Septic tank newbie.

[Jon321]

Thanks for the advice, all really helpful. If I'm honest there was a little fear of the unknown when we put in an offer and it was accepted, having only lived in built up areas before I'd never even heard of a septic tank.

Not knowing what the previous owners may or may not have flushed through it or put down the sinks I may get it looked at when we move in, so as to give it a clean bill of health. The area of Suffolk we are moving to is rife with them, so as mentioned above plenty of scope to see who the neighbours use, farmer, company etc.

It's definately a septic tank and not a cesspit, it also has a pipe that I presume is a vent to release air which vents high up in the air above the garage.

I know when all I can hear is birds and wildlife it will be worth it as opposed to the rumble of cars I can hear as I type this.

[Jon321]

Is there ever a need to open up the access lid for the tank and pour anything into it, chemicals etc to aid function?

[vanordinaire]

Jon321 said:

Is there ever a need to open up the access lid for the tank and pour anything into it, chemicals etc to aid function?

Some say you're supposed to throw a dead cat in every few years, but I've never done it and don't know anyone who has.

[Jon321]

vanordinaire said:

Some say you're supposed to throw a dead cat in every few years, but I've never done it and don't know anyone who has.

I'll bear that in mind!

[ARHarh]

Jon321 said:

Is there ever a need to open up the access lid for the tank and pour anything into it, chemicals etc to aid function?

The guy I bought my house from left some stuff to put in the tank to keep it working. I have never opened it. He used to put it in every month. still no issues. They are easy to check just lift the cover and have a look. If it is not full of stuff that wont biodegrade and it is not overflowing chances are it will be fine. I have never seen any of my neighbors getting there tanks emptied.

[Etretat]

Have mine emptied annually not because of problems but for £100 for 10000 gallons I figure its not a bad idea, keep your windows closed when you do this!

[peekay74]

If working properly they are no hassle and work well, but a couple of pointers from my experience!
- might be worth getting an inspection, checking for leaks etc - if it is old there could be root ingress.
- take note of comments re fats and women's sanitary stuff, they block it up and if too fatty the people that empty it can refuse to empty it or charge you extra as it clogs up their tanks
- take lid off and take a look, there should be a thick crust on top of it - this means it is functioning properly.
- do not allow rain water to be directed into tank - will stop it functioning properly and will wash waste/lumps into your borehole/soakaway.

All points raised by others are valid above are just a few more - sounds daunting but they really aren't that bad. Oh and one other thing, if you do get any smells in the heat of summer put some Vaseline around rim of manhole cover - it seemed to work for us.

[TartanPaint]

Murph7355 said:

Having to cook on an electric halogen hob is more of a pain!

Induction, my friend. Induction.

Better than gas.

[Murph7355]

Blue62 said:

Check out the new ceramic hobs mate, expensive but better than gas IMHO

TartanPaint said:

Induction, my friend. Induction.

Better than gas.

Thanks chaps.

My biggest gripe with halogen is the lag to get up to temp/cool off. That and controllability.

Still, the kitchen is hopefully one expense I can avoid for 10yrs or so, so will put up with it for now. Especially having had to run 16mm cable 40m to run the mofo.

[Murph7355]

Jon321 said:

...
I know when all I can hear is birds and wildlife it will be worth it as opposed to the rumble of cars I can hear as I type this.

Assuming you're somewhere that doesn't have street lights, the biggest "shock" to me was how dark it gets! On a cloudless night the stars are absolutely amazing - I'd only seen similar on islands in the southern hemisphere.

You also get very used to the quiet, the lack of emergency service sirens etc etc. And the lack of traffic. And the great roads (in terms of twists and turns...less so in terms of potholes, width and piss poor edging).

You will not regret it, of that I'm sure.

That said, a few of other things you should check:

1) Broadband - check what speeds you can get and who can supply. Mine's OK now at 8mbps, but I pay 30 quid a month for it. Paid less than 10 a month for 16mbps in town.
2) TV reception. Can be very dodgy. And aerials are a very black art. We don't really watch much TV, but the ste my other half watches is on one multiplex that is a little flaky here. It wasn't helped that I refused to put the external aerial back on the house after we renovated the outside. She's threatened divorce a couple of times
3) Takeaway delivery. Only one will come out to us. Fortunately they do some of the best curry I've had. But all other essential food stuffs (kebabs, pizzas etc) are a 60min round trip.

Jon321 said:

Is there ever a need to open up the access lid for the tank and pour anything into it, chemicals etc to aid function?

No.

[anonymous-user]

ATG said:

Farmer next door does ours for 50 quid.

I'd ask one of you're neighbours who they use, or the previous owner of you're still in contact.

Always useful to make friends with the local farmers, they can be incredibly handy people to know.
Last time I lived in t'village I made friends with a dour and grumpy yorkshire farmer, by offering to help with the hay making as I had a week off work, I had a fun week of driving a tractor, was "paid" £20 a day and was fed like a king 3 times a day, by the awesome farmers wife.

When I was told that I was "reckon your alreet for a effing townie" I knew I was in. Weedkiller that works, welding, fence building, hedging, car storage and turkeys were just some of the benefits I received.

[acme]

Place I'm hoping to buy have theirs emptied regularly, family of 5 and about every six months, assume that means it has a cess pool given the comments on here?

Can anyone recommend a system, bio disk ones is it?

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

I've got one of these - apparently it will only need emptying every 2-5 years.

http://mpcservices.co.uk/conder-asp-6-sewage-treat...

[skeggysteve]

Very happy to recommend MPC that Gary linked to.

Few years ago we rented an old farm house from the National Trust, it had a septic tank that we never needed to empty.

But one morning I woke up to half the garden covered in the stuff that should have been in the tank, not nice!

Called the NT and MPC came the next day and fitted a Klargester:

http://mpcservices.co.uk/onlineshop/sewage-treatme...

The after sales service was excellent as well.

[TLandCruiser]

I have one and i was not bothered because my parents have one too, I would have rather a house connected to the sewage mains but I would not decide to buy a house because of it, the only thing to be aware of is if you get a lot of heavy rain to the point that the soak away is satuatated we water you may experience issues with drainage.

I don't pour no chemicals and I have it drained annually just because how cheap it is.

I've never had an issue with smells or overflows.

[Jon321]

peekay74 said:

sounds daunting but they really aren't that bad.

I'm certainly less concerned now, great that so many people have one too and some good further pointers in your post so thanks.

[ARHarh]

Murph7355 said:

Assuming you're somewhere that doesn't have street lights, the biggest "shock" to me was how dark it gets! On a cloudless night the stars are absolutely amazing - I'd only seen similar on islands in the southern hemisphere.

I remember well the first time I came home in the dark, no lights on the house, and no torch. Had to leave the car lights on so I could fine my way to the door. Then get a torch turn the lights off. On moonlit nights it's like someone left a light on.

[Johnnytheboy]

peekay74 said:

- take note of comments re fats and women's sanitary stuff, they block it up and if too fatty the people that empty it can refuse to empty it or charge you extra as it clogs up their tanks

How is one meant to prevent this. Not wash up?

[vanordinaire]

Johnnytheboy said:

peekay74 said:

- take note of comments re fats and women's sanitary stuff, they block it up and if too fatty the people that empty it can refuse to empty it or charge you extra as it clogs up their tanks

How is one meant to prevent this. Not wash up?

Just don't pour hot cooking fat down the sink. If you're frying (especially something that leaves solid fat in the bottom of the pan as it cools, then pour the fat into a bottle or used tin can before it cools and bin it when it cools. A tiny drop of oil washed off a plate with detergent wont do any harm.

[Aprisa]

We found the cheapest in our area was the Council! only downside is they need you to contract to empty every year but at around £80 it's not worth the hassles of checking levels. I'm sure it could go for years without emptying but out of sight out of mind and all that.