried turds?
Later,
Dan
sunspot
Gold Member
Spit bar for a hog roast.What did you do with the spud bar when you and the turd herder were done busting up dried turds?
Travelover
Elite Member
My experience may not be typical, but I've lived in a house with a 1500 gallon septic tank, with just two people for almost 20 years. I've used a dishwasher and garbage disposal for all that time and had the tank pumped twice. So far....knock on wood.....no septic problems.
I read this book a few years back, written by a septic tank guy, who claims that garbage disposals don't hurt septic tanks. I don't remember the details, but it was a good read on the subject from someone that deals with it everyday. If interested, it may be in your library system.
Amazon.com: Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System: Gerry Hartigan: Books
I read this book a few years back, written by a septic tank guy, who claims that garbage disposals don't hurt septic tanks. I don't remember the details, but it was a good read on the subject from someone that deals with it everyday. If interested, it may be in your library system.
Amazon.com: Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System: Gerry Hartigan: Books
Tig
Elite Member
I saw a tank that had not been pumped in 15 years. A dry crust had formed on the top. There was not much if any clear space to the solids on the bottom. Second chamber also had solids. Not a good situation.
davitk
Platinum Member
What a fun before-breakfast topic My Turd-Hurder guy doesn't like disposals at all, however as has been reported here some folks have used them successfully for decades without causing problems to the system. I personally would rather be safe than sorry and would never add one to my system because God only knows what SWMBO would put in there......
On a side note, pumping regularly is not a bad idea so that any problems can be detected early. Last time T-H pumped ours he lectured SWMBO about baby-wipes (nowadays they also have kid-wipes) being flushed, apparently they were floating on top of the soup; what a mess that would make of a drain field. Oh, and you should see the look on his face when he talks about digging out a solid tank......
Egon
Epic Contributor
Chances are the use of a garbage grinder is all about tank size and retention time. Get that right and all will be well.
Last time T-H pumped ours he lectured SWMBO about baby-wipes (nowadays they also have kid-wipes) being flushed, apparently they were floating on top of the soup; what a mess that would make of a drain field.
The guy who pumped mine 2 years ago told me about a Dad who was surprised to find hundreds and hundreds of condoms. All were floating in a nice layer on the top. Dad could not believe his son was that "active". I guess you could call that this pumping was "prophylactic"
?Bob
The guy who pumped my tank said to just take a peek through the inspection hole/cover every couple of years. Poke into the tank with a long pole and "feel" where the solids were on the bottom. He said you can see what is in the top layer, how thick it is and then feel the bottom layer. I have not done it yet. Next year?
Bob
dmccarty
Super Star Member
THIS is the year to get your septic tank pumped! Its a presidential election year so while we are wadding through the election BS you might as well pump the poo from the poo tank.
And its easier to remember the next time the Presidential election rolls around its time to pump the poo tank.
We have only been in the house for three years so I don't think we really need to pump ours but I'm getting it done once I get the money saved. While our leach field would be very hard to clog or damage its just not worth the risk. I'm hoping that we can skip every other election cycle. In with the new poo out with the old.
A guy at work has a 50 year old house. He just found out his septic tank was built from cinder blocks. He found out when one side collapsed.
Later,
Dan
And its easier to remember the next time the Presidential election rolls around its time to pump the poo tank.
We have only been in the house for three years so I don't think we really need to pump ours but I'm getting it done once I get the money saved. While our leach field would be very hard to clog or damage its just not worth the risk. I'm hoping that we can skip every other election cycle. In with the new poo out with the old.
A guy at work has a 50 year old house. He just found out his septic tank was built from cinder blocks.
He found out when one side collapsed. Later,
Dan
davitk
Platinum Member
THIS is the year to get your septic tank pumped! Its a presidential election year so while we are wadding through the election BS you might as well pump the poo from the poo tank.
And its easier to remember the next time the Presidential election rolls around its time to pump the poo tank.
Later,
Dan
Thanks Dan, that really cheered me up.
Happy Monday!
dmccarty
Super Star Member
davitk said:Thanks Dan, that really cheered me up.
Happy Monday!
Welcome!
For the purposes of full disclosure, pumping the poo tank during a presidential election year was not my idea. I got the idea from someone on.....
TBN!
Later,
Dan
Highbeam
Super Member
Chances are the use of a garbage grinder is all about tank size and retention time. Get that right and all will be well.
Right on Egon. The tank is where the system will deal with a larger than anticipated solids load. If it can't handle the loading then the undigested solids will build up much quicker than digested solids. Things shrink when they rot.
Even a tank full of liquid can have a "dry" bottom. Imagine if you dumped a load of sand in the tank and allowed time for it to compact on the tank floor. The weight of the sand would squeeze the liquid out and set up quite firmly.
This has been a great thread.
OP
czechsonofagun
Elite Member
I talked to the guy who pumped our septic. His pumping system was an older model, but I really liked the idea. The pump creates vacuum in the tank and than he uses the vacuum to pump the crap out. Pretty ingenious if you ask me.
Our septic lid is covered with 10" of dirt and sod and I had it all uncovered before he came. When he was done pumping, he started to fill back up and I stopped him. Told him I am going to do it myself and bring some extra dirt to level it up. He said I was the first customer in over ten years who did not let him fill up the hole
Our septic lid is covered with 10" of dirt and sod and I had it all uncovered before he came. When he was done pumping, he started to fill back up and I stopped him. Told him I am going to do it myself and bring some extra dirt to level it up. He said I was the first customer in over ten years who did not let him fill up the hole
Egon
Epic Contributor
Prokop, vacuum trucks are pretty common. Some folks have even used them to suck Prairie Dogs out of their burrows!
Have you considered putting an extension on the septic tank access hatch so you do not have to dig it out?
Have you considered putting an extension on the septic tank access hatch so you do not have to dig it out?
Highbeam
Super Member
Such extensions are required in my area. Each riser must extend to the surface. Works out pretty good really. The lids are plastic domes.
So does anyone know how much cover is required over a septic tank built of concrete in the 60s? The only load will be my riding my lawn mower. Currently the soil is humped over the tank and the dirt is actually level with the wood of my house. I like to grade away from the house so removing this dirt would be good. It would "stink" to fall through the lid while mowing.
So does anyone know how much cover is required over a septic tank built of concrete in the 60s? The only load will be my riding my lawn mower. Currently the soil is humped over the tank and the dirt is actually level with the wood of my house. I like to grade away from the house so removing this dirt would be good. It would "stink" to fall through the lid while mowing.
mbohuntr
Platinum Member
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the use of powdered soaps and bleach?? I dug up our old tank which hadn't been pumped in nearly thirty years. The tank was full of water but very few solids. The problem ended up being that I drove over the leach field and crushed it My neighbor had his in for less than 10 years and his wife was a big powdered soap and bleach user. Tank FILLED with solids, and leach clogged with reconstituted powdered soap. Seems like the bugs don't eat much when you kill-em.
My neighbor had his in for less than 10 years and his wife was a big powdered soap and bleach user. Tank FILLED with solids, and leach clogged with reconstituted powdered soap. Seems like the bugs don't eat much when you kill-em. PBinWA
Platinum Member
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I know when I replaced the Distribution Box on my septic system there was a ton of phosphate buildup on the old system.
I think high phosphate soaps (usually dishwashers) and bleach are more damaging to spetic systems than a GD would be.
It is hard to find low phophate Dishwasher detergents though. My wife always wants to buy what's on sale and some of the cheap stuff isn't great.
I think high phosphate soaps (usually dishwashers) and bleach are more damaging to spetic systems than a GD would be.
It is hard to find low phophate Dishwasher detergents though. My wife always wants to buy what's on sale and some of the cheap stuff isn't great.
