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![]() ![]() Additionally, it's a rental property, and I have no control over tenants being responsible (or not) with water usage. 26 of an acre in a 2-acre zone, adjacent to a watercourse and at minimum distance from the well. I assume a new tank, fields, and landscaping would cost +/- $40K. We are a family of 5 (daughter is away at college so 4 in the house) and the dishwasher and washing machine get run every day, in addition to showers and toileting. The 1959 installation has none of the modern features that prevent infiltration of solids into the surrounding soil, just a simple baffle in the tank. I pump both properties every single year. ![]() Our residence is a 1959 4-BR, with a 1250 gallon tank and three drywell-type leaching pits (common in the 1950s around here but no longer code) Our rental property is a 2002 remodel 2-BR, with a 1000 gallon tank and two leaching lines: one is a plastic "teepee" product, and the other (installed in 2009 after some issues with the first) a larger concrete "teepee" product. I own two houses on septic at the moment. I'll jump right in and, I'm sure, be the outlier here. Maybe pump the main tank out every 2 years (or local recommendation) and the second tank every 5? So: How old is the system? Has the second tank ever been pumped? Are you new to the house? I'd probably go ahead and do it, maybe get a look while it's open, have the driver/ tech offer an opinion on solids content, and take it from there. The first dozen flushes from teh house likely contain all the "seed bacteria" needed. This is where I disagree with Sandtrap: there is no need to add anything after a pump. This is where I agree with Sandtrap: there are likely solids in the second tank if it has not been frequently pumped (or perhaps never pumped) and yes, in theory there should only be liquid in the second tank. The engineer probably specified a second tank to limit the solids getting stirred up and sent to the leaching area. I assume (since you speak of pumping) that the leaching area is uphill from the tanks. The "second tank" may have all of these features as well. Also, there is typically a screen on the outflow pipe on modern systems meant to keep scum and suspended solids out of the leaching area. There is usually two or more chambers in a septic tank, meant to allow solids to settle, and scum to be held back, prior to outflow. You have not described the system in detail, but I imagine that the first tank receives the waste from the house. I agree that there could be solids in the second tank. I think Sandtrap is close, but not exactly right on all counts, in my opinion. The “liquid” tank still can be goopy with solids near or half way up.īe sure to prime with new bacteria additives ![]()
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