A septic tank is a necessary system to many residential homes and properties. In the case of main municipal sewer lines not connecting to your property, you will need to use a septic tank to collect all the waste from your home. These are installed in rural areas. Without the septic system, there would be nowhere for the sewage to go.
Many homeowners wonder how often their septic tank should be drained and cleaned.
Below you will find more information on how often you should drain your septic tank.
How Often Should You Clean Your Septic Tank?
You should have your septic tank pumped out and thoroughly cleaned on average once every 3-5 years. However, that number can depend on how often the septic tank gets used.
Before you pump your septic tank, you should hire a professional to do it correctly. Not cleaning the entire tank is a mistake that happens often, so you need to ensure you pump out the entire tank.
Why is it Necessary to Pump Out Septic Tanks?
A septic tank that is not pumped out will eventually cause it to overflow. The main function of the tank is to hold sewage and waste. If the tank is too full, it will spill into your yard.
If you neglect to pump out your septic tank, you’ll eventually have an unpleasant odour. This could contain bacteria that could cause infections and diseases. You’ll smell the sewage before you notice it being too full.
Over time, all of the solid waste in the tank falls to the bottom. This will form a sludge layer that can leak into the drain field. Then you’re left with a terrible mess and clogged pipes.
Factors that Increase Pumping Frequency
There are a number of factors that contribute to the frequency of pumping out your septic tank. In a building where there are many people using the sewage system, you need to pump the tank more frequently. Essentially, the more it is used, the more often you’ll need to clean out the tank.
Those who run a business from home would need to drain the septic tank more frequently. That is because the bathroom will be used more, as opposed to the residents being away at work. The amount of liquid that flows into the tank could be a problem.
You’ll also need to drain it more frequently if your house has more bedrooms than what your septic tank can hold. Take into consideration how often you have guests stay overnights, as they will contribute to water and waste usage.
Have Your Tank Professionally Pumped
Your septic tank can only contain a certain amount of waste. Eventually you will need to have the tank pumped out (usually every three and five years). Think about some of the factors that could affect the frequency of pumping the tank, such as the amount of guests on your property or someone working from home.
Use a professional service to do the job for you. It’s important that the tank is completely pumped out to prevent any complications.
We hope this answers your question: How often should you drain your septic tank?
