How To Know When To Schedule Septic Tank Pumping
Septic tank pumping is a job that needs to be done every few years to keep your septic system flowing. Pumping out the tank before it gets too full is important or the tank might clog or sewage might back out of the tank. If you've not been living in your house very long, you may wonder if it's time to have the tank pumped out yet. Here's how to tell if or when you need the septic tank pumped.
Consult Local Regulations
The local health department may have regulations about how often your tank needs to be inspected and pumped. Your tank may need to be pumped more often, but it should at least be pumped at the frequency required.
Septic tanks fill at different rates depending on the size of the tank and the number of people living in your house. If your tank fills up fast, then you'll want to have it pumped out when it needs it, even if it is more frequent than what's recommended by the health department.
Measure The Tank's Contents
When waste fills your septic tank, it separates into three layers. Sludge sinks to the bottom and fats float on the top. The wastewater stays in the middle and drains out of the tank. A septic pumping company can measure the thickness of the fat layer on top and the sludge layer on the bottom, and let you know if it's time to pump the tank.
The goal is to have septic tank pumping done before the sludge or fat layer gets so thick that it gets close to the drain and escapes with wastewater. When solids and fat escape the tank, they can damage the drainfield and lead to costly repairs.
Watch For Signs Of A Full Tank
It's better to have septic tank pumping done before the tank gets too full, but if you don't and the tank gets full, you should notice signs. Call the septic tank pumping company if your toilets won't empty, sewage backs out of the toilet or up the shower drain, you smell sewage in your home or yard, or you see puddles of wastewater or sewage in your yard around the tank or drainfield.
A full septic tank leads to a toxic situation in your home, and it can cause damage to your septic system, so have your tank pumped out right away if you see signs that the tank is full. When you get the tank pumped, the contractor can recommend when to schedule the next visit so your tank can be pumped out before it gets too full.
For more information on septic tank pumping, contact a company near you.