Learning About the Septic Tank

Ah, the joys of home ownership!

I don't know about you, but this is our first house and the first time we've had a well and septic system. The well we learned about during last summer's lightening strike (yikes!) and this summer? well, we get to learn about our septic tank...nothing happened, just a discussion between neighbors that made us realize we should know more!

Our house isn't that old (4yrs) and we've been living in for 3. Before us it was empty. Also note, that we share a leach field and secondary tank with our neighbor and condo association partner. This means that each unit has it's own small tank which then feeds into a large tank that leaches grey water out into the yard under the grass.

After speaking with numerous colleagues (owners of septic tanks), a home inspector and a septic tank company there was a decision to be made about how often the individual smaller tanks should be pumped. Some colleagues said every year, while some said never (ummmm?!) but we really felt that somewhere in the middle is where we should be going. This is where the home inspector and septic tank company came into play: The home inspector said that for only 2 people in the house and because of the double tanks we could probably have the septic pumped every 8-10 years and be safe while the septic company stated that to ensure we have no issues, the smaller tank should be pumped every 4-5 years.

So Matt and I talked about it and we are going to have it pumped next summer. ie, 4yrs for people living in the house, 5yrs since it was installed. Ultimately, it's your own decision but Matt and I figure, rather than waiting for an issue that costs thousands of dollars and requiring digging up the back yard, we'll cut our losses and have it done every 4-5yrs. Our neighbor? She just had her side pumped yesterday (3yrs).

Here's to the learning of septic tanks and decisions made!

What has your house taught you lately?