A septic system is essential if you live in the country and don't have a city sewer to hook up to. Having your own system means you need to take care of it or you could end up with a toxic mess in your house. One of the most important maintenance tasks is regular septic system pumping. The tank holds waste, so the tank will get too full and back up unless the waste is removed. Here are helpful things to know about the frequency of septic system pumping.
You Can Estimate The Frequency
It's good to know when to pump your tank so the tank never gets too full. Several factors affect how fast waste accumulates, such as how many people live in your home and if you have a garbage disposal. However, you can also estimate how often the tank needs to be pumped out, or you can ask a septic contractor to calculate it for you.
You can find septic tank pumping charts online that tell you the probable size of your tank based on the number of bedrooms in your home. You can then use the chart to find the size of the tank in gallons and the number of people in your home to determine the frequency with which your tank will probably need to be pumped out.
Changes To Your Lifestyle Can Fill the Tank Sooner
If you add a garbage disposal to your plumbing, that acts as another person when it comes to adding waste to the tank. A change like this might cause your tank to fill up quicker, so you'll also need to watch for signs of a full tank and get the tank pumped out sooner when needed.
You should suspect the tank is full when your toilet gets slow to flush, when you smell sewage, or when sewage backs up in your yard or house. Have your tank pumped before it backs up or the tank could clog and lead to other problems.
A Tank That Doesn't Fill Might Be Leaking
A tank might also go much longer than expected before it needs to be pumped out. If that happens, there might be a crack in the tank that's letting waste leak out. It's a good idea to get the tank pumped on schedule rather than let a leak go on. When the tank is pumped out, the contractor looks for leaks and makes arrangements to repair them.
Living with a septic system isn't difficult. You just have to be aware of what you put down your toilets and drains. You also need to watch for slow drains and toilets since tree roots can get in the tank as well and cause problems. Regular septic system pumping keeps your tank cleaned out and also gives the contractor a chance to find problems if there are any.
Contact a local septic service, such as Morris Septic & Sewer, to learn more.