Septic Tank Pumping

Pumping out Your Septic Tank

Many factors can contribute towards clogging your septic tank and stopping it from functioning normally. It is therefore advised to keep up with regular inspections and pumping in a bid to keep your tank working efficiently.

There are many chemicals in the market today that help break down the scum in the tank, but scum and sludge will always build up over time and as a result, the scum and sludge need to be pumped out regularly, especially when the layer of the scum reaches heights of up to 6 inches of the pipe or up to 12 inches of the tank itself. This is a very difficult task to accomplish which is why experts recommend that pumping done with respect to usage.

Before the septic tank service begins the process of pumping out your tank(s), you may ask the technician to measure the scum and sludge layer thicknesses.

By doing this, you can judge the rate at which the solids accumulate in the tank which will help you decide when you should have the septic tank pumped next. Most households will fall in the three to the five-year range for pumping frequency. Regardless of the pumping frequency that is used, the regular inspections of your septic system and tank effluent filter will provide assurance that all is well within these tanks.

It’s not a bad idea to have your septic tank checked every year as the inspection process includes measuring the level of sludge and scum in your pipes and checking your drain field to avoid an overflow or blockage. On average, a typical septic tank will need to be pumped every 12 to 36 months depending on the tank volume and number of people living in the home. Procedures for pumping and inspecting a septic tank can be located in this PDF manual.

You may find certain products that help stretch the periods between pumping, they are specifically made to facilitate the process of decomposing sludge in the tank by using pallet like technology, also, they may not be as effective as advertised, especially if the natural bacteria working in the septic tanks are active, another factor worthy of note is the fact that if regular pumping isn't done, methane gas can form, the tank can overflow back into the house and cause toilets, and sinks to flood with septic waste water.

Irregular pumping can also cause wastewater to seep to the areas near the tank, making the yard messy. This flooding of septic wastewater can cause damage to water that's underground, staining it and making it unclean.

Pumping Septic Tank

1. If you haven't pumped your septic tank in three years, then it’s time to do so, as executing this simple act of maintenance at regular intervals will save huge amounts later due to prolonged periods of septic system optimal functionality.

2. When you notice that your drains are going down very sluggishly it’s one of the sure signs that you need to pump your tank. Observe the running down of water from sinks, tubs, and washers. If they aren't sucking it down as they used to, then you have a good sign.

3. When everything in your yard and in the air suddenly starts smelling really bad, it is a sign that your septic tank is full. This problem is very unhealthy for the homeowner and as such, it is suggested that you call a septic technical expert immediately you suspect that your septic system has developed an issue.

4. The grass on the drain field ought to look exactly like the one on the lawn, so if you notice that it’s looking nicely greener than the grass around it, then it most likely means some wastewater is coming out to it and serving as more fertilizer for it.

5. If you have a long distance to pump or will require pumping up a steep hill or slope, provide the distance and elevation to where the vacuum pumping truck will be located. The pumper service company will determine if the truck can provide this type of service for you or not, and if not they will contact a special waste management company that is fully equipped to meet your septic tank pumping needs.

6. Is pumping the ejection pump pit part of your regular service? What is the charge for this service? If there is an ejector pump tank, it should be pumped in addition to the septic tank, rinsed with a hose, and pumped dry. If the pump tank is very full, you may be charged an extra fee.

7. If there is a crawl space, you may determine where the plumbing leaves the foundation wall, then use a probe bar to find the tank. If you have a fiberglass or polyethylene tank, a probe bar is not recommended unless extreme caution is observed. Probing will only work if the tank is not more than 1 to 2 feet under the surface. This way you'll know what to expect when your tank needs to be pumped.

If no crawl space is available you can sometimes go by where the plumbing vents are located in the roof. If one is behind the house and coming from a bathroom, this may line up with the exit point of the sewer line leading to the septic tank. Edward mentions this in another blog post with regard to the main soil stack vent which protrudes through the roof of your home and connects all smaller wet and dry venting throughout the building.