Open it up and do a visual inspection? Obviously you've never had a septic
system. There is no visual inspection until you PUMP it. Opening it up and
looking, all you will see is the "scum" on top. And only the pumping guy can
really tell (by feel) how deep the sludge is/was. 3 to 5 years max, or
trouble ahead. Period.

--
Steve Barker

"Deke" wrote in message
...

Visual inspection is the absolute key. Too many people fail to
open it up and inspect it periodically and then complain when it quits
working. Going 18 years without pumping is not that unusual.