Septic Tank query

Although they vary emptying every two years would be a rule of thumb. Given that yours is four times the normal size then it would be worth doing particularly since it would provide an opportunity to inspect it. Provided you don't put excessive bleach or other cleaners down the pan they should not require any conditioner. Using biological washing powder does not help matters.

Peter Crosland

All septic tanks need emtying. It may take you 10 years to fill yours, but you can't wait that long because by that time the solids at the bottom will be really, really solid. Empty it every 2-4 years.

Just had ours emptied after eleven years. The man from the company asked why we were emptying it, because there was little sludge and it was all working fine. Before it was emptied, it never stank, after emptyign it honked like nobodies business for several weeks. So I don't think I'll empty it again, ever.

Septic tanks fill very rapidly, depending (obviously) on amount of waste sent down the drains. We are talking weeks if a large family, not months let alone years. However the point is that the "overflow" providing it is treated properly (eg no bleaches, biological detergents) then should be clear water, which then goes into a soak away, causing no problems. As a child I lived in a bungalow built in 1938 with a septic tank, which was not emptied for the first time until the early 50s, it never gave any problems.

Did you refill it with a bug kit after emptying ? I've done that and never had a problem.

Kill two birds with the one stone

All you need to do is chuck a bit of "high" road kill, such as a deat cat or rabbit, in to reintroduce some bacteria.

Or just go and have a crap. Far more in that.

Wrong sort - that's the quick route to stinky septics.

That sort will dominate anyway - that's what most of the matter in there will be. Any micro-organism will seek to destroy all others it cannot co-operate with. General view round here (100s of septics) is that all these silly throw-ins don't make any difference. And no, ours doesn't smell at all.