Photo: depositphoto.com
Q: I recently bought a new house and it has a septic system. I have no experience with septic tanks and I am not sure how often they need to be emptied and cleaned. How often should you get your septic tank pumped?
A: In general, a septic tank should be pumped and emptied every 3 to 5 years. Homes outside of a city can rely on septic tanks because they do not have access to city sewers. A sewage treatment plant is an environmentally friendly, safe and natural way to dispose of household waste. With proper care, maintenance, and pumping of septic tanks, a septic tank system can last for decades. When a home has a sewage treatment plant, the sewage leaves the house and enters the tank, where it separates solids, liquid waste (called sewage), and scraps. Because the solids (or sludge) are heavier, they settle to the bottom where bacteria and microorganisms consume and dissolve them. The foam, made up of oils, fats and fats, is lighter and floats upwards. The aqueous drainage layer will exit the tank by traveling through perforated underground pipes to a drainage or caustic field. Gravel, stones, and earth act as a filtration system to purify the water when it returns to the groundwater system. Over time, too much sludge will reduce the ability of the bacteria to break down the waste or overflow into the drainage field. That is why cleaning septic tanks is essential. How often should you get your septic tank pumped? Here are some considerations to keep in mind when determining how often your septic tank should be emptied.
Professionals know septic systems
Connect with trusted specialists in your area and receive free and non-binding offers for your project.
+ 
First, think about the size of your septic tank.
Most septic tanks are between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons in size. If you’re not sure how big your septic tank is, a professional at a septic tank cleaning company can check it out to determine the size. The size of the tank is a deciding factor in how often you should pump. For example, for a family of four with a 1,000 gallon tank, it is recommended to pump every 2.6 years, but for a 1,500 gallon tank the time can be 4.2 years and up to 5 years for a 2,000 liter -Tank can be extended. Gallon tank.
Your house size and the number of household members will affect how often the septic tank needs to be pumped.
The size of the house determines the size of the septic tank. A 3 bedroom house needs a larger tank than a 2 bedroom house. Your neighbors can be an excellent source of information. Consider speaking to them and asking about the size of their septic tank compared to the number of people living in their homes. You will get a better idea of how often to schedule septic tank pumping for your system. Usually, more people living in a house produce more waste, which affects the frequency of cleaning septic tanks. The types of soaps, detergents, and chemicals you use in your home and how often they go down the drain are also factors that affect when septic tank pumps are pumped out.
Photo: depositphoto.com
Consider all wastewater generated, including laundry, dishwashing, and showers.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), every person uses 70 liters of water a day. Efficient water use extends the life of a septic tank and reduces the risk of blockages, backwater and leaks.
Professionals know septic systems
Connect with trusted specialists in your area and receive free and non-binding offers for your project.
+
Choose the correct load size washing machine and only wash with a full load to regulate how much water goes down the drain. It is beneficial to spread the washing machine use over the week instead of doing multiple washes in one day. Running the washing machine excessively in a day can damage a sewage system by not leaving enough time to treat the waste and increasing the likelihood of flooding the drainage field. You can help maintain your septic tank by using biodegradable soaps throughout your home, buying an energy efficient washing machine that uses less water, and installing a filter to catch synthetic fibers that the bacteria in the septic tank cannot digest.
When it comes to the kitchen sink, it is highly recommended that you never use a trash can when you have a septic tank. When disposed of, the food is not shredded small enough to pass the septic tank filter. If you use a disposal it will increase the amount of solids by up to 50 percent and you risk clogging and securing the system. Other ways to help the septic tank are to take shorter showers and install reduced flow shower heads or shower flow restrictors to reduce the amount of water that enters the septic tank.
In general, a septic tank should be pumped every 3 to 5 years.
A septic tank system isn’t too expensive to maintain, but it is definitely more expensive to dig up and repair or replace a system that has failed due to neglect. Some wastewater treatment plants may need to be pumped once a year depending on the tank size, the number of people in the household, and the amount of wastewater generated. Other systems can potentially wait 5 years between each septic pump. On average, it is recommended that you consult a professional every 3 to 5 years to maintain the life of your septic system. The frequency with which the tank needs to be cleaned depends on the amount of waste in the tank and not on a specific time frame. Search online for “Pumping out septic tanks near me” to find a professional to help you maintain and extend the life of your wastewater treatment plant.
Professionals know septic systems
Connect with trusted specialists in your area and receive free and non-binding offers for your project.
+
Comments are closed.