IT MIGHT NOT BE PRETTY, BUT SEPTIC TANK PUMPING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SYSTEM TO FUNCTION. BUT HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU PUMP? READ TO LEARN ALL THAT AND MORE.

More than 21 million homes in the U.S. have private septic tanks. If you don’t have a septic system in your yard, your home connects to a city sewer system.

If you have a septic system in your yard, you’ll have to provide the right maintenance and services for it. If you don’t, you’ll encounter problems at some point, and these are not the types of problems you’ll enjoy having. 

The main maintenance service you need is septic tank pumping. You can hire a company to do this for you, but you’ll need to determine how often to hire them. 

Here is a guide to help you understand how your septic system functions, what you must do to maintain it, and how often you should get it pumped. 

THE FUNCTIONS OF A SEPTIC SYSTEM

A septic system is an integral part of a home, as it provides a place for your wastewater to go. Every single plumbing fixture you have in your home connects to this system through the main sewer line. 

The main sewer line exits your home and extends to the septic tank. A typical septic tank holds around 1,000 gallons of waste, which tends to be large enough to hold several years of waste.

Outside of your tank is a drain field, which is a system made up of pipes. Your system filters the solids from the liquids and sends the liquids out into your yard through the drain field. 

These are the main components of a septic system, and each part works together to provide a way for you to get rid of your wastewater. As you use your plumbing system, your tank fills up, though. 

A tank can only hold so much waste, though, before it is full. When it’s full, you must hire a company for septic cleaning services. Septic tank cleaning is a vital part of maintaining your home’s sewer system. 

THE REASONS YOU NEED SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SERVICES

Understanding how the system works can help you learn why you need septic tank pumping services. It’s also important to know that there are several reasons you need these services. Here are the most common ones:

TO EMPTY THE TANK

The first reason you need these services is obvious. They clean out your tank to make room for more waste. If you don’t clean out your tank, there will be no place for your waste to go. 

TO AVOID SEWER BACKUPS IN YOUR HOME

If your tank gets full, the most common result is a sewer backup in your home. When the waste cannot get inside the tank, it must go somewhere. At this point, the first place it tends to go is up through the bathtub drains. 

You can avoid septic repairs like this by getting your system pumped regularly. 

TO PREVENT DRAIN FIELD ISSUES

You will also need septic tank repair if your tank gets too full and causes drain field issues. When a system is too full, the solids from the system work through the pipes and into the drain field. 

As a result, the solids clog the pipes, preventing the drains from functioning properly. If this happens to your drain field, you might have to spend thousands of dollars fixing the issues. 

Pumping your tank regularly almost always protects the system’s drain field, helping you save money on costly repairs. 

THE FREQUENCY OF THE SERVICES

The main question most homeowners wonder is how often they need to get their tanks pumped. You can ask a septic pumping company to help you determine the right frequency if you want to know. 

Most septic companies determine the frequency by analyzing several details. The details that matter are the tank size, home size, and family size. 

If you have a large tank and only one or two family members, you might be able to go six to eight years between pumping services.

If you have a smaller tank and a large family, you might need these services every one to two years.

It’s also a good idea to learn the signs to watch for that indicate that your tank is full. One sign is slow-moving drains. If every drain in your home moves slower than usual, it might mean your tank is full. 

Another sign to know about is puddling water near your tank. If you see water near your system and can smell that it is sewer water, you should contact a septic company immediately. 

THE TOP WAYS TO MAINTAIN YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM

You might be able to get your tank pumped less often if you care for your system properly. Learning how to use a septic system can help you fill the tank more slowly and avoid issues with the system. 

Here are some of the best tips to follow to help you achieve these goals:

SPREAD OUT YOUR WATER USAGE

One thing that many homeowners don’t realize is the effects of their water usage. A system can’t handle an overload of water all the time. If you use too much water all at once, it can cause the system to fail. 

To avoid this issue, spread out your water usage. Don’t do all your laundry on one day. If you have a lot of family members that shower daily, have some shower in the morning and some at night. 

DON’T PLACE ANYTHING IN YOUR DRAINS

Next, you should aim to use your drains only for waste and wastewater. Therefore, you shouldn’t place anything else in your drains except for the materials that come from the human body. 

GET YOUR SYSTEM PUMPED BEFORE YOU EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS

If you wait until you have a problem to get your tank pumped, you might end up with complications to your system. Instead, hire a company for septic tank pumping services regularly to keep your system working properly.

We offer septic pumping services and other plumbing-related services. Call us today to schedule an appointment for services.