Septic Systems - How To Make Sure Your System Does a Great Job
Did you know that approximately 25% of all US households use septic tanks?
Or that a septic tank is installed in one of three new homes built today?
If you're buying or building a new home with a septic tank, here are some easy maintanence steps and tips.
Top Tips For Maintaining Your Septic System
Tip #1 - Reduce Water Usage
A typical septic system is built to support about 50 gallons of water usage per day, per person. If your lot is rated for a 3 bedroom system, the assumption is that there will be 2 persons in each bedroom - ie, the septic system is planned to support normal usage by 6 people in that household. A 4 bedroom system is planned to support 8 full time residents.
Too much water usage can overflow the system. Any leaks or drips in the kitchen or bathrooms should be fixed as soon as possible. If you live in an older home, consider replacing old fixtures wit
h today's standard low flow, or even ultra low flow fixtures.
Tip #2 - Reduce Solids
A garbage disposal is not usually recommended with a septic system. Dispose of sanitary products in the trash, not down the toilet.
As you can see in this diagram, solids generally settle to the bottom of the tank. Too many solids can fail to break down suffciently, or require more frequent pumping of the tank. They can also reduce the capacity of the tank.
Tip #3 - Don't Dump Oil or Grease
Pouring oil or grease down the drain can clog up the pipes leading to and from the septic tank. Septic systems are designed to handle a certain amount of greases, such as natural by products of dishwashing. However, when cooking meat, homeowners should dump the grease into a container and dispose of in the trash instead.
Tip #4 - Periodically Inspect and Pump the Septic Tank
Don't worry - you don't have to do this yourself! Scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of local Raleigh area septic tank service companies.
A septic tank service visit should include a full inspection of the tank itself. Here's a general guideline for how often a septic tank should be pumped.
Currently, most North Carolina septic tanks are at least 1000 gallons for a 3 bedroom system, with increasing sizes as the number of bedrooms the system is approved for increases.
Even if there is only one resident, it is still recommended that the septic system be inspected and pumped every 3-5 years.
| Estimated Septic Tank Pumping Frequency (Number of Years) | |||||
| 1,000 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1,250 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1,500 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Adapted from "Estimated Septic Tank Pumping Frequency," by Karen Mancl, 1984. Journal of Environmental Engineering. Volume 110. |
Tip #5 - Questions to Ask When Calling a Septic Tank Service Company
Here are some of the questions you'll probably want to ask:
- What is the cost of a pump out?
- If the septic tank is larger than 1000 gallons, will the extra gallons cost extra?
- Does the cost include digging to uncover the septic tank lids (if necessary)?
- Does the cost include dumping fees?
- Will you inspect the inlet and outlet baffles, and does this cost extra?
- If the septic tank is very far from road access, what is needed for the truck to get accessbility to the tank?
- If I have a pump system instead of a conventional system, is emptying the pump tank part of your regular service? (The pump tank should be pumped, rinsed, and then pumped dry again).
Tip #6 - What Details Should the Septic Tank Service Company Provide for Me?
The septic tank Pumper should provide you with a receipt detailing the service that was provided. This receipt should include:
- Name, address, phone number of the Septic Tank Service Company
- Name of the certified Pumper
- Approximate number of gallons that were pumped
- Number of compartments pumped
- Condition of the tank baffles
- Condition of the septic tank
- Details on any work done to baffles or access lids. If scum and sludge layers were measured, they should be recorded on the pump receipt
- Details on any work done on the septic tank or pump tank
- Any other service work done
Tip #7 - Limit Weight Over the Septic System
When you purchase your home, you should receive a copy of the septic system layout, so that you're aware of the location of the tank and nitrification field. You'll want to avoid planting trees or parking vehicles over the system. However, planting grass or other small foilage over the tank is not a problem, nor is normal foot traffic.
Septic Tank Service Companies in the Raleigh/Triangle Area
These are just a few of the companies that serve the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham area.
3415 Arthurs Way
Durham, NC 27705
919-383-1015
Ivey's Septic Tank Service, Inc.
1122 Brookhollow Road
Efland, NC 27243
919-732-5592
JC Johnson Septic Tank Pumping Service
3200 Forrester Bend Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-732-3737
Lyons Septic Tank Service
804 Church St
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-467-9673
Click here to find more companies.
For further details, we recommend checking the Better Business Bureau or asking for referrals. Watch for follow up articles on types of septic systems and other questions.
Water and Sewer or Septic and Well - How Much do They Cost? What Questions Should You Ask Your Builder?
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Stanton Homes offers a free lot inspection to help you find the fit that works well for your budget - and provides a full cost analysis of site work, permits, fees, and sewer and water costs. Contact us today to find out more.
You may also be interested in these Raleigh new home lot resources:
Floor Plan Modifications - Let Us Show You How We Can Design/Build Your Floor Plan
How to Find a Lot - Top 12 Questions to Ask
Build On Your Lot in the Raleigh, NC Area
Green Home Lots - What Makes a Lot Good for a Green Certified Home?
Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area
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Articles copyright Stanton Homes 2006-2011. Unauthorized use is not permitted. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of any lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase available lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan. Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
Very Nice informative blog. I learned a whole bunch from this article. Thank you for the information.
Good morning Penny! Wow, you've really done your homework! We had a septic tank at our old house and it was giving us all sorts of problems...so we did our research and took it upon ourselves to add to the drainfield a system called "The Infiltrator". We extended the drainfield all the way to the back yard and never had a problem with the septic tank after that.
Penny - very nice and informative post. I have not seen the chart before. Thanks for sharing that especially.
Nice tips. It is important to know how to care for a septic system and keep it going. Some of the newer systems are a bit different and even have some pre-treatment options.
There are a lot of septic systems in Maryland, especially Anne Arundel Co. and some parts of Carroll Co and Harford Co. Thanks for the information, now I have learned something new today but unfortunately I can't go home. (My Dad used to tell me once I had learned something new I could go home).
Great tips. Caring for your septic system is very important, escpecially the older ones.
Thanks for this very informative post -- I live in an area that has a lot of septic systems.
Robert - Happy to help.
Rebecca - there are many different kinds of systems that work well for different types of soil. Glad you found something that worked well in your situation. Here the most common systems are conventional and pump - but there are many variations of those!
Mike - Most recommendations are 3-5 years, but the chart does give a good idea of how different numbers of residents can affect the system.
great article - where did you find the graphics - I need to find similar we are having issues in my area and getting a lot of requests for info
Thesa - These graphics can be found on most state septic information sites.
Joan - Most people in the septic business don't actually recommend the use of additives. There are plenty of natural bacteria that break down waste sufficiently. I'd check with your local state guidelines.
June - glad to help, hopefully you were at least able to go home early!
One doesn't very often find helpful information about septic systems. Thanks.
Very good information, Penny. Resourcefulness is the key, and paying close attention to the structural needs of the home, which include the installation and placement of the system, it's maintenance, examination and inspection all create a nice bill of health for the home when they work together satisfactorily.
The State of Tennessee has become very strict regarding septic disclosures and condition.
Thanks for the fine post.