When Your Septic Leaks Call The Greek

You can mail payments to:

Pappas Pumping

PO Box 397

Heber City, UT 84032

If you have any billing questions please call our office manager, Tatum, at (435) 225-3917

 That all depends on household use and the design of your system. The short answer is between 2-3 years. The long answer must take into account a lot of different factors. How many people are living in the house, do you use a dishwasher and/or a garbage disposal, how often do you do laundry, when was your system installed and how was it designed?

Sewage backup in drains, changes in your lawn, or a foul odor inside or outside are all signs that it might be time to pump your septic system. It is best to make sure your septic tank is well maintained before any problems develop. 

 Food does not break down in a septic tank the same as other organic material does. Food waste usually sits in your septic tank and has a chance of being pushed out into your drain field. Think of a garage disposal as a compost pile in your yard. If you compost your food scraps they turn to dirt, so that's what is happening inside your septic system.

If you do a lot of laundry (lets say, a couple of loads a day) it pushes a lot of lint and extra water out into your system. Lint does not break down in your septic tank and does not settle or float. Lint stays in the middle of the septic tank in the effluent and it goes out to your drain field creating a mat that could plug up your drain field pipes. 

 Yes it does. Powder laundry detergent uses clay as a binding agent the clay does not break down in your septic tank and can be pushed out to the drain field and plug up the drain field. Here is a list of 7 best detergents in 2022. 

https://www.thespruce.com/best-laundry-detergents-for-septic-systems-2146618

 The short answer is that a septic system can last anywhere from 15 to 40 years. The reason that it’s such a wide range is because there are many different factors that determine the life expectancy of a septic tank.

According to Inpectapedia.com, “The life expectancy of a septic tank depends largely on its materials, while the life of septic system piping depends largely on the risk of damage from vehicle traffic, clogging by roots, or flooding by groundwater.”

Some things that affect how long a septic tanks lasts are completely out of our control, but there are some things we as homeowners can do to help prolong the life expectancy of our septic systems.  Some of those things are:

1. Quality And Design:  Location, soil condition and installation will all contribute to the lifespan of not just your septic tank, but your entire septic system.  An overly wet location or one that’s prone to flooding will clog your leach field. Poor soil conditions, a high water table or surface water drainage into your leach field will also threaten the lifespan of your septic system. And even a poor septic tank installation can negatively affect the lifespan of your septic tank.
2. Septic Tank Material: As mentioned above, concert, plastic and fiberglass tanks can last 40 plus years. Steel tanks can rust away sooner than you would like.
3. Septic Tank Workload: The overall workload on the septic tank and the leach field directly affects how long a septic tank lasts. Decreased use can increases the lifespan of the entire septic system as well as reduce the amount of maintenance required…which is also a big cost savings.  
4. What Goes Into The Septic Tank: Flushing only water and waste and avoiding chemicals and non-biodegradable materials can also reduce the amount of waste build up inside your septic tank.
5. Septic Tank Pumping And Service: Routines the solids before they have the chance to build up and clog your septic system. Regular inspections during the pumping process  can also extend the life of your septic tank because the professionals can catch problems while they’re still minor.