How Septic Tank Pumping Works And Why It's Important To Do It Before The Tank Gets Too Full

If your septic system was installed already when you moved into your home, you may not be sure how the system works. One important thing to know is that you must pump the tank out occasionally. The tank holds solid waste, so the tank gets full if you don't have it pumped out in time. Here's some information about how septic tank pumping works.

Pumping Removes Fat, Sludge, And Water

When you have your septic tank pumped out, the contractor removes all of the contents in the tank. This includes the fat, water, and sludge layers. A septic tank is designed with an exit tube in the middle of the tank. Usually, during daily operation, the water in the middle flows out of the tube to the drainfield.

That's why your septic tank doesn't need to be cleaned out more often. The water escapes as soon as the level reaches the outlet pipe, and the fat and sludge stay in the tank. However, if you are lax about septic tank pumping and the fat or sludge layers get too deep, they could potentially reach the exit drain and flow to the drainfield.

This is a bad situation since solids and fats clog the field and lead to problems that could be expensive to repair. For that reason, it's important to do septic tank pumping on a regular schedule, which might take a few years depending on the size of your tank and how much you use your plumbing.

Water Conservation Is Still Important

You may wonder why you're told to conserve water when you have a septic system if the water just flows through the tank. A septic tank works because water is supposed to be held in the tank long enough to allow oils and fat to rise to the top and heavy solids to fall to the bottom.

If your tank is too full, or if you use too much water too fast, solids and fats may not fall out, and then your septic system could get clogged. These problems can be avoided if you conserve water and have septic tank pumping done before your tank gets too full.

Pumping Usually Includes A Quick Inspection

When the contractor pumps out your septic tank, they can also use the time to do a quick inspection so you can have repairs done if they're needed. They may check the condition of the baffles, check for cracks and leaks, and verify wastewater doesn't back up into the tank as it's being pumped out. Any of these issues could mean your tank needs a full inspection and repairs. You wouldn't know your system was having problems if not for routine septic tank pumping.

Reach out to a septic tank service near you to learn more.

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