How Often Do You Need To Have Your Septic Tank Pumped?
As a general guideline, a septic tank needs to be pumped and emptied every 3 to 5 years. Houses outside a city may count on sewage-disposal tanks since they do not have access to city sewer lines. A septic tank is an environmentally friendly, safe, and natural way to manage household waste. With correct care, upkeep, and septic tank pumping, a septic tank system can last for years. When a home has a septic system, wastewater leaves your house and gets in the tank, where it separates solids, liquid waste (called effluent), and residue. Because the solids (or sludge) are much heavier, they will settle to the bottom, where germs and bacteria will take in and dissolve them. The scum, comprised of oils, fats, and grease, is lighter and will drift to the top. The watery effluent middle layer will exit the tank by traveling through perforated underground pipelines to a drain or leach field. Gravel, rocks, and soil act as a filtration system to cleanse the water as it goes back to the groundwater system. Over time, too much sludge will decrease the bacteria’s capability to break down the waste or overflow into the drain field. That’s why septic tank cleaning is vital. So how frequently should you get your septic tank pumped? Here are a few factors to consider to keep in mind when figuring out how frequently your septic tank should be cleared.