A septic tank is an underground watertight container used typically in areas without a central sewer system. It collects sewage and treats wastewater through biological decomposition and drainage.
If you own a septic tank, regularly emptying would ensure no build-up of solid waste, which could cause the system to clog, ultimately leading to a system failure.
While a professional plumber can handle essential maintenance and septic tank repairs, they can advise on how often you should empty it. However, a general rule is that your septic tank should be emptied once every 3-5 years. Below are a few factors that determine this:
The Size Of The Tank
Tanks can hold only so much. So if you have a small septic tank, you would have to empty it more often than you would if you had a larger one.
Usage Of The Septic Tank
This is regarding the number of people living in your house. If you’re housing many people, the sewage is being used more often, and you’d have to empty it regularly.
What You Flush Into The Septic Tank
Some of the substances you flush down can cause blockages that need to be removed.
Indicators That Your Tank Is Full
If you have a septic tank, this information will come in handy as it will save you money and ensure your environment is safe.
Here Are A Few Signs To Look For:
Pooling water
Wastewater can overflow into the drainage area if your septic tank is full. So if you see water pooling around your septic tank, that is a sign that it needs to be emptied.
Odors
As you know. Every drop of waste water goes into your septic tank, and dirty water from your dishes, laundry, and toilet — it’s all in there. A mixture of all that can emit some potent nasty smell. If your nose picks up those odors, your tank needs to be emptied.
Slow Drains
A full septic tank can lead to blockages. So if you notice that the drains are slower than usual, this is a sign that your septic tank is full and needs to be emptied.
If your septic tank is not emptied when it should, solids will build up in the tank until there’s no room, fill up the pipes and clog them. Then ultimately results in you causing environmental damage.