Septic Tanks

Plastic or poly septic tanks dominate the market. They are far cheaper to manufacture, last longer and much easier to install. The delivery costs are also much cheaper, and they can travel long distances fairly economically compared to concrete tanks. On average concrete tanks only lasted around 10 years, whereas plastic septic tanks will last twenty to thirty years. Unlike concrete septic tanks, plastic tanks are not porous and so you will not get seepage of wastewater into your ground water or around your garden. For all these reasons, and more plastic septic tanks have become the industry standard today.

Regulations require that all water from inside the house go through a septic system, either on site or at a municipal treatment plant.  This includes showers, toilets, laundry systems, kitchen and even swimming pools – because of the chemicals. Water from roof gutters should be the only water leaving a property through the stormwater drains. Once again, it is best to check your local council regulations for their recommendations in your area.

This depends on how much waste your household produces. Most waste that comes out of a home is liquid with very little solid included. Thankfully this easily leaves the tank to either the municipal wastewater system if that is available or the drain field. The solid portion of waste takes a few years to build up. As mentioned previously, it is generally recommended to empty tanks every 5 years, but some people have reported up to 10 years between pump outs.

• Pooling water
• Slow drains
• Odours
• An overly healthy lawn around the tank
• Sewer backup
• Gurgling pipes
• Trouble flushing

While you may not get all of these signs immediately, it is important that you get your tank pumped out before it gets overfilled.  Neglecting to pump out the tank will allow solids to fill the pipes leading to the drainage field which then get blocked.  Ultimately a septic system that doesn’t get pumped out may need to be replaced which is an expensive fix for an easily avoidable problem!

This depends on how much waste your household creates. Remember it is only solids that really build up. The Australian Department of Health recommends pumping tanks every 5 years however it depends how much solid waste is flushed into the tank. Pumping out the tank must be done by a licensed liquid waste contractor who can then take the waste to a processing facility. Your local council will be able to advise if there are any EPA regulations in your area.

IMPORTANT: Nobody should ever enter the Septic Tank – It is a confined space and once operating is a health risk

Polymaster septic tanks come with tamper-proof screws to make sure there are no dangers once the tank is installed and buried.

Unfortunately, a septic tank is a bit specialised, so you aren’t able to DIY this job. Septic tanks must be installed by a licensed plumber and then signed off by your local council authority. This will ensure your warranty is valid, and when you purchase a Polymaster Septic Tank your covered for 10 years. Polymaster tanks are a one-piece moulded tank, they are lightweight and easy to handle. Lifting lugs are incorporated into the design to make it easy to lower into place. The forward thinking Polymaster engineers designed the septic tanks to minimise the amount of work required on site, these are pre-assembled before leaving the factory, so the plumber can simply position the tank and connect in and out flow pipes! The low profile and compact design minimises the amount of digging required prior to installation, the depth of excavation is minimised, and the hole is easier to backfill after installation. Saving the plumber time during the installation and you in cost.

Septic systems overtime will build up with an excess of accumulated solids that should be pumped out every 3-5 years. This will depend on the volume that is put through the tanks so varies greatly on application. Make sure the tank is pumped out by a licensed liquid waste contractor, please see the local council in your area about any special EPA regulations.   Warning - Never allow anyone at any time to enter the septic tank as it is a confined space and once operating is an extreme health risk.

If you purchase toilet paper that is labeled septic safe it should dissolve completely within 20 minutes. You can test this yourself by taking your septic-safe toilet paper brand and scrunching it into a cup of water.

Never put oil, gasoline, paint thinners, solvents, photographic chemicals, weed or insect killers down the drain. They can poison your septic system and possibly threaten water supplies for your whole neighbourhood. Even latex paint is unhealthy for your septic system.