Septic Maintenance for Short Terms

[Justin Knighten]

I currently have 2 houses that I'm renting short-term on Airbnb.  They both have septic systems.  I'm fairly familiar with septic, I've had them in my personal residences for 10 + years now.  With my personal, we rarely have it pumped, but I also know how to treat it, and we don't put crazy things down the drain.  With the others, we have mostly city folk that are on vacation, I have no idea how many different things are being put in it, from grease to food to God only knows what.  How often do those of you with septics have them pumped?  

[David M.]

@Justin Knighten

I don't know. I didn't realize people did STR with septics. It might be hard to damage a septic tank, but you are really interested in protecting the leach field. I would have it pumped more frequently and see if you can get the pumping company to tell you how much sludge and scum is there. That will give you a feel, sort of on average, how much is going down the drain. Around here, its more like usually need to get them pumped every 3 years. I might pump every year to start and see what the pumpers tell you. But, I'd maintain a more frequent schedule in case you get a batch of renters who end up pouring lots of greasy stuff down the drain or something.

Good luck.