Septic tank is blocked with tissue at first shore

Hi, just wondering does anyone know the usual practice about clearing out a septic tank? moved from Dublin to Kildare a year ago. The engineer surveying the house for us had a concern about a blockage and the sellers got the tank emptied before we moved in. We have always been a bit concerned that the water level in the shore just outside the bathroom gets very high. We since discovered that they re piped the washing machine into the septic tank so we are going to have to re do the whole thing again. The big problem for now is that when we checked the first shore last night, its nearly full to the brim with tissue, even after flushing, we watched it rise again. It looks like we can't even use the washing machine now this weekend as it's in real danger of over flowing. I presume we have to get it emptied but everyone is telling us that's the worst thing to do, it gets rid of all the bacteria and the crust etc supposed to be breaking down the stuff. We're told that in theory a good septic tank should never need emptying. The companies say different as they want the business obviously but we really need some advice, we've always been connected to the mains in the city! (If it does need emptying, are there average rates so I won't get ripped off?!)
Thanks.

Did anyone check if the shore level dropped all the way after the tank was emptied?

I'd magine it's likely the problem isn't in the tank itself, but in the interconnecting pipework. So rod the drains first and determine if there is a problem (could be masonry or other debris in the pipework or damage to the pipework).
Leo

Or one of the banes of all sewerage system, the disposable bio-degradable wet-wipes / baby-wipes that are not in the least bit bio-degradable. Tests indicate that they will actually out-last plastic bags in landfill.

They block drains, junctions and out-flows to percolation areas. Is this what you mean by "tissue"?

Thanks a mil Leo. I saw an old post here about using the rods so will look it up, nice one.
Mathepac, god NO I'm not that stupid there's no way I'd even flush wipes down a public toilet let alone my own. Definitely not them. It's plain old toilet paper, and the new eco one too which is supposed to break down faster.

i happen to be getting mine emptied tomorrow for the first time ever. (Tank is in place 13 yrs now and never really has been a problem but had a look in it for the first time in a couple of years and the first chamber is pretty solid with efluent)
Got a price of 180 to get it emptied, I let you know what I think of the job after its done

On your own problem have you checked yet that if the blockage is in the system leading up to your tank, before checking if its actually a problem with your tank or percolation area

Right had another investigation this morning! It may be that there is no blockage because the wad of toilet tissue sits at the top, but when someone flushes the toilet inside, you can see the water level go down, then back up again almost to the full shore level. On checking the tank itself, you can see the water level, it seems fairly high to me, though not in any danger of spilling out. Just wondering now as a few have said, maybe its the pipework and the workings of the system itself. There doesnt actually look to be a blockage if the water level can fall and rise. Have visions of digging up the garden! Hoping it will go away once the tank is emptied but I was hoping for more like the 13 years, this is ridiculous a year later!

with regards to the water level in your shore (I take this a shower on the drainage system between your house and the septic tank and not the lids on the tank itself) if the water level is going droping when you flush loo and then coming back up it seems to be indicate a blockage in the pipe work . You should be able to clear this easily with some rods.
How many showers (inspection chambers, manholes or AJ') do you have between your house and tank
if you have a few then start by pouring water in the nearest one to the tank and if that clears ok then you know there is no blockage in that part of the system, then do the same from the next nearest shore/manhole and so on untill you identify which section has the blockage and then rod that section and the ones between that and the house also to clear any extara build up.
The water and effulent level in your tank will always be as high as near the top as once it gets to that level the broken down effulent in the water flows out the far end of your tank into the perculation area.
So no need to worry about that level unless it starts to come out through the lid or comes back up your drainage system towards the house. this can indicate that your perculation area is full and can take no more.
Got mine emptied today after 13 years the tank was working well as from the amount the worms that were in it breaking down the effulent. (this is a good sign as it indicates their are no detergents in it which stops the bacteria doing its job)

Good luck
Got my tank empties this afternoon,

Great advice thanks a million. Haven't a clue about the workings as you can see! All I know for definite is that it's an old system, about 20 yrs and it has been dug up and re piped previously. We're hoping now if we just have it emptied once a year it'll save us digging up the whole garden again. Need to get a few worms so!

Gormley's proposal

titch said:

Great advice thanks a million. Haven't a clue about the workings as you can see! All I know for definite is that it's an old system, about 20 yrs and it has been dug up and re piped previously. We're hoping now if we just have it emptied once a year it'll save us digging up the whole garden again. Need to get a few worms so!

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Not if Gormley has his way every septic tank like yours will need upgrading to a certain standard. It will cost an average of €4000 per household and on top of that there will be an €80/year and rising license for having a septic tank.