After nearly six decades in the business of servicing septic systems, Dan’s Plumbing and Septic is confident about sharing how important it is to pump your septic tank on a regular basis. Conventional wisdom states that a septic tank should be pumped and cleaned every three to five years. Of course, that range is provided because every home that has a septic tank places different demands on it. If your family is conscious of the amount of water you use and are attentive to toilet use, you can probably have your septic tank pumped closer to the five-year mark. But even if you are conscious of water use, if you have a large family, your septic tank will almost certainly be used more. In this case, you may be wise to have your tank pumped more often to avoid serious problems.

Common Signs It Is Time To Have Your Septic Tank Pumped

There are some common signs that your septic tank needs to be pumped. Those signs include:

● The smell of sewage coming from toilets and sinks or outside of your home.
● Drain clogs. If your toilet fails to flush thoroughly, it could be a sign that your septic tank needs to be pumped.
● Overflows. If toilets or sinks back up and overflow, or if you have standing water in your yard, it may be that the cause is that your septic tank is too full.
● If you notice that patches of your lawn are greener and lusher, it could be that your lawn is receiving the nutrient-rich overflow from a too-full septic tank.

Tips for Taking Care of your Septic Tank

If you recently moved into your house and do not have extensive experience with septic systems, it is important to become familiar with the do’s and don’ts of septic tanks so that you can maximize the amount of time in-between septic tank checkups. For example, it is important to know that hair—whether human or pet hair—will not decompose in a septic system. Hair can therefore create problems for your septic system. You will need to take precautions to limit the amount of hair that ends up in your septic tank.

It is also generally accepted that a mix of baking soda and vinegar can help to prevent clogs in your septic system, so you may want to add such items to your home budget. Similarly, it is generally acceptable to use small amounts of bleach-based cleaners in your home, but it is not recommended that you ever use common drain cleaners.

Professional Septic Tank Maintenance

Taking precautions like these will help you maintain the health of your septic system. However, when you need professional assistance with a septic problem or a routine pumping, call us at 763-434-6814.