Having your septic system pumped out regularly can help homeowners avoid backups and keep your septic system working properly for life.
Here’s what happens during a septic pumpout:
- One of our courteous and friendly drivers/technicians will call you prior to arriving at your home to ensure that you will be there.
- The driver/technician will locate your system, more specifically, the septic tank.
- Once the tank is location is determined the technician will locate the access holes.
- A hose will be placed inside the tank to thoroughly pump out and remove the contents. If the tank has two sides, both sides (two compartments) will be pumped out.
- If your system has a filter, our driver/technician will remove it, clean it and replace it.
- Our driver/technician will ask you to flush a toilet or run a faucet to ensure that water is flowing correctly to the septic tank. If all water enters the tank, then your pump out is complete! If there is an issue with water flow or backup in the house, then this demonstrates a line clog within the pipe leading to the septic tank. A plumber will be needed and we can recommend one to you.
- Once completed the driver/technician will replace the lids and any sod that was removed.
- Our driver/technician will make notes of the pump out on the work order and give a copy to you for your records.
Septic tanks should be inspected every 3 years and your system should be pumped out every 3-5 years depending on different factors.
For septic tank owners, you have a very specific natural process that breaks down the waste that comes from your drainpipes. Grease is not easily broken down in the anaerobic system and will eventually plug septic lines, leading to septic tank failure through inefficient drain field absorption. Even for those who do not have a septic tank to worry about, grease can stick in pipes, eventually causing them to clog.
Continued disposal of kitchen grease down your drains will in the best case accelerate your need for a septic tank pumpout, but more than likely result in your system requiring drain field repair, which can be an extremely costly process.
This is a question that we receive often. Homeowners are often surprised to find that just days after their septic tank has been pumped – they open the tank to discover that it appears to be full once again. Though we try to inform our customers that this is normal, it the question still arises, since the idea of a septic pumpout suggests that everything should be gone from the tank.
What many do not understand is septic tanks are part of a system. The septic tank acts as a separator. It is designed to collect water and solids that are flushed from the house. Every septic tank has a standard operating level that helps separate the liquid from the solids. The operating level is approximately 10” below the ceiling of the tank.
It’s important to understand that the need for a septic tank pumpout is not necessarily determined by the tank’s level, but the amount of solids and scum in the tank.
However, if you have your tank pumped by an expert and you’re still experiencing backups or over flowing, contact your septic expert, as there may be repairs that need to be made.
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Its our goal to educate our customers on the importance of septic system maintenance and health. If you have a question simply fill out the form below and we’ll be happy to answer it!