Septic pumping is a requirement for septic system health and maintenance. It removes solid waste and sludge from the tank, which the system is not designed to get rid of in any other way. If your home relies on a septic system, here are 3 things to know about septic pumping.
- You’ll need septic pumping every 3 to 5 years. While this is an average, most homeowners need to pump their septic tanks every 3 to 5 years due to the natural build-up of solid waste and sludge. Ideally, it’s best to be proactive with septic pumping instead of waiting for signs to indicate it’s time. Things like backed-up drains and foul odors mean pumping is overdue.
- Septic pumping is crucial for the septic system and the environment. Because routine pumping is a key component of septic system maintenance, neglecting it poses serious hazards to your health and the environment. If your tank gets too full of solid waste and sludge, it will find its way through the drain field and into the soil. This could lead to raw sewage in your lawn and deep in the soil, even contaminating groundwater, which is very often a public drinking water source.
- A quality septic company will also inspect your septic system during pumping to help catch any issues. Pumping the septic tank is necessary by itself, but a quality septic company will also take the opportunity to visually inspect the septic system to note any potential problems. Catching issues early can make a big difference in the damage to the system, the cost of repairs, and even mitigating potential hazards to public health.