Septic Tanks - anything to be concerned about?
Discussion
Wife and I are looking to buy a nice house which ticks the vast majority of our desired boxes (*fingers crossed*).
One of things that we are aware of is that house is not connected to the mains sewage. Instead it has two septic tanks under the garden.
The vendors inform me that they had these upgraded last year to cope with the 'needs' of the 5 person family which is good news (there's only two of us at the moment). Apparently the tanks are drained twice a year. As I understand it the waste settles, the liquid waste draining off into the soil and the solid waste requiring pumping away.
I have no experience of septic tanks, is it something I need to be concerned about in the longer term? It seems a common thing in the US (and more rural parts of the UK).
Do special additives needed to be added to the water to prevent clogging/blockages? Anything else to consider or ask the vendors?
Any advice/experiences appreciated. TIA
One of things that we are aware of is that house is not connected to the mains sewage. Instead it has two septic tanks under the garden.
The vendors inform me that they had these upgraded last year to cope with the 'needs' of the 5 person family which is good news (there's only two of us at the moment). Apparently the tanks are drained twice a year. As I understand it the waste settles, the liquid waste draining off into the soil and the solid waste requiring pumping away.
I have no experience of septic tanks, is it something I need to be concerned about in the longer term? It seems a common thing in the US (and more rural parts of the UK).
Do special additives needed to be added to the water to prevent clogging/blockages? Anything else to consider or ask the vendors?
Any advice/experiences appreciated. TIA
First question - are you sure it's a septic tank and not a cess pit?
Septic Tank
Cesspit
Don't make a mistake and think this one is a septic tank just cos it says so on it, it will be a tank full of septic waste but it is a cesspit not a septic tank!
If the owners need to regularly empty it (assuming it is a septic tank), it is not digesting properly. If it is all working properly they are pretty much fit and forget. The solids are broken down by the bacteria and the resulting liquids then drain away into the local area - no smell or anything as the bacteria has broken it all down into (relatively) harmless substances, though I certainly wouldn't lick my fingers after digging in that area!
Septic Tank
Cesspit
Don't make a mistake and think this one is a septic tank just cos it says so on it, it will be a tank full of septic waste but it is a cesspit not a septic tank!
If the owners need to regularly empty it (assuming it is a septic tank), it is not digesting properly. If it is all working properly they are pretty much fit and forget. The solids are broken down by the bacteria and the resulting liquids then drain away into the local area - no smell or anything as the bacteria has broken it all down into (relatively) harmless substances, though I certainly wouldn't lick my fingers after digging in that area!
Edited by S6PNJ on Monday 8th June 09:56
I asked a similar question 6 months ago, some of that thread may be helpful to you.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Septic tanks are fine, a huge amount of properties use them with no issues, our whole village is not on mains, and we have no issues.
However a few things you have said seem a little odd and may need investigating
Do they drain into the same soakaway or separate ones?
Do they combine and split into the two, or does each one manage a different part of the house? (one for toilets, one for grey waste, or one for the house, one for the extension etc)
However a few things you have said seem a little odd and may need investigating
g3org3y said:
two septic tanks
Why two? I’ve never heard of a properly having 2 before.Do they drain into the same soakaway or separate ones?
Do they combine and split into the two, or does each one manage a different part of the house? (one for toilets, one for grey waste, or one for the house, one for the extension etc)
g3org3y said:
Apparently the tanks are drained twice a year.
This would be a concern to me, twice a year is very high, outs wasn’t emptied once in the last 12 years, when we moved in we had it pumped (6 months ago) and it was almost empty, the soakaway was that effective. He said don’t bother getting it pumped every year, every 2-3 years would be fine. g3org3y said:
Do special additives needed to be added to the water to prevent clogging/blockages? Anything else to consider or ask the vendors?
Nope, just don’t use any super harsh chemicals, and don’t pour buckets of anti bacterial stuff down the drains/sinks as it could kill the bacteria in the tank. Regular emptying is a sign of it being a bit poo.
Our predecessor here emptied it once a year, despite living here alone. There are four of us and it hasn't been emptied in 7 years. Looked after there's no reason why it should be emptied very often at all.
As for why two, given the OP says the vendors have changed things, it's conceivable they've rerouted some waste to a second pit/tank and added the second so as to have two small ones instead of one large one. Not overly uncommon, particularly on small plots or where owners don't want massive holes dug in the ground.
Our predecessor here emptied it once a year, despite living here alone. There are four of us and it hasn't been emptied in 7 years. Looked after there's no reason why it should be emptied very often at all.
As for why two, given the OP says the vendors have changed things, it's conceivable they've rerouted some waste to a second pit/tank and added the second so as to have two small ones instead of one large one. Not overly uncommon, particularly on small plots or where owners don't want massive holes dug in the ground.
I have one at my cabin - it doesn't get a huge amount of use, but is brick-built and hasn't been emptied since 1914, when it was installed! Mainly because it's on an island with no ferry, and "honey tankers" can't swim.
Never had any problems with using bleach or anything else - we even put car antifreeze down the bog in winter so the bowl doesn't freeze and crack, then flush it away on the first visit of spring.
I checked it last year and it was virtually empty, just some fine "sand" looking material at the bottom.
Didn't taste it, though. Yet.
Never had any problems with using bleach or anything else - we even put car antifreeze down the bog in winter so the bowl doesn't freeze and crack, then flush it away on the first visit of spring.
I checked it last year and it was virtually empty, just some fine "sand" looking material at the bottom.
Didn't taste it, though. Yet.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply.
Unfortunately my knowledge of these things is (demonstrably!) poor. I will try and clarify matters with the vendors as to the setup. I am just going by what they said to me when we viewed the house. It may be that some of the terminology/nomenclature I've used is incorrect and confusing matters.
Thanks again.
Unfortunately my knowledge of these things is (demonstrably!) poor. I will try and clarify matters with the vendors as to the setup. I am just going by what they said to me when we viewed the house. It may be that some of the terminology/nomenclature I've used is incorrect and confusing matters.
Thanks again.
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