As a homeowner with a septic system, you probably know that there is going to be some routine maintenance involved. But, keeping up with septic tank pumping every three to five years may seem like a bit of an arbitrary number. Should it be more often? Less often? How do you know? Here are some basic facts about why three to five years is the recommended length of time between septic tank pumping:
- For a typical 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, your septic tank operates at about 1, 000 gallons. It’s important that your septic tank is never at capacity, but instead maintains a few inches of free space at the top so that wastewater flows freely from tank to drain field.
- Over time, the solid waste that separates in your septic tank can eventually build-up, leading to septic tank problems and an overflow of effluent into your yard or back into your home. Like most homeowners, you probably want to avoid this.
- Most homeowners don’t want to measure the amount of sludge and scum that has built up in their septic tank to know when to schedule septic tank pumping. So, the recommendation of every three to five years allows for homes that may use their septic tank more or less, depending upon household size and water usage.
There are several different factors that may affect how often you want to schedule septic tank pumping. As mentioned before, your household size and the amount of water you use are important, as well as the age and size of your septic tank.
At William Dustin Septic, we can help you determine the best schedule for septic tank pumping, so you don’t have to worry that you’ve missed an important routine maintenance call. Reach out to us today to learn more.