A few weeks ago, my husband and I met with a general contractor. We talked with this professional about building an addition onto our small home. At this time, he informed us about a problem with our septic tank. We learned we would have to relocate a couple of septic lines before construction could begin on our home. Are you considering building an addition onto your house or business? Before you get too far along in this complex process, think about consulting with someone from a reputable septic service in your area. An expert from a septic service can inform you if your current septic tank will be large enough to accommodate the addition. On this blog, I hope you will discover the most common tasks performed by septic services. Enjoy!
Solving a Problem
The When, Why And Who Of Septic Tank Pumping
Debra Chapman
If you are the proud owner of a home equipped with its own on-site septic system, you may already understand some of the benefits of your situation. Instead of receiving a monthly bill for sewer services from your municipality, your family can use that money for other needs. In addition, private septic systems that have been properly designed, installed, and maintained usually have long, dependable life spans with little need for repairs.
However, most residential septic systems do require occasional maintenance in the form of septic tank pumping. If you have recently purchased a home equipped with a septic system or plan to do so in the near future, this information will help you better understand when to schedule a pump-out, why it is necessary, and who you should hire to do the job.
The when
Many factors must be considered in order to determine when your home's septic tank should be pumped out. These include:
- the number of occupants in the home and the amount of waste they produce
- the size of the home and the number of drains, sinks, and toilets
- the size and condition of the septic tank
In addition, mechanical issues with baffles, pumps, pipes, or drain fields may prevent waste from moving through the septic tank in a timely manner and result in an increased need for septic pumping.
The why
A healthy, fully functional septic tank with plenty of capacity for processing is able to efficiently digest solid waste and push processed effluent out to the drain field, where it can be absorbed and naturally filtered through layers of soil, rock, and sand. If non-digestible waste, such as plastics, oils, and non-biodegradable paper or other materials are introduced into the septic tank, the processing is slowed or stopped, and tank levels rise to unhealthy levels. If not corrected by pumping out excess waste solids and liquids, the tank may begin to leak, rupture, or become unable to break down wastes produced in the home. Scheduling regular septic pumping helps to keep waste levels within a healthy range, enabling the entire system to operate more efficiently.
The who
Homeowners who want to schedule septic tank pumping for the first time often wonder how to choose a service. If the previous owner had a particular septic tank pumping service that they were pleased with, continuing to use it may be a good option. Most importantly, choose a reputable, established septic tank pumping service with technicians and excellent references from other customers in your area.
For more information about septic tank pumping, contact a local service.
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