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  • Writer's pictureMathew Hedge

When to Pump a Septic Tank? How Often Should I Pump A Septic Tank?

Septic systems are especially prevalent in rural areas that are not served by municipal sewer services. In spite of pumping waste through sewer mains to a central sewage treatment facility, a septic system pumps out solid and liquid waste from the house into a drain field and underground tank.


In a traditional septic system, all water and wastes are carried by the water and it flows down the home's drain system and through one main sewer pipe to the septic tank. The flow of wastewater is because of the simple gravity, or it may be increased with an electric pump. The septic tank can hold the waste material for long for the solids to settle to the bottom as oil, grease, and liquids — the scum later — float to the top.


Experts about septic pumping near me recommend that a septic tank must be inspected every two to three years and mechanical pumping is typically required every three to five years to empty the tank. Undersized systems that are in very heavy use may require pumping annually. Some systems have electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components, and these should be inspected more often, typically once each year.

Septic tank Pumping can remove sludge from the bottom of the septic tank, and this must be done before the sludge builds up to a level where it blocks the outlet pipe used by liquids to flow into the drain field. The frequency of this process depends on several factors:

  • Size of household: Larger households, predictably, produce more waste filling up the septic tank faster.

  • Amount of wastewater generated: The sheer volume of wastewater flowing into the septic tank decides how fast the septic tank fills up.

  • The number of solids in the wastewater: Households having many toilets, or who make frequent use of garbage disposals, can fill up the septic tank quicker.

  • Septic tank size: Larger tanks have more capacity to hold more solid sludge, and thus will need less frequent pumping.

These are the factors that determine the pumping of a septic tank.


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