Nothing but pure respect to you guys who work in this career. It’s a crappy thing when someone doesn’t realize their system needs cleaned out ‘til too late!
Our county REQUIRES a full inspection every 3 years. Wife somehow had the foresight to get the previous owners to pump the septic and get an inspection before we'd sign the papers.
Good thinking on the foresight. The township in PA I own a home in also requires documentation of pumping every 3 years. Had mine pumped shortly after moving in to find out how poorly it had been installed, the pump was burned out, might have to dig the drain field up...never ever buy a house prior to putting eyes on and meeting with your inspectors along the way.
I grew up in a farm house with a cesspool that was never pumped. I did not know septics needed to be pumped. My nephew used too much TP while visiting. The outlet pipe was too close to the concrete divertor in the tank. The TP clogged the outlet into my septic and flooded my kitchen (1/2 baths off the kitchen are not a good idea). When the guy came to pump it he let me know it needs to be pumped every 12 - 18 months. I try to keep to that time frame. Channels like your are great for entertainment and education. Thank you!
Depends on the system and usage, I was about to say, that in our house before it was connected to city sewage system, maintenance period was around 3 years. Which is a bit stretch to current standards. But better before than after you start clogging the filtration field (which as to be replaced every couple of decades, anyways).
My septic guy just told me every 3 or so years for our family of 7, 3 bath house after I had it pumped at the two year mark of ownership. The pumping interval is highly dependent on the system you have and the use it gets.
@@mikapeltokorpi7671 drain fields should last the life of the septic system if it's properly maintained and septic systems should last 20-30 years. I'm on year 22 and my septic guy says it looks great.
Hello again... Septic inspector Taco Todd here. Just want to slide on a piece of information. About taking pictures. We use selfie sticks to take our pictures. Word of caution if you use a selfie stick make sure you have a rubber band to double secure your phone to the selfie stick do not trust those springs on the selfie stick. Love your Channel have a great day.
My ex wife bought a house a couple of years ago from a couple that didn't even know they had a septic tank. Fortunately it was a four bedroom house with only two people in it and they only lived there 3 years, so it was definitely fixable just by pumping. What I found most amazing was when I went to change the furnace filter and found that the last person who put a filter in it had written the date on it which is nice. This was mid 2022 and the date on the filter was 2017. It had literally been in there for 5 years
I'm a pretty young guy and I didn't even know septic tanks were a thing until I found your videos. Glad to be educated about septic stuff so I can watch out for it when it's my turn and mad respect for you guys who do this stuff cause I know I probably couldn't.
Just found your channel 4 days ago, would like to say I totally sympathize with you. I work in the field in Massachusetts where you have to be licensed by the state and have a Wastewater operators license. You are funnier than any comedian I have seen recently because of the fact that a lot of your videos I have seen in the past 4 days I have been in that predicament. Our company deals with the septic pumping installation Construction in manufacturing of an IA system we deal with a lot of vacation homes from the Berkshires to Martha's Vineyard my boss also runs a porta potty company and my job is maintenance and repairs. So you're not alone all over the country there is screwed up stories of septic it's in the ground people don't think about it. Thanks for the laughs
I remember having our septic tank pumped when I was a kid. Somehow Dad knew just where to dig. He dug the hole the day before the septic sucker truck arrived. Before watching these videos, I thought septic companies expected you to dig the hole over your own septic tank.
@@alexanderlapp5048 That is not what I said any way shape or form. I said the companies don't expect you to do the labor intensive job beforehand. But, if the company has to do it, you will be charged the time it takes for them to do it. Had to have the line to the sewer replaced and a cutoff because of the length where I live. If we wanted to dig the hole, it would have saved around $1,000. We said you have the backhoe, you dig it, we will pay. Get it?
5k for a drainfield. I see basic residential go from 10-30k around me with 20-25 kinda the norm. I've helped put in 300k$$ + commercial systems with recirculating sand filters with pressure dosed fields. Was actually realy fun learning about how they work and getting to do big excavation setting 10,000 gallon tanks watching it all come together
Yes in Michigan 3 yrs ago a friend had his septic field dug up and replaced for a 2100 sq.ft home 2 1/2 bath , did not have to do anything with tank and on flat ground Accessible by equipment and it was just under $20,000. Best price.
I pumped septic tanks for about 4 years. My first year doing it I was amazed at how little ppl knew about there own septic system. Like if you are goin to move when u have septic tanks you would think you they do some research or know a little about it. I love the calls we got the customer stated they knew where the tank was and we get there they show us and we dig and nothing then they say well that is where the old own said it was
Well I can say THIS... When I moved into my first RENTAL HOUSE.. I had no idea the house had a septic TANK... No one told me!! I learned after I had developed an issue with kitchen sink not draining. Turned out that didn't even go to the tank. It had its own lateral line!!
@@bmaiceman Sounds like an older place. We have an 1800s house and they probably plumbed it before anyone thought to have permitting. The kitchen including washer/dryer goes into a separate drywell from the bathroom, which has a septic, cesspool, and then a pipe going off god knows where.
@@bmaiceman things like kitchen sinks and bath tubs can go to a grey water disposal system. It reduces the hydraulic load that the septic system has to handle.
I'm a plumber and also a septic pumper I've seen people who refuse to pump their tank or fix the blow out in the feild lines it's unreal how many people don't know that they need to have the tank pumped
I wish at closing you were given a homeowners manual on everything you need to know about the house you just bought. I am learning so much about what to look out for with my house I plan to build in the future.
I mentioned septic maintenance to my neighbor several times, she seemed to have the attitude it was unnecessary. Last summer while mowing her lawn the lack of maintenance became a pool of sludge in her yard. I brought it to her attention. A company pumped the tanks and another was there a day later replacing what I assume was portions of the drain fields. Some time later when I saw her I asked what the problems were. She didn't seem willing to discuss it. The problem was neglect.
Whenever somebody tells you "it's workin' just fine; don't touch it", you know a system failure is immanent. Septic, electrical, heating. You name it. BTDT
appreciate the education in septic Systems. I've always been on city sewer and assumed that if you add bacteria with the water you get from everywhere else in a home that everything breaks down and empties into a drain field. now I know different and if we move to an area that is on a septic tank we will get it maintained regularly. thx for all you do to educate
I was 26 when my oldest sister said get to the farm we are building a new septic system.....7 hours later new drain field and tank. Moved it with a chain and front loader on the tractor. Family fun sitting round the septic tank.
It's funny, I had been playing a video game where one of the many jobs were pumping septic tanks.. I've searched msc editor shit tank so much, your videos started appearing and now i'm considering this as a job. I'm a self employed landscaper and if things go south, I think I would enjoy this kind of work. Thank you!
Had ours pumped out about a month ago after about 10 years. It wasn't "too" bad but I'm much wiser now after watching some of your videos. Every 3-5 years from now on.
Every 3 years i get the professional Septic guys in my Area to come out and Pump/flush and inspect my septic tank. Im so regular on the last Bill i noticed the words "EZ Tank" were written at the top in quick handwriting on my carbon copy.... so the guys who do my tank already know they are not going to have any problems with my stuff. Gives me peace of mind, they get repeat business because of their quick and efficient service... and i only have to pay a couple hundred bucks. Wins all around.
My dads retired and over engineered his septic tank on the house he is building has 4 tanks... the house he is building i believe is mas 1200sq ft and will have 1 bathroom. It is located in the hills about 30-40mins from town so he probably just doesn't want to pump it to often. but 2 people with the occasional visitors will take a long time to fill that.
We had our house built in 2016 (in Loudoun County VA-about 55 miles from DC), we have a well for our water and a septic tank and drain field for waste/waste water. We were told by the builder that every 5 years should be OK. We received a letter from the county to have the septic tank pumped & inspected last year (year 5 living at the property). The septic guys told us that the tank was very full (actually said it was really bad). The good thing is that we only had to pay their standard fee of $250. They took care of the paperwork with the county, too.
I have terracotta drain field. My garden is over the drain field. I've had my tank pumped once in almost 30 years that I've owned my property. There was only 8 inches of crust after not being pumped for 22 years that I know of. It was vacant for 25 years before that. It only backed up because the terracotta outflow T broke off and sank in the tank. My drain field clogged with solids but I used a backwash jetter to clean them out. One leg had roots from a cherry tree over 50 feet away. I augered those out and added copper salts to that leg. Works like new again. 4 legs each take over 1 gallon per minute. I've always been conservative with the tissue paper and throw my dishwater in the weeds. The only soap down the drain is from showers. No food or grease in the tank.
My grandfather never bothered having his septic tank (or grease trap, for that matter) pumped. After 50 years, the septic system wasn't working well, and he had to get somebody to come out. They had to dig the whole thing out with shovels.
This kind of spooks me. I bought property with an old house and septic on it. The owner said it hasn't been pumped in 15 years. The old house is coming down and I'll be putting in a new septic, but I'm pretty sure the old one still needs to be pumped and decommissioned.
when I bought my older house 3+ years ago one of my first unexpected repairs was the septic system; What the home inspection checks is only part of it; several thousand dollars and decades of grease later it's working great...that being said I will never forget that smell, massive props to these guys. fun side note, it was so bad it broke one of their pumps on a massive truck
How you guys have any sense of smell after being this close to this much 💩is amazing. If you still do anyway. Remember watching them put our new septic tank in back in 1997 (free day off from school to watch.) Still exciting to watch things connected to it even years later. My dad was a plumber, so that's probably why.
I think the smell is pretty much elimated by the biodegradation process. There is a bit of a stench that is mostly covered by the hard cap scum but not like a portaloo.
I have a septic that is thirty years old (used little) but never pumped out. I have a total blockage and am hoping it is just a tree root etc. From what I saw here I think I need to uncap my tank on the sludge side and have a poke with a pole and not be surprised if its gone to crap... as it were hehe. I have time, a shovel and mattock, and a mechanised bitey snake on the way from ebay so soon I shall not have to live the life of a drop bear in the Australian woods any longer ha. Great vids with a lot of 'I didn't know that' stuff in them. Thanks bloke.
I doubt you have much more time than what you put into your Tiktoks, but I would love to see a day in the field kind of video or even just a video on basic maintance of septic tanks either on here or Tiktok. Love your stuff man.
I like how these guys who work in a quintessential dirty job turn it into professionalism and fun. On our farm growing up I remember our 70 year old septic tank being pumped only once fifty years ago. The drain field had about 10 feet of fall on a very gentle slope. It never seemed to have trouble.
Things I am not looking forward to when I start working on my father's property... We bought it in 1988. I only know where the tank is because we found it in 95 when we built a new deck. No idea when it was pumped last, if ever.
Reminds me of my parents a year or two ago. They lived in the same house since 2004. Just recently moved out and started renting it out. The tenants noticed that the drains wouldn't drain one day. Turns out that my parents had a tank they never knew about. Buried underneath the fence. Completely full.
The farmette where my mini horses lived was sold - it had a septic tank - the house was built in 1978- it was sold @2014 - the new owners had to pump the tank out - it was filling up from the drain field as fast as they would pump it out -
Wow, Your prices are fantastic. In MD I pay about 400 every 3 years for a cleanout. Last summer I had to replace the drain field as it was only 15 ft long and built with the house 75 years ago. It was replaced with a 70 ft one 14 ft deep and cost me 10k.
Wow, what a mess! I am glad that I have mine pumped out every 3-5 years. Also we are required to have risers all the way up too and we can only use aerobic based systems in our county. You can have either concrete tanks or fiberglass/plastic tanks as well, but have seen a few of the later tanks collapse in with all the clay that we have here as it expands in the rains in north Texas. Keep up the good work sir! 👍😁
Our tank was pumped out about 1 year ago. House was built in 1974 and the tank still had the flashing where the lids go. Guess that was left over from the casting process? 47 years without a pump out. How the field was not overcome with solids is beyond me. A year plus later and it's Still holding up.
Pump ours every 2-3 years, cheap less than $300 service guy is in and out, I even mark the tank covers for him so he doesn't have to look for it. Cheap preventative service, it's amazing how much people let things go.
Wost tank i pumped was 66 years without pumping. I needed a breaker bar to move lid.once i got it up. The poo. Came up and made a muffin top. It was so thick you could stand on it
Also be careful what toilet paper you use. If it doesn’t break down well you’ll be calling the pump service after 1 year or so. Can test your paper in a glass or water and see how well it breaks down
Or don't flush the toilet paper. I don't let people flush toilet paper in my house and I have closing trash cans in all my bathrooms so it doesn't smell. Saves a lot of money.
@@cutebutsadisticable how can you keep dirty toilet paper in a box next to a toilet? - it sounds disgusting! :) (And smelly) Maybe it's better idea to introduce a fee for using toilet, maybe a symbolic 10 cents, and use that money to pump the septic tank once a year...
It's only smelly if you leave it sitting for days. We had this system overseas where we could not flush TP. The trash can was a small lined one with a lid that sealed. We can flush TP in our septic system, but nothing else, so we have the same type of trash can for wipes, kleenex, feminine products, etc.. They get emptied at the least every week, or sooner if they are full or smelly. Our bathroom trash cans overseas, we emptied every other day, unless it was full or smelly. The test for odors is to smell your house when you first walk back in after being gone all day.
When i purchased the house i live in the septic tank had not been pumped for about 10 years, now my system is a lot different than this one. For one thing it does not have a drain field,instead liquid is pumped down a VERY long pipe into a nasty lagoon. Its also not a typical tank in the sense that instead of being a tank its a concrete systern. When the guys came in it was thick but not quite this thick. But it was filled about as full as could be. Since that time i make a point to get it pumped once per year (its smaller than your average septic tank)
Love your channel. To watch people doing earnest work AND to listen to your valuable wisdom and your take on things. Thank you. Question, where do you empty with the contents of the pump trucks?
Are access pipes not common for septic tanks? The one we have (about 30+ years old) is buried deep but we can remove a 10 in. round by 4 in. thick cement cap that goes straight down. It just lays flat on the ground and can even put decor over it. Pick up the cap, put the hose down, and done.
Did anyone else reflexively stop breathing through their nose during this, or just me? We live in a rural area, with a septic tank that needs pumped every couple years. Last time, the company said they couldn't be out for at least a month... a full month of our drains not draning, and the bathtubs full of 3 inches of backed up black water.
Wonder why the drain field is failing 😅 I gotta get mind pumped this year, it's been about 6 years, although we're careful about what goes down and I pop the lid every few months to check in on it. That's the benefit to having a grade level tank. I remember finding and digging the lids up on the system my parents had when I was a kid, what a pain
As a plumber I hated having a clogged toilet in the basement and a really strong smell. I'd pull up and ask if septic or sewer, and when they say septic but they have never had an issue I ask how long since it was pumped and the usual response of at least 15 years I tell them to get it pumped and call if it's still a problem and they owe me the dispatch fee
That one guy sure is dedicated in sticking his head to close to that septic tank. I do hope that the company has showers at their business so their guys don’t carry that stench home with them no matter how nose blind they get.
$1,500 for that amount of work sound more than reasonable! I almost can’t believe you could do all that work, for that price. But what do I know? I don’t work in the service industry!
The guy who installed mine said it doesn't need to be pumped for roughly ten years, old tank was probably not pumped in at least 40 years or whoever did pump it didn't have one working eye to see the total structural failure of the old brick tank, the tank was full of bricks and there was a sink hold where it failed because dirt started settling into the hole. Old septic also had no leech field just a clay tile that ran into the storm drain that was full of roots and unable to function, local laws mandate septic systems be brought up to code when a house is sold so I had mine inspected to get a better deal, wasn't a good sign when the probe went right through the top of the tank now there's a brand new 1500gal tank and leech field
Had a friend that never had his septic pumped while he owned his house; when he was renovating they pumped the tank maybe 28 years after he owned it. The tank was one of the nicest I’ve seen and cleaner than some tanks after a year; he religiously added a powder mix of bacteria, yeast, and enzymes every month. He raises a family of 4 at the house for just over 18 of the 28 years. Septics are like everything else pennies of preventative maintenance will save you from major repairs.
I find it hard to believe his additions did anything. There's already tons of those things going into a tank just from use. I would say he was someone who is more aware of the system and probably did others things that helped it like not using bleach, antibacterial soap, etc.
I had a boss who's, septic tank was in this kind of condition. And he had paid me, to try to rotor-rooter the feed line to unplug the tank. Problem was the second we opened the lead clean out, the tank just started spewing out of the clean out port as it was so clogged. And you could not get a rotor-rooter more then 3 inches into the line before it just hit a wall of solid toilet paper. When I asked him when the last time he had pumped the septic tank out, he very sheepishly said it had been close to 27 years since the last time his tank had been pumped. And I will admit that it has been nearly 25 years since I had my own septic tank pumped, as we had to have it cleaned out when we moved onto the properly due to someone having driven a tractor over the lid of the septic tank. Which by the way had never been used, but did result in the lid to the septic tank collapsing under the weight of that tractor. And I will say that the reason I have not pumped my tank, is because I maintain the septic tank as well as do not flush toilet paper or poor grease into the system. But you got to maintain the septic tank to get that kind of life out of it.
You need a crust buster to turn that into poop smothies. (Large blender like attachment you ad to a 2cycle auger) cuts up the thick top mixes it all with the liquid on the bottom making everything the same consistency and easier too pump.
So I have an ancient septic tank attached to a house from 1950. The tank was full when I bought the property. I did have it pumped out and I use it today as a single man. I do put grease into garbage, and if my yogurt gets too old, I do dump it into the toilet
I have owned my current house in the California desert, for 20 years. The first time I got it pumped. I had risers installed. While the soil is sand, and drains very well. The earth moves under my feet ever once in a while. The code is stupid on the issue of connections. Desert plants go a long distance to seek water. The primary reason to get the tank pumped, is roots!!!! Even though I add root killer when my monthly inspections hint at roots. The problem is the code does not allow flexible joints! Earthquakes of even small sizes break solid joints. Even areas without earthquakes have moving soils. So some style of flexible joint needs to be allowed.
Good videos, love the channel! Would really like to know how often I am supposed to pump out my septic. An honest question I would love an honest answer too. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Once a year, every 5 years, depends on how many people live in the house? How do you determine this? Thanks man. You do a great job on both jobs. Videographer, and septic company.
I'm not an expert, but it does depend on a number of factors, like how many people are using it, what the system is like (how big is the tank and drain field), and what kind of things get put down the drain. Soap, grease, and harsh chemicals are hard on a septic system. If people flush paper products like 'flushable' wipes, lots of tp, or feminine products you'll have to have it pumped out more often. Probably every 18-24 months in that case. If you are easy on your septic system, I would have it inspected at the 2 year mark and see what the septic inspector says. We are able to go about 4 to 5 years. The septic gets inspected, I think every other year, but it doesn't always need pumping. They schedule for later it if it does. But every county has different rules. So there is that aspect also. Lol
I'm surprised you don't have a Y in the suction so you can run the trucks in parallel for extra suction and capacity. where do you empty these trucks? I work down the street from a treatment plant and I see the big vac trucks, big semi truck tanks, and open top dump semi trucks going there, but never these small trucks, do you transfer do a larger truck back at the base or something? Y'all have my endless respect. one of those big open semi trucks stopped on the scale across the street from us and was there for about 10 minutes and I started heaving when I walked outside
I see that, the person I stay with had his pumped when he bought the house in late 2011 or early 2012, nothing since and I keep telling him he needs it done. Mainly just the 2 of us in a 1972 3bdrm, 1100sf house. I dug it up the first time, never again.
I’m like 6 hours east of your location but I need some of what your doing here, my parents built their house 38 years ago and I bought it so they could down size. Didn’t realize I would be buying the problems that started in my youth
Inspecting is important. My tank has not been pumped in 21 years with 4 people in the home and it is fine with only a 6 inch layer of sludge in the downstream tank.
Nothing but pure respect to you guys who work in this career. It’s a crappy thing when someone doesn’t realize their system needs cleaned out ‘til too late!
Really crappy! 🤣
I guess its crappy every day
they get paid, that's their respect. just doing a job for a paycheck doesn't deserve extra. sounds like cop energy
@@justinhudson3851 Who hurt you? 🤣
@@gotface1403 oh man we got 12 year old gamer humor back again. hypocrite much?
Our county REQUIRES a full inspection every 3 years. Wife somehow had the foresight to get the previous owners to pump the septic and get an inspection before we'd sign the papers.
Smart woman.
She's a keeper!
Here it is required to have an inspection on the well and septic for your loan to approve
Good thinking on the foresight. The township in PA I own a home in also requires documentation of pumping every 3 years. Had mine pumped shortly after moving in to find out how poorly it had been installed, the pump was burned out, might have to dig the drain field up...never ever buy a house prior to putting eyes on and meeting with your inspectors along the way.
Thank you for telling us that, I’m sure a lot of people learned from it.
“Thicker than a Snicker” had me gagging~. 😂
I grew up in a farm house with a cesspool that was never pumped. I did not know septics needed to be pumped. My nephew used too much TP while visiting. The outlet pipe was too close to the concrete divertor in the tank. The TP clogged the outlet into my septic and flooded my kitchen (1/2 baths off the kitchen are not a good idea). When the guy came to pump it he let me know it needs to be pumped every 12 - 18 months. I try to keep to that time frame.
Channels like your are great for entertainment and education. Thank you!
Depends on the system and usage, I was about to say, that in our house before it was connected to city sewage system, maintenance period was around 3 years. Which is a bit stretch to current standards. But better before than after you start clogging the filtration field (which as to be replaced every couple of decades, anyways).
look into aerated mechanical treatment plants like our Mo-Dad 1 500 gallon per day system makes pumpouts almost unnecessary
My septic guy just told me every 3 or so years for our family of 7, 3 bath house after I had it pumped at the two year mark of ownership. The pumping interval is highly dependent on the system you have and the use it gets.
@@mikapeltokorpi7671 drain fields should last the life of the septic system if it's properly maintained and septic systems should last 20-30 years. I'm on year 22 and my septic guy says it looks great.
@@TwoTall1988 when you're ready to upgrade to the Mo-Dad system let me know you will be much more pleased with it!
Hello again... Septic inspector Taco Todd here. Just want to slide on a piece of information. About taking pictures. We use selfie sticks to take our pictures. Word of caution if you use a selfie stick make sure you have a rubber band to double secure your phone to the selfie stick do not trust those springs on the selfie stick. Love your Channel have a great day.
Also, make sure there is proper air pressure in your tires of the work trucks. Always remember your PPE. don't eat yellow snow
I can't believe you only charged $1500 for that pumping! You certainly were dedicated.
My ex wife bought a house a couple of years ago from a couple that didn't even know they had a septic tank. Fortunately it was a four bedroom house with only two people in it and they only lived there 3 years, so it was definitely fixable just by pumping. What I found most amazing was when I went to change the furnace filter and found that the last person who put a filter in it had written the date on it which is nice. This was mid 2022 and the date on the filter was 2017. It had literally been in there for 5 years
the old filter probably was not that big a deal... but the septic tank. honestly, it should be a crime to not tell people this information.
I'm a pretty young guy and I didn't even know septic tanks were a thing until I found your videos. Glad to be educated about septic stuff so I can watch out for it when it's my turn and mad respect for you guys who do this stuff cause I know I probably couldn't.
When I get a house, I'm having that added in. I want it pumped before closing. Thank you for enlightening!
Septic pumping/inspection seems to be standard in house sales in Oregon. Or maybe I was just lucky with my realtors.
Just found your channel 4 days ago, would like to say I totally sympathize with you. I work in the field in Massachusetts where you have to be licensed by the state and have a Wastewater operators license. You are funnier than any comedian I have seen recently because of the fact that a lot of your videos I have seen in the past 4 days I have been in that predicament. Our company deals with the septic pumping installation Construction in manufacturing of an IA system we deal with a lot of vacation homes from the Berkshires to Martha's Vineyard my boss also runs a porta potty company and my job is maintenance and repairs. So you're not alone all over the country there is screwed up stories of septic it's in the ground people don't think about it.
Thanks for the laughs
I remember having our septic tank pumped when I was a kid. Somehow Dad knew just where to dig. He dug the hole the day before the septic sucker truck arrived. Before watching these videos, I thought septic companies expected you to dig the hole over your own septic tank.
They charge you extra if they have to dig
@@toshi240 Shit ain’t cheap and you have to pay somebody to find your shit.
They don't expect you to dig. They expect you to pay if they have to dig...
@williamstandish2926 ,
They don't expect people to own a shovel? I dig all the time, probably a lot more than the septic workers do.
@@alexanderlapp5048 That is not what I said any way shape or form. I said the companies don't expect you to do the labor intensive job beforehand. But, if the company has to do it, you will be charged the time it takes for them to do it. Had to have the line to the sewer replaced and a cutoff because of the length where I live. If we wanted to dig the hole, it would have saved around $1,000. We said you have the backhoe, you dig it, we will pay. Get it?
5k for a drainfield. I see basic residential go from 10-30k around me with 20-25 kinda the norm. I've helped put in 300k$$ + commercial systems with recirculating sand filters with pressure dosed fields. Was actually realy fun learning about how they work and getting to do big excavation setting 10,000 gallon tanks watching it all come together
Minimum $12K where I live.
My neighbour paid $25K because his property is adjacent to a farm field, code called for a more elaborate system.
Yes in Michigan 3 yrs ago a friend had his septic field dug up and replaced for a 2100 sq.ft home 2 1/2 bath , did not have to do anything with tank and on flat ground Accessible by equipment and it was just under $20,000. Best price.
ah! you live in new york or california. that or some commercial grade
I pumped septic tanks for about 4 years. My first year doing it I was amazed at how little ppl knew about there own septic system. Like if you are goin to move when u have septic tanks you would think you they do some research or know a little about it. I love the calls we got the customer stated they knew where the tank was and we get there they show us and we dig and nothing then they say well that is where the old own said it was
Well I can say THIS... When I moved into my first RENTAL HOUSE.. I had no idea the house had a septic TANK... No one told me!! I learned after I had developed an issue with kitchen sink not draining. Turned out that didn't even go to the tank. It had its own lateral line!!
@@bmaiceman Sounds like an older place. We have an 1800s house and they probably plumbed it before anyone thought to have permitting. The kitchen including washer/dryer goes into a separate drywell from the bathroom, which has a septic, cesspool, and then a pipe going off god knows where.
@@bmaiceman things like kitchen sinks and bath tubs can go to a grey water disposal system.
It reduces the hydraulic load that the septic system has to handle.
I grew up in old farmhouse.
We thought it had a small spring.
Only to eventually figure put it was the neighbors water discharge buried in the ground.
I’ve crawled mainlines for live sanitary sewers awesome to see other people not scared to get dirty
I know I've said it before but this is prime example that this world wouldn't get by without people like yall!
I'm a plumber and also a septic pumper I've seen people who refuse to pump their tank or fix the blow out in the feild lines it's unreal how many people don't know that they need to have the tank pumped
The moment I finish on tiktok I head over head to get the whole story. Ouch
I wish at closing you were given a homeowners manual on everything you need to know about the house you just bought. I am learning so much about what to look out for with my house I plan to build in the future.
I mentioned septic maintenance to my neighbor several times, she seemed to have the attitude it was unnecessary. Last summer while mowing her lawn the lack of maintenance became a pool of sludge in her yard. I brought it to her attention. A company pumped the tanks and another was there a day later replacing what I assume was portions of the drain fields. Some time later when I saw her I asked what the problems were. She didn't seem willing to discuss it. The problem was neglect.
man, i aplaud you guys for doing the super stinky work. love the videos though. great content to watch.
5k. Ouch. Maybe you should do a video of propery maintenance for a septic. Though you might have already done this. 🤷♀️
Whenever somebody tells you "it's workin' just fine; don't touch it", you know a system failure is immanent. Septic, electrical, heating. You name it. BTDT
appreciate the education in septic Systems. I've always been on city sewer and assumed that if you add bacteria with the water you get from everywhere else in a home that everything breaks down and empties into a drain field. now I know different and if we move to an area that is on a septic tank we will get it maintained regularly. thx for all you do to educate
I was expecting the pump out to cost around $3k, then again, I'm not in that field of work and live in a different state. Glad I'm on sewer!
"No tank too big, no tank too small, teacup or cesspool, we suck 'em all!" Winston Rothschild III Sewage and Septic Sucking Services 😁😁
I was 26 when my oldest sister said get to the farm we are building a new septic system.....7 hours later new drain field and tank. Moved it with a chain and front loader on the tractor. Family fun sitting round the septic tank.
It's funny, I had been playing a video game where one of the many jobs were pumping septic tanks.. I've searched msc editor shit tank so much, your videos started appearing and now i'm considering this as a job. I'm a self employed landscaper and if things go south, I think I would enjoy this kind of work. Thank you!
My Summer Car is great, isn't it?
Had ours pumped out about a month ago after about 10 years. It wasn't "too" bad but I'm much wiser now after watching some of your videos. Every 3-5 years from now on.
Every 3 years i get the professional Septic guys in my Area to come out and Pump/flush and inspect my septic tank. Im so regular on the last Bill i noticed the words "EZ Tank" were written at the top in quick handwriting on my carbon copy.... so the guys who do my tank already know they are not going to have any problems with my stuff. Gives me peace of mind, they get repeat business because of their quick and efficient service... and i only have to pay a couple hundred bucks. Wins all around.
The note was probably to mark the septic tank system....😊 not how easy the job was.
As a prospective homebuyer, this is new info I did not know. Thanks!
Still a bargain for something so important.
Great team, equipment and content as usual
I almost puked from that tank. Mad respect to your business.
My dads retired and over engineered his septic tank on the house he is building has 4 tanks... the house he is building i believe is mas 1200sq ft and will have 1 bathroom. It is located in the hills about 30-40mins from town so he probably just doesn't want to pump it to often. but 2 people with the occasional visitors will take a long time to fill that.
I'm so glad that I live in a country where septic systems and maintenance aren't a problem for the average person.
Your workers seem so happy at work, seems like they're having fun!
We had our house built in 2016 (in Loudoun County VA-about 55 miles from DC), we have a well for our water and a septic tank and drain field for waste/waste water. We were told by the builder that every 5 years should be OK. We received a letter from the county to have the septic tank pumped & inspected last year (year 5 living at the property). The septic guys told us that the tank was very full (actually said it was really bad). The good thing is that we only had to pay their standard fee of $250. They took care of the paperwork with the county, too.
you guys need a crust buster like poor pumper society has! good video
I have terracotta drain field. My garden is over the drain field. I've had my tank pumped once in almost 30 years that I've owned my property. There was only 8 inches of crust after not being pumped for 22 years that I know of. It was vacant for 25 years before that. It only backed up because the terracotta outflow T broke off and sank in the tank. My drain field clogged with solids but I used a backwash jetter to clean them out. One leg had roots from a cherry tree over 50 feet away. I augered those out and added copper salts to that leg. Works like new again. 4 legs each take over 1 gallon per minute. I've always been conservative with the tissue paper and throw my dishwater in the weeds. The only soap down the drain is from showers. No food or grease in the tank.
My grandfather never bothered having his septic tank (or grease trap, for that matter) pumped. After 50 years, the septic system wasn't working well, and he had to get somebody to come out.
They had to dig the whole thing out with shovels.
You just put me off snickers for life!
This kind of spooks me. I bought property with an old house and septic on it. The owner said it hasn't been pumped in 15 years. The old house is coming down and I'll be putting in a new septic, but I'm pretty sure the old one still needs to be pumped and decommissioned.
when I bought my older house 3+ years ago one of my first unexpected repairs was the septic system; What the home inspection checks is only part of it; several thousand dollars and decades of grease later it's working great...that being said I will never forget that smell, massive props to these guys. fun side note, it was so bad it broke one of their pumps on a massive truck
How you guys have any sense of smell after being this close to this much 💩is amazing. If you still do anyway. Remember watching them put our new septic tank in back in 1997 (free day off from school to watch.)
Still exciting to watch things connected to it even years later. My dad was a plumber, so that's probably why.
I think the smell is pretty much elimated by the biodegradation process. There is a bit of a stench that is mostly covered by the hard cap scum but not like a portaloo.
As far as smell goes, I worked in a sewage plant for a company I worked for and I never had issues with the odor. I'm guessing I just got used to it.
usually the smell ranges from wet dirt to fresh manure. So occasionally unpleasant but not absolutely disgusting.
I use to haul manure,you kind of get to it,my issue is I can't stand some perfume(headaches)
I have a septic that is thirty years old (used little) but never pumped out. I have a total blockage and am hoping it is just a tree root etc. From what I saw here I think I need to uncap my tank on the sludge side and have a poke with a pole and not be surprised if its gone to crap... as it were hehe. I have time, a shovel and mattock, and a mechanised bitey snake on the way from ebay so soon I shall not have to live the life of a drop bear in the Australian woods any longer ha. Great vids with a lot of 'I didn't know that' stuff in them. Thanks bloke.
I doubt you have much more time than what you put into your Tiktoks, but I would love to see a day in the field kind of video or even just a video on basic maintance of septic tanks either on here or Tiktok. Love your stuff man.
I like how these guys who work in a quintessential dirty job turn it into professionalism and fun.
On our farm growing up I remember our 70 year old septic tank being pumped only once fifty years ago. The drain field had about 10 feet of fall on a very gentle slope. It never seemed to have trouble.
Things I am not looking forward to when I start working on my father's property... We bought it in 1988. I only know where the tank is because we found it in 95 when we built a new deck. No idea when it was pumped last, if ever.
Reminds me of my parents a year or two ago. They lived in the same house since 2004. Just recently moved out and started renting it out. The tenants noticed that the drains wouldn't drain one day. Turns out that my parents had a tank they never knew about. Buried underneath the fence. Completely full.
I'm glad smellovision isn't a thing, because I can only imagine the putrid odor of that septic.
The farmette where my mini horses lived was sold - it had a septic tank - the house was built in 1978- it was sold @2014 - the new owners had to pump the tank out - it was filling up from the drain field as fast as they would pump it out -
Wow, Your prices are fantastic. In MD I pay about 400 every 3 years for a cleanout. Last summer I had to replace the drain field as it was only 15 ft long and built with the house 75 years ago. It was replaced with a 70 ft one 14 ft deep and cost me 10k.
You definitely must pay your guys well, you guys are definitely a different breed
Wow, what a mess! I am glad that I have mine pumped out every 3-5 years. Also we are required to have risers all the way up too and we can only use aerobic based systems in our county. You can have either concrete tanks or fiberglass/plastic tanks as well, but have seen a few of the later tanks collapse in with all the clay that we have here as it expands in the rains in north Texas. Keep up the good work sir! 👍😁
Saw the clip on Tiktok and immediately came here. Love the stories!
some of the septic contractors here in Central British Columbia have massive pumper trucks, ie Kenworth with PTO pumps on them
Our tank was pumped out about 1 year ago.
House was built in 1974 and the tank still had the flashing where the lids go. Guess that was left over from the casting process?
47 years without a pump out. How the field was not overcome with solids is beyond me.
A year plus later and it's Still holding up.
Pump ours every 2-3 years, cheap less than $300 service guy is in and out, I even mark the tank covers for him so he doesn't have to look for it. Cheap preventative service, it's amazing how much people let things go.
Wost tank i pumped was 66 years without pumping. I needed a breaker bar to move lid.once i got it up. The poo. Came up and made a muffin top. It was so thick you could stand on it
Also be careful what toilet paper you use. If it doesn’t break down well you’ll be calling the pump service after 1 year or so. Can test your paper in a glass or water and see how well it breaks down
Or don't flush the toilet paper. I don't let people flush toilet paper in my house and I have closing trash cans in all my bathrooms so it doesn't smell. Saves a lot of money.
@@cutebutsadisticable Oh, it smells. You're just used to it.
@@cutebutsadisticable how can you keep dirty toilet paper in a box next to a toilet? - it sounds disgusting! :) (And smelly)
Maybe it's better idea to introduce a fee for using toilet, maybe a symbolic 10 cents, and use that money to pump the septic tank once a year...
It's only smelly if you leave it sitting for days. We had this system overseas where we could not flush TP. The trash can was a small lined one with a lid that sealed.
We can flush TP in our septic system, but nothing else, so we have the same type of trash can for wipes, kleenex, feminine products, etc..
They get emptied at the least every week, or sooner if they are full or smelly.
Our bathroom trash cans overseas, we emptied every other day, unless it was full or smelly.
The test for odors is to smell your house when you first walk back in after being gone all day.
When i purchased the house i live in the septic tank had not been pumped for about 10 years, now my system is a lot different than this one. For one thing it does not have a drain field,instead liquid is pumped down a VERY long pipe into a nasty lagoon. Its also not a typical tank in the sense that instead of being a tank its a concrete systern.
When the guys came in it was thick but not quite this thick. But it was filled about as full as could be.
Since that time i make a point to get it pumped once per year (its smaller than your average septic tank)
Love your channel. To watch people doing earnest work AND to listen to your valuable wisdom and your take on things. Thank you. Question, where do you empty with the contents of the pump trucks?
Are access pipes not common for septic tanks? The one we have (about 30+ years old) is buried deep but we can remove a 10 in. round by 4 in. thick cement cap that goes straight down. It just lays flat on the ground and can even put decor over it. Pick up the cap, put the hose down, and done.
This video might pre-date Poor Pumper's crust buster poop smoothies, but damn if this wasn't a great opportunity for a poop smoothie
i am always learning from you
Just got this recommended. That's one hell of a job.
The irony of this video is that my pre-roll ad was for taco bell
Did anyone else reflexively stop breathing through their nose during this, or just me?
We live in a rural area, with a septic tank that needs pumped every couple years. Last time, the company said they couldn't be out for at least a month... a full month of our drains not draning, and the bathtubs full of 3 inches of backed up black water.
Wonder why the drain field is failing 😅 I gotta get mind pumped this year, it's been about 6 years, although we're careful about what goes down and I pop the lid every few months to check in on it. That's the benefit to having a grade level tank. I remember finding and digging the lids up on the system my parents had when I was a kid, what a pain
As a plumber I hated having a clogged toilet in the basement and a really strong smell. I'd pull up and ask if septic or sewer, and when they say septic but they have never had an issue I ask how long since it was pumped and the usual response of at least 15 years I tell them to get it pumped and call if it's still a problem and they owe me the dispatch fee
That one guy sure is dedicated in sticking his head to close to that septic tank.
I do hope that the company has showers at their business so their guys don’t carry that stench home with them no matter how nose blind they get.
$1,500 for that amount of work sound more than reasonable! I almost can’t believe you could do all that work, for that price. But what do I know? I don’t work in the service industry!
The guy who installed mine said it doesn't need to be pumped for roughly ten years, old tank was probably not pumped in at least 40 years or whoever did pump it didn't have one working eye to see the total structural failure of the old brick tank, the tank was full of bricks and there was a sink hold where it failed because dirt started settling into the hole. Old septic also had no leech field just a clay tile that ran into the storm drain that was full of roots and unable to function, local laws mandate septic systems be brought up to code when a house is sold so I had mine inspected to get a better deal, wasn't a good sign when the probe went right through the top of the tank now there's a brand new 1500gal tank and leech field
Had a friend that never had his septic pumped while he owned his house; when he was renovating they pumped the tank maybe 28 years after he owned it. The tank was one of the nicest I’ve seen and cleaner than some tanks after a year; he religiously added a powder mix of bacteria, yeast, and enzymes every month. He raises a family of 4 at the house for just over 18 of the 28 years. Septics are like everything else pennies of preventative maintenance will save you from major repairs.
I find it hard to believe his additions did anything. There's already tons of those things going into a tank just from use. I would say he was someone who is more aware of the system and probably did others things that helped it like not using bleach, antibacterial soap, etc.
Call me skeptical…
I had a boss who's, septic tank was in this kind of condition. And he had paid me, to try to rotor-rooter the feed line to unplug the tank. Problem was the second we opened the lead clean out, the tank just started spewing out of the clean out port as it was so clogged. And you could not get a rotor-rooter more then 3 inches into the line before it just hit a wall of solid toilet paper. When I asked him when the last time he had pumped the septic tank out, he very sheepishly said it had been close to 27 years since the last time his tank had been pumped. And I will admit that it has been nearly 25 years since I had my own septic tank pumped, as we had to have it cleaned out when we moved onto the properly due to someone having driven a tractor over the lid of the septic tank. Which by the way had never been used, but did result in the lid to the septic tank collapsing under the weight of that tractor. And I will say that the reason I have not pumped my tank, is because I maintain the septic tank as well as do not flush toilet paper or poor grease into the system. But you got to maintain the septic tank to get that kind of life out of it.
How do you not flush any tp..?
@@danilorosich the butt flushers what ever they are called. They spray water so everything is clean
@@austinhunt8050 Sounds like something that would save a lot of money in the long run
@@austinhunt8050 a’ bidet’
How does TP clog a line? It doesn't last long after it's waterlogged.
I hope he's paid well!
$1500 for all that?
Dang, that's a bargain.
You need a crust buster to turn that into poop smothies. (Large blender like attachment you ad to a 2cycle auger) cuts up the thick top mixes it all with the liquid on the bottom making everything the same consistency and easier too pump.
So I have an ancient septic tank attached to a house from 1950. The tank was full when I bought the property. I did have it pumped out and I use it today as a single man. I do put grease into garbage, and if my yogurt gets too old, I do dump it into the toilet
I would like to know more about using the air compressor for boosting your suction
I have owned my current house in the California desert, for 20 years. The first time I got it pumped. I had risers installed. While the soil is sand, and drains very well. The earth moves under my feet ever once in a while. The code is stupid on the issue of connections. Desert plants go a long distance to seek water. The primary reason to get the tank pumped, is roots!!!! Even though I add root killer when my monthly inspections hint at roots.
The problem is the code does not allow flexible joints! Earthquakes of even small sizes break solid joints. Even areas without earthquakes have moving soils. So some style of flexible joint needs to be allowed.
All that equipment and man power for only $1500...I learn a ton from your videos and tiktoks.
Watching your videos makes me happy that I don’t have a tank
My mom just had her septic system pumped after 45 years. Tank was full of solids but drain field is still working. We live on sugar sand.
can you take a quick pic of how you connected the air compressors to your hoses to force air into the hoses
Good videos, love the channel! Would really like to know how often I am supposed to pump out my septic. An honest question I would love an honest answer too. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Once a year, every 5 years, depends on how many people live in the house? How do you determine this?
Thanks man. You do a great job on both jobs. Videographer, and septic company.
He mentioned it on another video (can't remember the one) and he said get this serviced every 3 to 5 years.
I'm not an expert, but it does depend on a number of factors, like how many people are using it, what the system is like (how big is the tank and drain field), and what kind of things get put down the drain. Soap, grease, and harsh chemicals are hard on a septic system. If people flush paper products like 'flushable' wipes, lots of tp, or feminine products you'll have to have it pumped out more often. Probably every 18-24 months in that case.
If you are easy on your septic system, I would have it inspected at the 2 year mark and see what the septic inspector says.
We are able to go about 4 to 5 years. The septic gets inspected, I think every other year, but it doesn't always need pumping. They schedule for later it if it does.
But every county has different rules. So there is that aspect also. Lol
Saw the headline, and first thought "No shit." Then realized.... "Nothing but shit."
Omg thats thick... straight solids
*EVERYTHING* needs maintenance.
^^^^lesson i learned at like 20 when i moved out and everything started breaking
Damn, since mine hasn't been pumped in 30 years I guess I better getter done
I'm surprised you don't have a Y in the suction so you can run the trucks in parallel for extra suction and capacity.
where do you empty these trucks? I work down the street from a treatment plant and I see the big vac trucks, big semi truck tanks, and open top dump semi trucks going there, but never these small trucks, do you transfer do a larger truck back at the base or something?
Y'all have my endless respect. one of those big open semi trucks stopped on the scale across the street from us and was there for about 10 minutes and I started heaving when I walked outside
My man James knows his shit!
no one told this man he never had to have it emptied
I see that, the person I stay with had his pumped when he bought the house in late 2011 or early 2012, nothing since and I keep telling him he needs it done. Mainly just the 2 of us in a 1972 3bdrm, 1100sf house. I dug it up the first time, never again.
0:46 Hey, is that the shovel that the burger king fry man stole?
I’m like 6 hours east of your location but I need some of what your doing here, my parents built their house 38 years ago and I bought it so they could down size. Didn’t realize I would be buying the problems that started in my youth
Some fine eatin there my persons. Dungman's delight!
Great content
Ty
Someone told me I never needed to pump I thought back to your tik tok and said I’m fine paying a couple hundred every couple years just to be safe lol
00:55
Someone give this dude a cookie.
.....After he washes his hands.
Inspecting is important. My tank has not been pumped in 21 years with 4 people in the home and it is fine with only a 6 inch layer of sludge in the downstream tank.