Your septic system offers invaluable service to your home. It keeps your space clean by collecting liquid and solid waste from your toilets and drains and diverting it to your drain field for basic treatment.
If you use and maintain your septic system, it shouldn’t give you any stinky troubles. With appropriate upkeep, most wastewater tanks should last 20 to 30 years.
Still, considering how the entire system is underground and difficult to inspect on your own, you may wonder, “How often should I clean my septic tank?”
Here’s everything you should know about septic tank maintenance. We also include tips and pointers to keep this valuable home feature in mint condition and avoid expensive repairs and dangerous health risks.
What Is a Septic System?
A septic system is an underground wastewater collection and treatment system used in many homes and commercial buildings. Its design allows it to manage and safely treat wastewater from your baths, toilets, and kitchens.
Most wastewater systems consist of three different elements. First are the drain waste pipes, the lines that carry the waste from your home to the septic tank. Then there’s the settling (septic) tank to store the collected material.
Lastly, the distribution box and drain field disperse the wastewater into trenches underground. The drain field, often consisting of perforated pipes and gravel beds, lets the water percolate into the soil to remove harmful chemicals and bacteria.
Pumping is the most common way to clean septic tanks and wastewater lines. They remove accumulated sludge and scum, ensuring the entire system works as it should. Regular pumping prevents system failures like backups and blockages.
Factors That Affect Septic Tank Cleaning Frequency
Now you know how your septic system works and why cleaning it is important. But how often should you clean your septic tank? Here are several factors you should consider:
The Size of Your Household
Think of the size of your property and how much the septic system is being used daily. That means how big your home is and how many family members live with you.
Naturally, the more people that use the baths, kitchens, and toilets, the more frequently you want to pump the septic tank. A family of four, for instance, may need septic cleanup once every four years.
Pumping the tank regularly according to your household size can maintain your septic system’s health without breaking your budget.
The Amount of Water You Use
Think of the amount of wastewater you and your family generate as well. If you or your family use water excessively, the quicker the waste accumulates, which leads to more frequent inspection and cleaning.
Some common water usage habits that may increase wastewater generation include taking unnecessarily long showers, using high-capacity washing machines, or plugging multiple appliances simultaneously.
The average home uses 300 gallons of water per day. However, one leaky or running toilet can add hundreds of gallons more to your daily consumption. So, think about what that additional 30 minutes daily in the shower can do!
The Size of Your Septic Tank
Aside from your household size and water habits, consider the size of your septic tank. Septic tank sizes are measured in gallons, representing the least amount of water they can hold to function optimally.
Smaller septic tanks (1000 gallons or below) may require more pumping because they fill up faster. If you live in a small loft or apartment, you may need to clean up every two years.
Most household tanks have between 1,250 and 1,750 gallons of wastewater capacity. These larger tanks can go longer between pumping, but it mostly depends on how many people use them and how much.
How Often Should You Clean Your Septic Tank?
An unmaintained septic system poses various health risks, from unpleasant odors to water contamination. It’s also potentially costly, with a higher risk of damages that may need emergency repairs.
How often should you pump your septic tank?
Generally, you should pump a septic system every 2 to 5 years. Here’s a simple guide you can follow depending on the number of people in your home:
- For one to three people, clean the septic tank every 4 to 6 years
- For three to six people, pumping should be done every 3 to 5 years
- For six or more people, regular pumping every 2 to 4 years is necessary
Besides your septic tank, taking extra care of your system’s drain field is just as crucial. Avoid parking close to the wastewater dispersion area to prevent damaging the drain lines.
Planting trees or shrubs near the septic lines may also clog the pipes with roots. If you love gardening, consult the nearest expert professional for the appropriate distance for planting greeneries.
Signs Your Septic Tank Needs Cleaning
When it comes to pumping septic tanks, timing is everything. Knowing when your septic system needs a thorough cleanup can save you thousands of bucks from costly repairs.
If you don’t know how to tell if your septic needs pumped, here are some signs you should watch out for:
Nasty Odors
If you notice a foul smell wafting from your drains and toilets, it’s your sign to call in the pros. Most often, a nasty odor means your septic tank is full and releasing toxic fumes that find their way out the drains.
You want to act quickly, as the smell can indicate system failure. Reach out to the nearest septic cleaning company and have your septic tank pumped to eliminate the odors and avoid further stinky issues.
Gurgling Sounds
Another thing to watch out for is unnatural sounds coming from your plumbing appliances and drains. These noises indicate that your settling tank has built up too much solid waste, causing air pockets that disrupt wastewater flow.
If you flush your toilet and hear odd gurgling sounds, you should contact a professional for an inspection and pumping. Ignoring these signs can lead to more severe problems, such as water backing up drains.
Healthy Grass Growing Above Your Drainfield
Green grass adds color to your home. However, when they’re growing lushly over your septic drain field, this may be a cause for concern.
Vibrant greens above your drain field can mean a tank leak is going on, fertilizing the grass with untreated wastewater. This happens because manure, like many fertilizers, contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and macronutrients.
Call an expert septic tank cleaner to prevent such overgrowth and ensure the proper functioning of your home’s waste disposal system.
Water Pooling Over the Septic Drain Field and Tank
A strong rainfall can saturate a septic drain field and prevent the system from draining properly. So, if you’re certain heavy rain is the reason for water pooling over your septic tank, you can certainly give it time to catch up.
However, if there’s standing water or dampness even without rainfall, this could indicate that the septic tank may be clogged and therefore causing the leak. Call in a cleaner for septic pumping immediately.
You also want to be proactive in managing water around your septic system. Redirect rainwater as far away from the drain field and keep water sources 50 to 100 feet away.
Septic Tank Cleaning Process
Everything starts and ends with an inspection. The plumber will examine the system for leaks and gauge the amount of sludge and scum accumulated inside your septic tank.
But before they can do that, they must locate the septic tank. Often it involves turning over some part of your yard to access and uncover the tank lid.
A large truck carrying a storage tank and special equipment will arrive at your home. The professional will hook a hose to the truck tank and stick the other end into your septic storage.
Once in place, a technician will start the suction and begin removing the debris, solid waste, and scum from your septic system into the truck tank.
In many cases, a cake of waste will have settled underneath the septic tank. This thick layer of scum and sludge will need breaking down, which the plumber will do using a muckrake.
While pumping, the technician may stop the suction to inspect what’s happening inside your septic system. They do these things to look for damage or observe if water keeps flowing into the tank.
The entire cleaning process should take 30 to 60 minutes depending on your tank’s size.
At the end of the pumping session, they should have a clear idea of the overall health of your home’s septic tank. They’ll inform you of potential issues and repair costs, allowing you to budget accordingly.
Hiring Professional Septic Tank Cleaners
A well-functioning septic system is a crucial aspect of a healthy home. Cleaning your tanks regularly ensures your household enjoys the benefit of clean, odor-free living.
It’s important to have professionals do regular inspections, maintenance, and cleanup to ensure the longevity and optimal functioning of your septic system.
We offer expert septic solutions to homes and businesses throughout Durango and Southwest Colorado. Don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a consultation today!
