Septic Tank Pumping Frequency

April 3rd, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If your home is on a septic system, you probably understand the importance of regular septic tank pumping.  Unless the accumulation of solid material is regularly cleaned out of the tank, the system could cause waste water containing untreated sewage to back up into the sink, tub, and shower drains inside your home.  In addition, an overflowing septic tank can cause permanent damage to the leach field.

Regular septic tank pumping avoids these problems and helps keep your septic system healthy and working great for years.  A question that arises frequently is how often should the septic tank be pumped?  There is no easy answer to this question because it depends on many different factors.

The easy answer is that the septic tank should be pumped when it is getting full.  Unfortunately, septic tanks don’t have gauges on them like your car’s gas tank to tell you when they are full.  However, you can find out the level in your septic tank by having an annual inspection by a good sewer septic professional.  Your septic tank inspector will measure the level of solid material and let you know if it is time to have the tank pumped.

For most homeowners, having the tank pumped every three to five years is typical.  However, a home that has a high volume of waste water or an undersized septic tank will need more frequent septic tank pumping.  The opposite is also true:  all else being equal, a larger septic tank will need less frequent septic tank pumping.  If you have a small family that creates a relatively smaller amount of wastewater, you can probably go a little longer between septic tank pumping than a large family that creates larger amounts of waste water.

 

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Bacteria in Your Septic Tank

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Septic System Maintenance, Septic Tank Pumping
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One of the most important elements of your septic system is the billions of bacteria that live in your septic tank.  These naturally occurring microscopic bacteria do a lot of the work necessary for your septic system to operate properly and for the vast majority of septic systems, they do it without the need for any help from the homeowner.

The first step in the treatment process of a septic system occurs in the septic tank.  Household wastewater accumulates here and is held for a day or two to allow solids to settle to the bottom of the tank and greases and oils to rise to the top to form the sludge layer

The bacteria in the tank go to work digesting the solid materials and converting about half of these materials to liquids or gasses.  The liquid effluent flows into the drain field where further treatment occurs.  The non-digestible solids and the sludge layer remain in the tank.

As long as the accumulated non-digestible solids and the sludge layer are removed from the tank periodically by septic tank pumping, the system should operate for years without the need for any human assistance.

Pouring bleaches or strong chemicals down the drain can kill off large numbers of the beneficial bacteria in the system, but it is very difficult to kill all of the bacteria and the bacteria colony will quickly recover, usually within a few hours.  There is no need to add any bacteria, enzymes, or other septic system treatments.  The best thing a homeowner can do for the bacteria in their septic system is to do nothing at all!

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Septic System Maintenance Agreements

November 10th, 2011 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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A septic system maintenance agreement can provide peace of mind and help ensure your septic system works great and lasts a long time.  Septic systems need regular septic system inspections and periodic septic tank pumping to prevent system failure.  The cost of replacing a septic system can run well over ten thousand dollars so it is very important to have the system inspected and pumped when necessary.

The frequency of septic system inspections and septic tank pumping varies depending on the size of your system and your usage habits.  Most experts recommend having the system inspected every one to two years and pumping the septic tank every three to five years.  If you have a large system subject to light use you can probably go longer between pumping.  A smaller system subject to heavy use might need to be pumped every year.

Unfortunately, septic tanks are not equipped with a gauge to tell us when they are full and need to be pumped.  However, your septic tank inspector will be able to tell you whether the tank is getting full and needs to be pumped or whether you can another year or two.

The hard part about septic tank inspections and pumping is remembering to call your sewer septic professional to arrange for the inspection or pump out.  A septic system maintenance agreement will relieve that burden.  When you have a septic system maintenance agreement, your sewer septic contractor will automatically set up an inspection at the appropriate interval.  You won’t have to try to remember if you had your septic system inspected last year or was it the year before that?

Your septic system inspector will schedule a convenient time to inspect your septic system and will let you know if you need pumping or other septic system maintenance.  A septic maintenance agreement means one less thing for you to remember.

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Do You Know When Your Septic Tank Was Last Pumped?

November 10th, 2011 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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With the holidays approaching, your septic system is probably one of the last things on your mind, but if you don’t want to have to deal with a septic system emergency during the holiday season now is a great time to take care of any septic system service you may need.  Many homes will place additional loads on their septic system during the holidays due to entertaining, hosting guests, and holiday cooking and cleaning.

If your septic system is already operating at its limit, the additional holiday demands can push it over the edge and cause a septic system failure.  Not only will this put a damper on your holiday festivities, it can also put a dent in your wallet.  Save yourself some trouble and money and get your septic system serviced if you need it.

The frequency of septic tank pumping varies depending on a lot of factors such as size of the system and the demands placed on it, but most experts recommend having a septic tank inspection every two years and having the septic tank pumped when needed or about every three to five years.

If you cannot remember the last time your septic tank was pumped, it is probably a good idea to have it done now.  The same is true if you just bought a new home on a septic system.  No matter what the previous owner told you, having the septic tank pumped and inspected now will give you a “clean” start and establish a baseline so you will know how often you should have the tank pumped.  You can’t rely on the previous owner’s representations because their water usage habits were probably different than yours.

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Septic Tank Additives

March 6th, 2011 Posted in Septic System
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When a septic system fails or starts exhibiting signs of impending failure, many people start looking for an easy solution.  This is entirely understandable since repairing or replacing a failed septic system can be very expensive.  It is tempting to believe the advertisements for various miracle chemicals and other additives that purport to cure your septic system’s problems.  Even when the septic system is working fine, misinformation has led many well meaning people to put various chemicals or additives into their septic system in the belief that it will help keep the system working well.

The reality is that there is no magic solution for a failed septic system and there is no independent verification that any additives or chemicals will help a septic system work any better.   In fact, putting anything into a septic system other than human waste and normal wastewater will, at best, have no effect on the system and more likely can cause damage to the septic system.

Septic systems are designed to work using gravity and the biological action of naturally occurring microscopic organisms.  No additives are necessary.  In fact, many additives can cause the effluent in the tank to become stirred up or to hold more solid material in suspension.   When this happens, the solid material flows out into the leach field and clogs it up.  Chemical additives, yeast, baking soda, and other additives do not help your septic system and can be harmful to the system.

The best way to keep a septic system healthy and working well is to have it regularly inspected and pumped out.  An inspection every two to three years and septic tank pumping every three to five years is an effective way to keep a septic system in good working order.

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Keeping Your Septic System Healthy

March 6th, 2011 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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With a little care, a properly sized and installed septic system can give many years of great service.  Abusing the septic system will cause it to fail early and require frequent expensive maintenance.  Here are a few tips for keeping your septic system in top operating condition.

Probably the most important thing you can do for your septic system is to have it regularly inspected and pumped.  Septic tank pumping should be done every three to five years for the best, longest lasting results.  Over time, waste materials accumulate in a septic tank and if the accumulation is not periodically pumped out, they will cause the system to fail which will require very expensive repairs or replacement of the septic tank or septic field.  You can avoid this problem with regular septic tank pumping.

A septic tank inspection every two or three years is also a good idea.  Often, you can coordinate an inspection with a septic tank pumpout.  Frequent inspections can catch minor issues before they become a major concern.  Also, an inspection will reveal whether the septic tank needs to be pumped or if it can wait for another year or two.

Be conservative in your water usage.  Septic systems are designed to handle an average amount of water flow for a given house size.  A sudden increase in water usage can overwhelm a septic system.

Similarly, try to limit the type and quantity of any materials you flush down the drain.  Paints, caustic chemicals, food scraps, grease, and other such materials in small amounts are OK, but large volumes of these materials or regularly pouring them down the drain will shorten the useful life of your septic system.

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Septic Tank Pumping

February 2nd, 2011 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If your home or business is on a septic system, it is important to have it pumped out at regular intervals.  One question that frequently arises is how often to have the tank pumped.  The frequency of septic tank pumping depends on several factors but as a general rule, unless you see certain warning signs pumping your septic tank every three to five years should keep your septic tank working great.

Your septic tank is designed to accumulate solid waste and to allow liquid waste to flow out to the leech field where it percolates into the soil.  The volume of solids that accumulates in the tank is reduced somewhat by the biological activity of enzymes that help with decomposition, but over time solid wastes will accumulate at the bottom of the tank.  If too much solid waste accumulates in the tank, your septic system will be compromised.

Solid waste will flow into the leach field and clog up the pipes.  To avoid this from happening, the accumulation of solids needs to be pumped out of the tank on a regular basis.  One factor that affects the frequency of pump outs is the size of your septic tank.  The larger your septic tank, the longer you can go between pump outs.

The other important factor is the volume of waste water from your home.  The more people living in your home, the more often you need to have the septic tank pumped.  Also, if you use a garbage disposal or frequently dispose of chemicals or other solid materials down the drain, your septic tank will need more frequent pumping.

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Septic Tank Inspections

November 25th, 2010 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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Your septic system will usually provide good service for many years.  Regular maintenance is important to keep your septic system healthy and working great year after year.  In addition to having your septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years, you should have your septic tank inspected on a regular basis.

A standard septic tank should be inspected by a qualified septic tank inspector every 2 to 3 years.  A septic tank that uses mechanical components such as float switches, pumps, or valves should be inspected more frequently.

Inspecting your septic tank regularly will help save money in the long run.  Regular septic tank  inspections help ensure that any problems with your septic system are identified while they are still minor and can be repaired before they become a major concern.  If you are buying a home with a septic system, a septic tank inspection will give you a good idea of the condition of the septic system before you complete the purchase.

The inspection begins with locating the tank using a rod or flushing an electronic locating device down your commode.  Once the tank is located and opened, the inspector will check your tank for leaks, cracks, and obstructions.  The inspector will also make sure that any baffles, filters and mechanical devices are working properly and that effluent flow through the tank is appropriate.

The inspector will measure the sludge and scum levels in your tank.  This will help the inspector determine if the tank is operating properly and whether it is time for a septic tank pumping.  The area around the septic tank and leach field will be inspected for any issues.  The inspector will prepare a report of the condition of the septic tank and let you know if there are any repairs that are needed.

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Septic Tank Tips For Fall

October 8th, 2010 Posted in Drain Field, Septic Tank Inspections, Septic Tanks
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Fall is here and with it comes cooler weather, leaf raking, and crisp nights.  Many of us have annual fall chores that we all do around this time of year, helping to ready our home for winter.  Be sure to get your septic tank ready for winter too.  A few annual fall chores will help keep it functioning with minimal problems in the year to come.

First, if you haven’t already done so, schedule your annual inspection and pump out.  A regular pump out schedule for your septic tank helps keep the waste water tank from becoming too full. An annual inspection will help identify any small problems before they become major issues, including minor leaks or cracks in the structure.

As you begin your fall plantings, be mindful of your septic tank.  You don’t want to plant any large bushes or trees on or near the drain lines, as these may potentially disrupt appropriate drainage from your waste water tank.  This can be a potentially very expensive repair if deep roots begin to block the drainage lines.

Finally,as much as we all hate to do it, don’t forget to rake those leaves!  Standing leaves that cover your lawn oftentimes will mask underlying septic tank problems.  It makes it more difficult to determine if standing water is present, or if any sinking or settling of the ground has occurred.

While you are raking, look for signs of trouble with your septic field.  Bright green strips of grass can be an indication that your septic field is not working properly.  These indications may go unnoticed in the summer months when the whole lawn is lush and green, but can appear in fall when your lawn goes dormant.

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Septic Tank Tips

September 16th, 2010 Posted in Septic Tanks
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Most of the time, a septic sewer system functions without problems or worries, just the way it should. To keep your septic tank in top working condition, follow these simple tips:

  1.  Have an annual septic tank inspection.  Preventing or catching a small problem is much better than a major catastrophe down the road!  A local plumber who is certified in septic tank issues and repairs can often perform this service.
  2. Have your septic tank pumped regularly.  For example, a three bedroom home generally needs to have a 1000 foot septic tank pumped out every three to five years.  (This may vary a bit based on weather conditions and climate, as well as usage and size of the septic tank itself.)  Homes in cooler climates need to have septic tanks pumped more frequently as the bacteria have a harder time ‘breaking down’ solid waste products.
  3. Minimize the amount of water that drains to your septic tank.  Do not have your basement sump pump or other non-waste drains diverted to your septic tank.
  4. Do not have a garbage disposal.  Food waste will fill up the septic tank more quickly, and may also disrupt the natural bacteria growing in the tank.
  5. No cigarette butts, personal hygiene products, diapers or other non-human waste should be disposed in the toilet.  This can lead to tank and drain line clogging and result in backed up toilets and odor.

By following those five simple tips, homeowners can help guarantee a long lasting, trouble free septic tank.

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