Why do septic tanks collapse

She called 911, and fire/rescue managed to extract him. He was also fortunate that the methane gas didn’t poison him, which can happen to contractors who assume a tank is safe, enter to make repairs, and then succumb to the fumes. Sometimes, another contractor might jump in to help, thinking the first had a heart attack, and suffer the same fate. But that grandfather sure had an incredible story to share at Christmas about how he spent 45 minutes of his life a few weeks before.

*There was a time when stainless steel tanks were marketed as lasting “forever.” Reality proved otherwise; they last about 20–30 years. It’s doubtful you can even purchase them anymore.

Proper Maintenance and Venting

You can significantly slow this corrosion process if the tank is properly vented; the gases escape back up through the vent system in the house and out the roof vent. With proper venting, a concrete tank can easily last 50, 75, or even over 100 years—a pretty good value when you consider it. Replacing it is relatively inexpensive. Also, with proper use and maintenance, the drain field can potentially last indefinitely, though some might disagree.

That’s a good reason to have your system inspected every 2-3 years and pumped as needed. Inspectors use a tool called a sludge judge to measure the solids in the tank and determine if it needs to be pumped—typically when solids reach about 25% of the tank’s capacity, though this varies by household depending on factors like number of people, diet, and cleaning products used.

Inspections and Preventive Measures

Regular inspections can also detect tanks starting to weaken, improper items being flushed—like harsh chemicals, which kill beneficial bacteria and rapidly degrade the system, or non-biodegradable items like cigarette butts, condoms, and wet wipes which can clog the drain field. They can also check for issues like a detached baffle, which is crucial for septic tank operation, or tree roots growing into the tank.