Septic tanks

[Relearningbehaviour]

Can anyone please advise me before i start worrying... (more). Just moved into a rental property with a septic tank. I have just been down there and it's making a bubbling/gurgling noise. Google tells me its either full or blocked... estate agents are closed, I'm pretty sure it's our responsibility to sort it out. But looking to find out if this is a problem or if it's normal
I called someone who fits them and he said it might be normal god the tanks.

How.often do they generally need to be emptied?

We have a shared one with our neighbours. It's a 7500ltr for four households. It needs emptied yearly. Can you see any drainage issues or is the piping exposed?

Thank you @INeedAPensieve no drainage issues so far. I shall go check outside again

It is right next to a brook stream and a wooded area (its a farm estate) and we have had rain. So not sure if that contributes to anything regarding draining... this is all new to me!

The landlord should be taking care of this. Not you. They’ll have someone who comes out on a yearly basis probably. Just call them on Monday to ask when it is next due.

Thank you @MaggieBsBoat so you don't think this is something I need to worry about immediately and it can wait until Monday?

Can you smell the sewage or is there anything leaking? Ours collapsed a couple of years ago as we had a dodgy builder who didn't concrete it in place. We always got it emptied regularly and new septic tank installers were shocked at how badly the old one had been put in.

I'd ask to see the certificate and also check installation details and when it was last emptied. It won't be you that pays for it if your property is rented but yes, best to check this out on Monday with landlord.

I have mine emptied twice a year.

Look up septic tank emptying near me for companies which provide the service. They will probably not be able to come on the day you phone, the company I use usually needs 3-4 days notice (very few properties around here on mains drainage).

Also with a septic tank you'll need to watch what you put down the sink / loo. Avoid bleach or use only minimally. We dose ours with soda bicarb every now and again.

They don't all need annual emptying. Ours has been emptied once in the last 20 years, and that's only because one of the kids managed to block it. So they emptied it while clearing it anyway. If it's working as it should everything is breaking down. Get it checked if you want, but unless you've got an obvious leak, it can wait until Monday.

Thank you @INeedAPensieve will do! I can't smell any sewage. I'm assuming if it was to smell it would be quite bad!

I think drainage is for us. Which is fine, just wasn't given any info on it or how it works etc! Or when It was last emptied. So it might be full or a blockage!

Will speak to them again on Monday!

Thank you

Thank you @KrisAkabusi and @DPotter also.

How are your loos? If they're not flushing right then you have a problem, it may be that you have ground water draining into the tank from a high water table because of the rain.

Hopefully it can wait till Monday but I think you should be asking for an emergency number if something like this happens again in the future

@CrotchetyQuaver thank you. All flushing fine. Will do!

I managed to get hold of the previous tenant (a friend of a friend of a friend) apparently its gurgled ever since they lived there (8 years) emptied once a year and was done in June!

I can relax a bit now. But will speak to estate agents on Monday going forward about what to do etc!

we have lived here 4 years and use a monthly treatment from amazon - i have not had ours emptied x