Cleaning cesspools: how to pump out sludge in a private house with your own hands

Among the methods of organizing a suburban sewer system, three main ones can be distinguished: installing a septic tank, a cesspool without a bottom, or installing a sealed container. Despite the significant design differences between these structures, they are united by a common feature - the need for periodic pumping using a sewer truck.

Failure to comply with this requirement will result in a threat to the health of residents and the environment, as well as poison life with a spreading stench. Insects attracted by a strong smell will create new difficulties and make living impossible.

Do I need to clean and how often?

Periodic pumping of wastewater sites is mandatory, especially simple structures - settling tanks and storage tanks. During the period of use of the sewerage system, waste accumulates at the bottom of the wells, a layer of silt and fatty deposits is formed that interfere with the drainage of wastewater. If you do not clean out sediment from buildings, you can get problems:

Overflow of foul-smelling sewage.
The smell of decaying waste.
The emergence and reproduction of infectious viruses.
Attracting insects and rodents to the area.
Environmental damage and aesthetic unattractiveness.

The solution is systematic cleaning of the cesspool. The frequency of cleaning the chamber depends on the period of operation of the house, the number of drainage sources and residents. You can clean out latrines using traditional methods:

for seasonal residence and a small volume of waste, the mine and containers are cleaned with your own hands;
permanent residence in the house will require the use of sewage disposal equipment to pump out accumulated wastewater;
the presence of a simple septic tank, using biological products, will reduce the number of treatment activities due to processing by bacteria and subsequent drainage of purified water into the ground;
The chemical method of getting rid of sewage is associated with the effect of the drugs used on solid waste, transformation into liquid and further removal to the disposal site.

Certain difficulties in cleaning latrines and pumping out sewage arise when it is necessary to operate the structure in winter.

In 40-degree frosts, poorly insulated sewers can freeze. Therefore, maximum attention is paid to the issue of protection from cold when preparing the system for winter operation.

Preparing for the arrival of a sewage truck

Pumping sludge from a septic tank, as well as completely emptying the tank, can be done by professional workers. When preparing for the arrival of specialists, you need to ensure unhindered travel to the place of work.

In the summer, open the lid of the septic tank slightly to ventilate it. Remove all tools and construction materials near the tanks. The operation of a sewage disposal machine is due to the formation of a small amount of dirt on the site, since at the moment of immersing and pulling out the hose, a little waste may spill onto the surface. Prepare a hose with water to quickly wash the area.

Basically, specialists go to the site with their own tools, and besides, they know exactly what they need. Therefore, the best help is not to get in the way. Prices for services may vary (from 400 rubles/cubic meter and 3500 rubles/flight). This depends on the volume of waste and its density. The sewer truck will not be able to pump out sludge; a special sludge pumping station is used for this. This service is more expensive than pumping water, but the owners do not have to scoop out the thick fraction manually.

How to clean, methods

Each method of keeping wastewater treatment plants clean and operational has its pros and cons. Effective cleaning depends on the design of the specific cleaning facility and the financial capabilities of the owners of country houses or private houses. The main ways to get rid of impurities include:

using sewage pumps to pump waste fluid out of the structure;
manual cleaning of the mine with a bucket is used after removing the liquid fraction from the pit;
a sewer truck pumps the mass into a tank using a vacuum pump;
the use of biological products in a septic tank with a sealed bottom for the decomposition of solid waste and recycling into water;
chemicals are used in sealed septic tanks to process waste into water with subsequent pumping into a sewer machine:
the use of a sludge sucker for the solid layer of sludge and waste at the bottom of the mine.

What is a cesspool

A cesspool is a simple structure for draining wastewater. However, when installing it, you must adhere to certain requirements. Materials for construction can be:

plastic;
brick;
metal;
reinforced concrete (monolithic or prefabricated rings).

It is preliminarily determined whether the container will be sealed or whether liquid seepage into the ground is permissible. If the groundwater level is high, the construction of an impermeable structure is recommended. Under favorable conditions, it is possible to build a filter well, which is an absorption pit with a layer of sand and gravel at the bottom. Due to the absorption of liquid into the soil, calls for a sewer truck are made less frequently.

The best solution is to use a septic tank, since it usually includes two or three compartments where mechanical and biological wastewater treatment occurs. Despite the high efficiency of such installations, they also tend to silt and require periodic cleaning.

How to pump out with a suction pump

Rapid filling of the shaft with wastewater, the appearance of fatty deposits on the walls of the chamber, a persistent, unpleasant odor are characteristic signs of a silted drainage bottom of a well that prevents the absorption of moisture into the soil, or a large layer of solid residue in a sealed chamber.
To pump out the pit and remove sediment, a special suction unit mounted on a vehicle chassis is used. Equipment included:

Vacuum pump driven by a car engine.
A tank with two compartments: one for sludge and sludge, the second for process water. The back wall of the barrel opens to unload waste.
Suction boom with hose for collecting sludge and solid sediment.
A four-way valve that switches from vacuum to pressure for preliminary washout of compacted silt and soil.

For the sludge pump to operate, a reliable access must be prepared so that when pumping out sludge, the intake pipe reaches the bottom of the chamber. Technological operations are performed in the following sequence:

from the cabin, through the remote control, air is supplied to the pneumatic system of the installation after opening the tap;
sludge level control is activated;
the vacuum pump is turned on and a vacuum is created in the tank;
Using a remote control, the valve on the suction pipe lowered into the pit opens and sludge is drawn in. The filling of the tank is monitored through inspection windows;
filling of the barrel stops after the sound signal from the sludge level control system;
to liquefy the solid sludge residue at the bottom of the chamber, the four-way valve switches to the “Discharge” position, and process water from the tank under pressure washes away the sediment;
after liquefying the remaining sludge, the suction operation is repeated, the well is cleaned;

Using a sludge pump is not a cheap cleaning option, but the quality of sludge pumping and the work of professionals will quickly bring the sewage system into working order for a long time.

Risks of septic tank overflow

It is often necessary to pump out a septic tank if the system is constantly overloaded. But even if the cleaning system is functioning normally, it should still be serviced regularly.

It is important to pump out the septic tank in a timely manner to prevent problems from arising. Due to the design features in this cleaning system, solid particles accumulate at the bottom: this is how sludge forms. But when this layer rises above the required level, too many solids enter the soil absorption system.

All this leads to the fact that an excess of highly contaminated water appears in the system, which returns to the surface due to equipment overload. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms develop, provoking the processes of rotting and fermentation, that is, we can talk about infection of the system. If this happens, you, as well as the owners of neighboring houses, will notice an unpleasant odor.

Operation, care, tips, recommendations

It is important to periodically carry out preventive maintenance:

Monitor the water level in the mine and pump out the liquid fraction in a timely manner.
If the well has no bottom and quickly fills with waste, it is necessary to clear the bottom of the hole from silt.
The sealed chamber does not drain moisture, and the accumulation of liquid is systematic, as well as its removal. When the need to remove liquid waste becomes more frequent (a sign of accumulated sludge), the well requires cleaning.
Depending on the volume of the well, the drainage liquid can be removed using a pump or a sewer truck, and for thorough cleaning of the chamber from sludge and fatty deposits, it is better to invite specialists with a suction pump.
A completely filled well should not be allowed to be used in winter. Before frost arrives, the liquid must be pumped out.

Proper operation of sewerage in a private home

In order for the cesspool to not silt up and the sewage system to work reliably in the house, it is necessary to operate the system correctly and carry out timely preventive maintenance, starting from the drainage areas in the room and ending with the chamber:

Do not throw garbage into the sewer system, which can get stuck in the pipes and contribute to the rapid accumulation of silt deposits at the bottom of the chamber;
periodic cleaning of drain pipes with caustic soda allows you to dissolve fatty deposits accumulated on the walls and allows free movement of moisture;
It is important to promptly detect and repair a leak in the system, which can lead to a lack of water to move waste through the pipes and lead to a blockage.

Information from the video about maintaining the waste chamber and sewer system in a private house will allow you to avoid mistakes when operating the sewer system and ensure trouble-free operation.

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Ways to check the sediment level in a septic tank

How do you know when your septic tank needs to be pumped? To do this, determine the level of sediment in the tank. This can be done using a long wooden stick. We lower it through the hatch to remove the solid fraction into the container; the stick should reach the bottom. Then we take it out and determine the level of sludge. Before doing this work, you should find out how deep the septic tank is.

There is no need to pump out the septic tank if the sediment level is less than one-third of the depth of the tank. When the level is located 10 cm below the outlet pipe, the sewer system cannot be used until the septic tank is cleaned.

If the tank overfills within a short time, it is necessary to check the condition of the drainage layer. To do this, you need to pump out the wastewater, remove the sediment, and then remove the filter element layer. It can no longer be used and needs to be replaced. Then you will have to remove 10–15 cm of soil located under the drainage. Instead, a layer of sand is laid, and crushed stone is poured on top.

If the filter element fails, it is not recommended to use special chemicals for cleaning. Their use will be ineffective. The maximum you can achieve with their help is to extend the life of the septic tank by 30–60 days. In addition, these chemicals will pollute groundwater and kill colonies of bacteria living in the ground.