Your septic tank works round the clock to treat household wastewater. It plays an important role in maintaining your property in a habitable condition. A failing septic tank is a recipe for disaster. From causing sewage backups, to potentially contaminate nearby water bodies, the last thing you want is a failing septic tank. Regular septic tank pumping addresses and prevents problems to help keep your septic tank in good working condition.
If you are looking for Septic Tank Pumping Sonoma County, then look no further than L.J. Construction. Our septic tank technicians have years of experience pumping and cleaning different types of septic tanks.
The Importance of Regular Septic Tank Pumping
Septic tanks can become full over time. If not pumped out promptly, an overfull septic tank could cause serious problems. Ideally, you’d want to have a professional pump your septic tank before it gets full.
Here are some reasons why regular septic tank pumping in Sonoma County is important.
- Prevents overflows and backups: When a septic tank is full, there’s a risk of sewage backing up into the home or surfacing on the ground causing unpleasant odors. Sewage contains organic and inorganic waste and could potentially pollute the surrounding environment.
- Maintains system health: Clogged drain fields can be very expensive to repair or replace. Regular septic tank pumping stops solids from entering the drain field and clogging the soil pores. Septic tanks that are pumped regularly and properly usually last longer than the ones that are pumped irregularly.
- Protects public health and the environment: Properly functioning septic systems treat sewage and prevent contaminants from reaching groundwater, surface water, and nearby water bodies.
- Compliance with regulations: In many areas, regular septic tank pumping is required by law to ensure that systems are functioning properly and do not pose a public health risk.
How to Tell if Your Septic Tank is Full
Here are some signs your septic tank is full and needs to be pumped.
- Slow drains: If the sinks, showers, or bathtubs in your home are draining slower than usual, your septic tank may be full or almost full.
- Unpleasant odors: An unmistakable sign of a full septic tank is foul odors emanating from the area around the tank or drain field. Odors are usually caused by overflowing or backed-up waste.
- Gurgling sounds: Gurgling sounds coming from your plumbing system, especially immediately after you flush your toilet or use a sink, can indicate a full or clogged septic tank.
- Pooling water: Water pooling in the yard, especially around the drain field or septic tank area can be a sign of an overflowing tank. Pooling usually occurs when the tank is full, and the liquid has nowhere else to go.
- Unusually green grass over your septic tank: If the grass over your tank is unusually healthier or greener than the rest of your yard, it may be time to pump your septic tank
- Sewage backup: One of the most common signs of a full septic tank is sewage backing up in your home. Backups typically occur in low-lying areas such as basements first.
The Ideal Septic Tank Pumping Frequency
A regular septic tank should be pumped every 3-5 years. When determining septic tank pumping frequency, consider important factors such as the size of your household, septic tank size, and the total amount of household wastewater generated.
Household Size
As a rule of thumb, the more household members, the more frequently the tank needs to be pumped. The type of cleaning products and soaps used and how often they’re used can also affect septic tank pumping frequency. Here are the ideal pumping frequencies depending on the number of household members
- 1-3 people – pump your septic tank every 4-6 years
- 3-6 people – pump your septic tank every 3-5 years
- 6-10 people – pump your septic tank every 2-4 years
Septic Tank Size
The capacity of septic tanks usually varies between 1,000 gallons and 2,000 gallons. If you have a 1,000 gallon tank, have it pumped every 30 months or 2 and 1⁄2 years. Septic tanks with a capacity of 1,500 gallons should ideally be pumped every 4 years. 2,000 gallon septic tanks need to be pumped every 5 years. If you do not know the capacity of your septic tank, have a septic tank contractor inspect your system to determine its size.
Amount of Household Wastewater Generated
On average, American households produce around 200-300 liters of wastewater per person every day. Septic tanks serving bigger households and septic tanks serving households that use more water should be pumped every 1.5 – 2 years.
How to Reduce Septic Tank Pumping Frequency?
When the number of solid particles entering household wastewater increases, the septic tank needs to be pumped more frequently. To reduce septic tank pumping frequency, control the number of solid particles entering the wastewater generated by your household.
Here are some simple, yet effective ways to reduce septic pumping frequency.
- Be mindful of what goes down your toilets: Do not flush solid waste such as wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and cigarette butts down your toilets as they can clog the system.
- Be careful with kitchen waste: Avoid putting grease, fats, and food scraps down the drain as they can solidify and clog the system or the drain field.
- Use your garbage disposal sparingly: Garbage disposals increase the amount of solids in your tank. As a result, it becomes full sooner and needs to be pumped more frequently.
- Steer clear of cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals: Household cleaning products containing harsh chemicals can disrupt the bacterial balance in the tank. As the bacterial population declines, the solids in your tank may not break down and you may need to have it pumped frequently.
- Maintain the drain field: Do not place heavy objects on your drain field or drive vehicles over it. Avoid planting trees nearby as tree roots can penetrate the system
L.J. Construction is a reputable septic tank contractor in Sonoma County and beyond. Whether you want to have a new septic system installed or an existing one maintained or pumped, we have got you covered. To learn more, call (707) 823-0247.