Using house septic tank?

[WearyTraveler]

It’s just Ms. WT and me. Our house is 3br 2ba. So I’m ASSuming that the septic is perked, designed and capable of supporting the sewer needs of more then just Ms. WT and me.

We had it pumped about a year ago so there’s not a lot of solids in it.

We’d like to use the inspection port (4” PVC) to dump tanks when we return from a trip.

I’ve seen posts about this but don’t recall where or the responses...

Has anyone done this successfully and without problems? If you’ve had issues with doing this, what we’re they? (Perhaps I can mitigate the issues)

Thank you!

[EA37TS]

If your septic system is designed for a 3 bedroom house you shouldn't have a problem. My AOSS is designed for a 4 bedroom house and I dump into the system periodically. Usually, I dump my black tank don the morning we begin the trip back home, but I do dump into the AOSS (glorified septic system) when needed.

[Lloyd]

It theoretically should be OK---but the thing that worries me about dumping a full load down there is the fact it's a lot of stuff coming down in one big whoosh. I would be afraid of it overwhelming everything and a lot of solids ending up out in the drain field.

[Bob Denman]

For occasional use: you should be just fine.
Try thinking about it lie this:
When you're in your RV and traveling: the system isn't getting used at all...
You're just bringing home the "product", that would have otherwise been in it anyway.

[Lt Keefer]

I have a separate septic system at home for my coach, but prior to that I did as you are thinking. I would back the coach along side the house and dump into the cleanout/inspection port. I did that for ten or more years before I built the RV it's own parking spot with full hookups. I always figured the septic system was built for a two bath plus kitchen home and the introduction of 30 or 40 gallons of tank contents wasn't much different than two showers, a washing machine and a dishwasher all running at the same time.

[TurnerFam]

there is no 'exact' amount of usage a septic tank can handle, since there's simply way too many variables - weather, temperature, usage, number of family members, how much water per flush, how much the washer and dish washer are used, etc., etc.,,,, but the 'size' is based on amounts 'typical' for a family sized for the number of 'rooms' the original structure was based upon.

I don't look at whether a septic tank can 'handle' our RV, the few times we use it, since, as someone else correctly said, you weren't there to 'use it' while you were away!

And, to add another thought - your tanks aren't so large that any septic tank couldn't for some reason 'handle' the amount of dump you might do... the septic is not an 'enclosed' tank that can only handle, say 200 gallons, but it's a 'place' for things to sit for a while before they are naturally separated and flow on... that's what leach fields are for.

Of course, if you're really 'that' worried about a 'sudden' flush, you can always do it a 'little bit' at the time : )

[PictureTheSouth]

I've thought about this as well. The variable I consider as much as tank capacity, is the weight of the rig driving over the drain/leach field. Since I'm not first owner of the home; I have no idea how deep those lines may be in our sandy soil.

Overfilling the tank might be less of an issue than crushing some of the lines. Thoughts on that angle, folks?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by PictureTheSouth

I've thought about this as well. The variable I consider as much as tank capacity, is the weight of the rig driving over the drain/leach field. Since I'm not first owner of the home; I have no idea how deep those lines may be in our sandy soil.

Overfilling the tank might be less of an issue than crushing some of the lines. Thoughts on that angle, folks?

You should never drive anything heavier than a lawn tractor over a septic tank or drain field. You may get away with it 99 times but that 100th failure will be costly.

[nosticks]

Chemicals used in RV's are not too good for septic systems. If you are one of those that needs chemicals in your RV, might not be a good idea.

[GTM41261]

Dumped into the septic many times not a problem in over 20 years at that house

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by PictureTheSouth

I've thought about this as well. The variable I consider as much as tank capacity, is the weight of the rig driving over the drain/leach field. Since I'm not first owner of the home; I have no idea how deep those lines may be in our sandy soil.

Overfilling the tank might be less of an issue than crushing some of the lines. Thoughts on that angle, folks?

Go to your counties department of environmental quality or health department and get a copy of the engineering plans for your septic system.

The drain field for my system is rated at 10,000 PSI. In my mind each tire on my coach has approximately 30 sq inches in contact with the ground. 30 * 6 = 180 square inches of surface area. 29,000 GVWR / 180 = 162 PSI so I believe that is well within the 10K PSI the system is designed for.

Now I am sure someone out there is going to chime in and tell me where I am wrong. I will say that the folks that maintain my AOSS (certified and licensed civil/septic engineers) have told me that as long as I don't drive over the D box which is shallow I shouldn't have a problem if I needed to drive through the drain field. I had a couple bucket trucks back there to take down some trees but no need to take the coach back there.

[16ACE27]

[Travelin' Texans]

Originally Posted by nosticks

Chemicals used in RV's are not too good for septic systems. If you are one of those that needs chemicals in your RV, might not be a good idea.

This should not be an issue as 99.9% of any chemical you might dump in your rv black tank is strictly for odor control plus such a small amount which will not harm your septic.
As recommended a dose of RidX in your septic every 30 days will keep the septic working as it should. DO NOT use the RidX in your RV black tank, it won't help there.

[Travelin' Texans]

Originally Posted by nosticks

Chemicals used in RV's are not too good for septic systems. If you are one of those that needs chemicals in your RV, might not be a good idea.

This should not be an issue as 99.9% of any chemical you might dump in your rv black tank is strictly for odor control plus such a small amount which should not harm your septic.
I would bet that at least 50%+ of RV parks/campgrounds are on septic systems, with dump stations getting several RVs dumping back to back in a mass exodus out of the campground so your occasional dump shouldn't be a problem.
As recommended a dose of RidX in your septic every 30 days will keep the septic working as it should. DO NOT use the RidX in your RV black tank, it won't help there.

[RWF]

Inspection ports are usually in the drain field, never dump there! You need to dump in a cleanut that is in line before the septic tank. That will not be a problem with the usage you described.
Again, never dump into an inspection port in a drain field!
Must I say it again?.......

[Lt Keefer]

Good point, don't use the vent stacks in the leach field.

[Bob Denman]

Thank goodness that we're hooked up to the Town's sewer system...