Septic Pumping Tips
If your house has a septic system, most homeowners budget for the expense of regular maintenance, which includes pumping the septic tank. However, how much benefit are you really receiving from your septic pumping service? Do they just arrive, empty your tank, and depart? Perhaps you’ve never considered asking.
Naturally, you anticipate that the septic business you employ to provide regular septic pumping services would also pump the sediments out of your tank and haul them away. However, while the tank is empty, this is the ideal moment to inspect it for any possible issues and provide suggestions for resolving them before they jeopardize the whole system. Every time your septic tank is pumped, it’s crucial to complete a three-point inspection: look at the tank baffles, the ratio of gray to solids, and soil incursion.
Tank baffles – Your septic tank’s baffles are intended to stop solids from entering your dispersal system, also known as your “leaching field,” where they belong. Tank baffles are often the first component to be removed. If done quickly enough, changing a baffle is more easier and less expensive than fixing a failing leaching field.
Gray Water to Solids Ratio – The number of bedrooms, or more particularly the number of occupants residing in your home, and the size of your septic tank, are often used to predict how frequently you should pump your tank. In a technical sense, the ratio of solids to water determines how often to pump. No more than 25% of the trash in a septic tank should be solid. Solids may also enter the septic system’s leaching area as a result of this. Your septic firm should be able to adjust your pumping schedule based on this observation to prolong the life of your leaching field.
Ground Water Intrusion: This issue with septic tanks manifests itself at the top of the tank as a severe rust discoloration. This might be a sign that the concrete has deteriorated or broken in some place. Leaching systems may get overloaded if there is too much water entering the tank. Additionally, it may indicate a structural issue with your tank or sewage line that may be fixed before it becomes worse.
In addition to these three checkpoints, which are typical with most septic pumping services, you should also clean any filters or effluent pumps if your septic system has them (if your leaching field is higher than your tank, you have an effluent pump). When pumping out your tank, another red indicator to watch for is black water. Black water indicates an improperly functioning septic tank and the death of aerobic microorganisms. This often indicates a ventilation issue.
A four-bedroom house with a 1500 gallon tank often has to be pumped out every two to three years on average. Five, ten, or even fifteen years longer than a septic system that is ignored, your septic system may live with proper care and upkeep. Call your local septic provider if you’re unsure of how often your tank has to be pumped. A good business ought to be eager to send a representative to your house so they may speak with you.