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Discussion Forum

Learning to work with a septic tank

sapwood | Posted in General Discussion on March 4, 2009 10:49am

My wife and I just purchased a home in the pacific northwest. This place is on its own well and septic tank. They’ve been inspected and are in good working condition. I have always lived in homes that have been served by city water and public sewer/treatment plants, so I’ve no experience dealing with my own septic system. So… my initial concern is how does one deal with waste water from the cleaning of latex paint brushes, spray guns, etc? I can imagine using a bucket to get the worst of it out but how about the final rinse… can that be safely put into a septic tank? I guess I’m asking for your time-tested tips and tricks.

We’ll be doing a good deal of remodeling ourselves and will hire some contractors. I don’t want to muck anything up and I especially don’t want to see someone else do so either. After the remodel…. oh, who’s kidding who. The remodel will be ongoing… I can’t seem to quit working.

Jeff

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  1. jej | Mar 05, 2009 02:52am | #1

    im in the packwood area and ive cleaned my paint brushes in my septic with out any problems , as i get it pumped out the pumper never mentioned anything out of the ordenary wrong with tank contents . mine was installed in 1991 and is gravity drained

  2. wghulley | Mar 05, 2009 03:24am | #2

    Considering the cost of replacing a septic system, care and maintenance is good idea. Septic systems work with the bacterial breakdown of digestive waste. Anything that will interfere with this process is to be avoided. For the past 22 years I have lived in homes that are on a septic system.

    I follow these guidelines:
    - Avoid raw food waste (no garburator)
    - Avoid all fats and cooking oils
    - No paints (latex, lacquer, or alkyd) or their solvents.
    - No automotive type products
    - Avoid anything that will kill the bacteria (chlorine etc.)
    - Avoid lint from washing machine. Install an after market lint remover.
    - Avoid overloading the system with water such as ten loads of clothes washing on one day. Use low flush toilet.
    - Have tank pumped out periodically. The municipality I live in requires the tank to be emptied or inspected every two years.

    Hopefully others will add to this list.

    1. gfretwell | Mar 05, 2009 04:03am | #6

      The best septic tank advice is you can put anything you want in there ... as long as you eat it first.
      My deep sink in the garage and the washing machine dump out in the yard, under my banana trees They love it. I wash out paint brushes in the back of the yard with a hose. Solvents, oil etc go to the recycle barrel. (a 5 gallon paint bucket)

  3. Scott | Mar 05, 2009 03:29am | #3

    I don't worry much about it at all, and it has never given us any problem. We do use a garburator, dishwasher, and regular washing machine. We have a basement suite with tenants.

    The only things I do as maintenance are:

    1) Pull and rinse the effluent filter each Spring and Fall.

    2) Have the tank pumped every three years.

    3) Every two years I dig up the distribution box and adjust the 'speed levelers' so that effluent runs evenly into all six drain runs.

    Scott.

  4. Henley | Mar 05, 2009 03:30am | #4

    It's not too big of a deal really.
    No food scraps! that's the one that gets ya.

    Washing an occasional paint brush won't do any harm.

    The main thing is to not let the tank over fill. The solids
    will then plug up your leach field. So pump it out when need
    be.

    Oh, delicately scream at the women folk not to throw
    their pontoons down there.

  5. sledgehammer | Mar 05, 2009 03:52am | #5

    Your septic system is a living member of the family. Treat it wrong and it will die, which is an expensive, messy, smelly lesson.

     

    Ask yourself....Would you feed any living thing water from a paint brush cleaning? Alittle probably won't hurt but I wouldn't make a habit of it.

    1. sapwood | Mar 05, 2009 04:13am | #7

      A big heartfelt thank you to you guys. I do expect that we will treat the system with tender care as we do not want any smelly in our front yard. I expect that I will wash my brushes and sprayer in multiple buckets of water with maybe only a final rinse going down the drain. I'm a neat-freak when it comes to taking care of my expensive brushes and even more so with the hvlp gun. When cleaning oil paints I have always let the thinner set and settle for reuse. I expect that treatment will also work with water. I'd still be interested in hearing of anyone's wash system.

      1. MisterT | Mar 05, 2009 06:10am | #15

        No one can say we don't know chit!!.
        .
        "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
        .
        .
        .
        If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
        .
        .
        .
        according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

        1. rez | Mar 05, 2009 10:03pm | #21

          Congratulations!

           Mister receives the...Waitaminutenohedon'teither

          1. MisterT | Mar 06, 2009 02:16am | #23

            I would like to thank all the little people who didn't make this happen..
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
            .
            .
            .
            according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

      2. User avater
        hammer1 | Mar 05, 2009 09:21am | #17

        Get a brush spinner. It only take a little bit of water to clean a brush with one.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

        1. rasconc | Mar 05, 2009 05:00pm | #18

          I second that, work great for rollers too.  Usually can't justify cleaning a roller cover but the good ones are almost worth it.  I usually put the cover in a bucket of water and leave to soak and most paint falls off, then spin.  I scored three of the spinners on ebay for less than one at Lowes.  Increased my odds of being able to locate one when needed. (:-)For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

          1. DanH | Mar 05, 2009 06:45pm | #19

            For rollers I have a yellow plastic gizmo you hook to the end of a hose. It has a hole in it that you force the roller through while the water is running. Water is forced through holes around the roller and do a very good job of rinsing it out quickly, since there's a wringing action as you push the roller through.
            The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

  6. User avater
    EricPaulson | Mar 05, 2009 04:17am | #8

    A lot of good advice so far.

    Much will depend on soil conditions.

    I've done them in total bank run conditions. That is one that will probably never die= high perc rate.

    If you have a manufactured system where they had to bring in sandt soil and build the thing because tour soils had low perc rates then you best take real good care of it.

     

    1. brownbagg | Mar 05, 2009 04:23am | #9

      Had a septic tank all my life, dont even think about it. Parents tank has not been pump since 1972, still work great. Food no problem. I would not put grease or chemicals down it. washing machine no problem. I dont even think about it and the only maintance I do is when I cut the grass and cut over the top of it. I keep vehicles away from it.

      1. sledgehammer | Mar 05, 2009 04:33am | #10

        As there is a certain amount of material that goes down the drain that will never degrade.... 37 years of build up and still working makes them very lucky... so far.

      2. Leegs | Mar 05, 2009 04:48am | #11

        Pretty much the same here. Total neglect and abuse, and no problems for 10 years.

  7. DanH | Mar 05, 2009 04:52am | #12

    One warning is to never neglect the septic tank. Yes, some people get away with not having it pumped for 20 years, but they're the exceptions. In general you should have the tank pumped after 2-3 years and, when you do, have the pumper guy tell you about how full it was and how long it should be before the next pumpout.

    If you let it go and solids flow into the drainfield then you can have a very expensive mess on your hands.

    The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
  8. ajs | Mar 05, 2009 05:09am | #13

    Each time I have my tank pumped I check to see if the output baffle is in place. That's the thing that keeps all the floating stuff out of the output pipe.

    Here is a thread from three years ago that has some additional info that you might find helpful

    72358.1

  9. junkhound | Mar 05, 2009 06:07am | #14

    Wash your brushes in a corner of the yard with the hose, dont dump it in the septic - might as well dump your old motor oil there also IMO. 

    Dump anything* you want in the septic if you are going to pump it every 2-3 years, which is where that guideline comes from.   

    Have never pumped my own septic (38 years, DIY built system) and zero problems, but NOTHING goes into it except from kitchen sink (NO grinder), dishwasher, and bathrooms.  Laundry has separate greywater system. 

    Did hand shovel the cellulose TP residue off the top in '91, may be due for that again soon, analysis of the anerobic worms would be a good HS science project for someone? .

    *anything has some caveats - 'lady' out on one of the islands 20 or so years ago chopped up hubby into small pieces and flushed him.  Got her on first degree from the pieces found in the septic tank.

  10. User avater
    popawheelie | Mar 05, 2009 07:37am | #16

    I did most of the brush cleaning outside with the hose. Take it inside for the final.

    You just are more mindfull about what you put down the drain.

    That's probably a good idea anyway. People put all sorts of stuff down drains that would be better in the trash.



    Edited 3/4/2009 11:43 pm ET by popawheelie

  11. user-201496 | Mar 05, 2009 07:20pm | #20

    My last house had a septic system with 2 tanks. I had the first tank (which held most of the solid waste) pumped after 5 years. There was only about 8" of solids in the bottom of the tank. The 1,000 gallon tank is about 6' tall. I would say to have yours pumped after about 5 years and then judge from the amount of solids how long to wait to have it pumped again.

    1. sapwood | Mar 05, 2009 10:05pm | #22

      Again... thanks so much for all the insights, warnings, and peace of mind. There are many things "new" to this move for us. Dealing with a septic tank is just one of many, but an important one. I believe that I will use the garden hose/yard dump idea a lot. With three acres, I ought to be able to find a quiet place to clean a brush or two. Of course there will also be sheetrock mud waste, grout cleanup water, etc. Don't fret, none of those I'd ever consider putting into any kind of pipe! The septic tank is being pumped as part of the sales agreement so we will be starting off fresh (so to speak).Thanks again for all the help.Jeff

      1. MikeRyan | Mar 06, 2009 04:00am | #26

        You might want to cinsider a greywater field.  Plumb up a utility that dumps into a 3' sump outside. 

        Dig a hole, line the sides with a filter fabric and fill it with rocks,  smaller rocks at the bottom, larger rocks at the top (makes it easier to pick out debris.)  Place a utility meter box on top for inspection purposes and cap it with some more filter fabric and backfill.  Run the drain from the utility sink out to this sump into the side of the meter box and you're golden.  I was on city water/sewer and I still did this for my paintbrushes, etc., so I didn't clog up my main line.

        1. sapwood | Mar 06, 2009 04:48am | #30

          Yeah, I've thought about a grey water sump. I'm going to be building a shop back aways from the house... too far to reach the septic tank easily, although I'd sure like to have a toilet in there. But at least a utility sink could use the greywater sump. I'll check on local codes. Thanks.

    2. Henley | Mar 06, 2009 03:03am | #25

      My last house had a septic system with 2 tanks. I had the first tank (which held most of the solid waste) pumped after 5 years. There was only about 8" of solids in the bottom of the tank

      View Image

  12. User avater
    JeffBuck | Mar 06, 2009 02:56am | #24

    not for the tank but for the well ...

     

    I'm a city boy ... have no idea how these well's work ...

     

    and I hate trying to shut off the water on a well house.

    there's a pump ... a tank ... a blader tank ... all sorta weird stuff U gotta turn off and on in the right order.

    First step ... learn how to shut your water off ... before it's an emergency.

     

    I always call my buddy Joe for the step by step directions ...

    and show the wife and kids too.

    90% of the time I'm there for a remodel and the husband isn't home ... no one else in the house has a clue either.

     

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

  13. User avater
    McDesign | Mar 06, 2009 04:01am | #27

    We're on a septic; been here 19 years - septic since 1916.  Only pumped the one time the top fell in after the mower went over it.

    Clean all kinda latex brushes as we restored the beast, and got an occasionally used disposal.  Coupla laundry rooms; 6-1/2 baths and three kids now.

    Never a problem - but the drainfield has a nice slope away from the house.

     

    Forrest - waiting for problems to start now

    1. rez | Mar 06, 2009 04:36am | #28

      6 1/2 baths?

       dang dude, yer Smokin'!!!

       

      be Up In Smoke

  14. Snort | Mar 06, 2009 04:39am | #29

    Throw some potato peelings down the throne every once in a while, keeps things cooking. We've always had septic systems, some never needed pumping. Got a pump system now, has to be inspected every 5 years by the health dept, and and that's what they require for a pumping schedule... I keep forgetting, and am on over 8 years with this system, no problems.

    http://www.tvwsolar.com

    I went down to the lobby

    To make a small call out.

    A pretty dancing girl was there,

    And she began to shout,

    "Go on back to see the gypsy.

    He can move you from the rear,

    Drive you from your fear,

    Bring you through the mirror.

    He did it in Las Vegas,

    And he can do it here."

    1. sapwood | Mar 06, 2009 04:51am | #31

      Potato peelings.... ? Do I eat them first? Somebody else says to not put anything into the tank that I've not first eaten. Ooohh... I wonder if that includes the TP? Talk about cotton mouth, I hate that dry stuff.

      1. Snort | Mar 06, 2009 03:24pm | #32

        No eating required, raw peels when ever you get them... keeps the bacteria in the tank healthy...http://www.tvwsolar.com

        I went down to the lobby

        To make a small call out.

        A pretty dancing girl was there,

        And she began to shout,

        "Go on back to see the gypsy.

        He can move you from the rear,

        Drive you from your fear,

        Bring you through the mirror.

        He did it in Las Vegas,

        And he can do it here."

  15. unTreatedwood | Mar 06, 2009 11:53pm | #33

    I had the same situation when we moved to the forest in NE Pa. I'm a city guy who didn't even know how to spell septic!! The key is that you do not want to put anything in that would upset the enzymes in the field...there were a couple of posts along those lines.

    We had a contractor who ran over one of the tubes in the field (Phew!!) and we had to learn just what was going on. There are plenty of posts nowadays that explain the details, not just the set up.

    I clean everything out I can outside and wash out latex, etc. as little as possible in the sink. I'm just finishing up a drywall job and I took 2 buckets on site, because the clients are on septic fields as well. I cleaned up what I couldn't remove in the bath tub at home. Worked out just fine.

    NOTE: clean out solids sooner rather than later. And keep a close watch over your field.

    At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do � the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. � The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.� -President George W. Bush

    In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.

    1. sapwood | Mar 07, 2009 01:08am | #34

      "...keep a close watch over your field."Now that won't be a problem. I'll be watching over it quite a lot. It's the west yard and behind it is the view that we're paying for.

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Mar 07, 2009 01:14am | #35

        Be a real shame to mess up that view with MT. Poovius, thats for shure.  Whrere ya at? Reminds me of Carolina pines.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

         

        They kill Prophets, for Profits.

         

         

        1. sapwood | Mar 07, 2009 01:34am | #36

          Puget Sound, Seattle area, Bainbridge IslandDidn't think we could afford a water view lot, then this one came up and we jumped on it. The house is a real fixer-upper. Fortunately, I know how to do that.

          1. User avater
            Sphere | Mar 07, 2009 01:39am | #37

            Well, my guess was close! LOL  Nice view, good luck with it all.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

             

            They kill Prophets, for Profits.

             

             

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