FAQs

Sludgebusters is dedicated to promoting proper septic tank care through routine maintenance. However, between our visits, the way you treat your system is probably just as important as the quality of our cleaning and pumping services. Read below for our answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive about septic systems. By following these guidelines, not only will you save money by extending the life of your septic system, but you'll also be helping to protect the environment and your health.

• How often should I service my septic tank?

  Residential Septic Systems are designed to be serviced, on average, every 3 years. The frequency depends on the number of people living in your home.

  Typically, 12 person years works out well:

  • 2 people in a house every 6 years*
  • 3 people in a house every 4 years
  • 6 people in a house every 2 years
  • 10 people in a house every year

  *We don’t recommend pumping in intervals greater than 5 years. Your pumper will usually inform you if you need to shorten or lengthen your service interval.

  The word people includes: children, persons working during the day, extra persons, that “only sleep there” we call all of these groups “normal people.” If you buy food for children you know that they eat and use the restrooms too.

  Commercial Septic Tanks are designed to be serviced every year. This may have to be adjusted as loading rates change.

• Can I drive above or across my septic system?

  We discourage driving over your tank if it is not a traffic rated tank. Generally, rock and pipe or infiltrators can handle occasional cars or pickup truck traffic but during rain or saturation of the ground you should avoid driving over drain fields.

  No part of an anaerobic treatment septic system should be driven over.

  Heavy trucks, i.e. concrete or propane trucks should not be driven on any tank or drain field.

• Can I use a drain opener?

  We do not recommend using any acid-based drain openers. Many of them contain a fair amount of sulfuric or muriatic acid, which can accelerate acid damage to your tank.

• Will bleach or detergent affect my system?

  When used in moderation, most cleaning chemicals are okay, but high concentrations or excessive amounts of bleach or detergent can stunt or eliminate the anaerobic bacterial action that keeps your system flowing.

• Can our home septic system handle a few more people?

  Most residential septic systems were designed to handle 1.5 persons per bedroom. So, if you have a three bedroom home, your system was designed to handle 4.5 persons. In this situation, housing 9 or 10 people would not be wise as you would risk overwhelming your system.

• Can my septic system handle a home daycare?

  Your system was not designed to handle 10 to 14 kids using the system 10 hours a day, 5 days a week.

• How much laundry can my system handle?

  Your system is not intended to support a laundromat. In fact, you probably shouldn't do more than a couple loads of laundry a day. We recommend that you spread your laundry throughout the week so that you do not have to do it all in one day. Most washing machines use 70 to 100 gallons of water per load of laundry. (High efficiency, front loading washing machines are an exception as they only use 15-35 gallons per load.) Brand new, your system can only get rid of 350 gallons per day or less. Don't test it; it isn't worth it.

• Will paint harm my septic system?

  Don't pour any amount of paint down the sink. Even washing your paint brushes in the sink can have an impact on your system's longevity.

• What kind of trash can I put in my system?

  None! Don't dump any amount or type of trash into your system. This includes tampons, contraceptives, plastic wrappers, paper towels, baby wipes, adult wipes, diapers, sanitary napkins, cooking oil, bacon grease, cigarettes, coffee grounds, coffee filters, dental floss, etc. Toilet paper is always ok.

• Can I disc or grade near my drain field?

  No. Do not disc or grade on, over or around your drain field. This may cause damage or seepage, which may mean having to repair or buy a new system.

• Do I need to be concerned about any odors emanating from my septic system?

  Yes. Be aware of any odors that are coming from your system. This may be an early warning sign of system failure. Odors inside the house could be a plumbing issue.

• Is practicing proper maintenance really that important to my septic tank?

  Yes. The frequency of service intervals is crucial and directly related to the life of your system.

• Do I need to know how to locate my system?

  Knowing your tank location always helps. The more detailed your records are, the easier it is to find for servicing or when repairs are needed. If you can’t find your system, a septic system professional can usually provide septic tank or system location services.

• What else do I need to know about septic tanks?

  Know your tank size: how large your tank is and how many you have. If they get flooded, they you can inform and prepare your septic service provider, which will save you money and them time.

• Should I conserve water?

  Practicing water conservation and being water wise is important. Any water you don’t use helps your system be more effective. We don’t normally recommend removing your laundry discharge from your septic system. The laundry soap helps balance the pH in your tank and if you drain water on top of your drain field it may soak down into the drain field anyway.

• Are there any tips to learn more about a drain field or property?

  Talk to your neighbors in adjacent properties about their existing systems. Their experiences may be very insightful.

• Are septic tank risers required?

  Risers are not required by code on an existing septic tank. Although we encourage the installation of risers on existing tanks. Anyone that states that they are required by code has not read the San Diego Department of Environmental Health (DEH) Local Agency Management Practice (LAMP) (the code for septic systems). Vendors that quote “CODE” that is not CODE are unethical, and we consider it to be elder abuse in some cases.

  Regarding installation of NEW septic tanks, the opening of the tanks shall be within 6 inches of the ground surface. This can be accommodated by the use of risers.

  The interpretation of the county code, by the county, of the locking lid requirement, this can be met by having screws or bolts holding down light weight lids, or heavy concrete lids or cast-iron lids that cannot be easily opened by small children.

  There is no specified diameter specification of risers called out in the LAMP, but we recommend a minimum eighteen-inch ID riser, and preferably a 24-inch ID riser. The San Diego County Sewage Hauler Inspection instruction manual does not require risers to be installed to meet the inspection criteria, but in some cases regarding poorly fitting lids, risers may be used to remediate the issue. In some cases of poorly fitting or damaged or broken lids, on most standard tanks, installed after 1965, the lids are replaceable at cost much lower than installing risers.