Maintaining a regularly-pumped septic tank is crucial to ensure waste doesn’t enter the drain field and pollute groundwater or damage pipes. How often your tank requires pumping will depend upon both its size and usage.
If you are considering septic tank services, make sure you request an itemized pricing structure to identify any possible hidden fees or costs. This will help identify potential additional expenses.
Installation
There are various factors that play into the cost of installing and pumping out a septic tank. Of particular significance is determining which tank and system will best meet your home’s budget, soil quality and waste production needs. Once your system has been set up it may take time to fully fill up and begin functioning effectively; regular inspections are critical in keeping it operating optimally to reduce pumping expenses over time.
Septic tanks are linked to drain fields via perforated pipes. When liquid waste reaches the top of the tank, it is pumped out onto the leach field where bacteria and microbes break it down into neutral liquid that seeps back into the soil. Additives may help speed up this process and decrease pumping frequency.
Dependent upon the size and frequency of your household and toilet usage, you may require having your septic tank pumped more or less frequently; experts suggest pumping every three to five years for households consisting of four members or more.
Before embarking on any major renovations or additions to your home, it is prudent to have your septic tank inspected in order to avoid expensive repairs. A septic tank that is too small will need replacing sooner than one that fits perfectly into its environment.
An effective septic tank service begins by first locating and uncovering their tank, which may prove more costly depending on soil type or whether the tank lies underground. When their lid has been open for inspection purposes, technicians will rinse out and inspect for damages before clearing away sludge, cleaning up surrounding areas, replacing dirt as necessary and reseeding lawns as required.
To reduce septic tank cleaning costs, try making some adjustments to your daily routine. Install water-saving fixtures, take shorter showers with cold or warm water rather than hot, and dispose of food waste via garbage disposal only. Furthermore, fixing leaky faucets promptly is another effective way of protecting against potential systemic issues, while spreading large loads out over the week instead of multiple trips through your washing machine on an everyday basis can also help.
Additives
Many homeowners believe they can extend the time between septic tank pump-outs and improve system performance by using septic system additives. These products can be found at home improvement and building stores, hardware outlets, supermarkets and even some supermarkets, advertised both on television and the Internet, sold through telephone solicitation or door-to-door sales and some are even sold door-to-door sales – yet most don’t do what they claim; some even cause harm to both septic tanks and drain fields!
Septic systems are designed to work in harmony with nature. Your waste in your septic tank is separated into layers by bacteria; solids sink to the bottom while fats rise up into a scum layer, with bacteria breaking it all down into liquids and gases which are flushed from your home. Most problems arise when bacteria populations drop below optimal levels causing waste digestion problems that lead to unpleasant odors or blockages in your system. However, several additives on the market promise to maintain high bacteria counts including inorganic compounds compounds or enzyme additives and biological stimulants.
Chemical septic tank additives can be particularly hazardous as they enter a septic tank and eliminate all beneficial bacteria responsible for breaking down solid waste naturally. Furthermore, these chemicals may leach out into drain fields and pollute soil and groundwater sources. Furthermore, their use is costly as these additives damage both tanks and drain fields and could potentially incur significant repair bills – not to mention damage the environment itself!
Biological septic tank additives consist of bacteria, yeast, and/or enzymes and are touted to aid digestion by breaking up surface scum and aiding digestion, while clearing and restoring blocked drain fields. Unfortunately, no scientific proof exists to support their efficacy or lengthen time between pump-outs.
Maintaining your septic system requires having it professionally inspected and pumped regularly by a trained technician. In addition, avoid using chemical household cleaners and disinfectants in your home that may destroy beneficial bacterial populations that break down waste products.
Pumping
Be sure to get an upfront pricing structure when hiring a septic tank service to pump your system. Be sure to ask for details of all charges including excavation and disposal fees so that you know exactly how much the job will cost before signing on the dotted line. Getting all this information up-front will save you money in the long run.
Most homeowners should have their septic tanks pumped every three to five years. If your tank is larger and you have multiple people living in your house, however, more frequent pumping may be required. A professional inspector can assist in determining an appropriate schedule for your system.
Septic tank pumping involves inserting a large siphon hose into an access pipe to sucking out waste material from within, before transporting it to a treatment facility where it’s converted into fertilizer or used to generate power. While homeowners can perform this task themselves, leaving it to professionals will prevent accidental injury or damage to either your tank or home.
At the installation of a new septic tank, contractors will dig to reach the level of their system before building a concrete septic tank lid and covering it with gravel or sod cap. Sometimes this process may involve blasting rock to reach this level – this typically results in higher labor and equipment costs as it requires extra blasting effort to reach this point in ground.
If you want to minimize the cost of having your septic tank pumped, try to limit how much solid waste enters it. That means never flushing paper towels, tissues, tampons or sanitary napkins down the toilet; only using efficient toilets and showerheads are suitable. Compost food scraps instead of sending them down the drain; plant trees and shrubs far from its absorption field as a further preventive measure.
Another way to lower septic tank pumping costs is to have your septic system regularly inspected, which will help avoid clogged drains and unpleasant odors that signal its time for pumping.
Repairs
Your septic tank serves as the only waste system in your home, so its upkeep must be prioritized on an ongoing basis. Failing to do so could cause it to overflow and flood back into your house causing flooding issues. There are professional services that offer affordable septic tank cleaning and emptying solutions which keep the entire system in top condition preventing clogs that could damage laterals and overflow into leach fields.
Your septic tank’s frequency of maintenance depends on its size and the number of people living in your home. As a rule of thumb, its pumping should take place every three to five years, although this can depend on usage habits and appliances in your home.
Pumping involves scraping the bottom of your tank to clear out any solid debris that has collected at its base, then using a hose to collect liquids and scum from its top surface. At this time, they’ll also clean your filter and inspect your tank for necessary repairs.
Additionally, septic tank cleaning companies will need to transport wastewater directly to an authorized disposal plant; pricing of this service will depend on both distance and amount of fuel consumed for transportation.
Location can also have a dramatic effect on service costs as the septic service will spend additional time running hoses from their truck to your home for pumping purposes.
Pumping your septic tank on an ongoing basis is one of the best ways to minimize costs associated with its upkeep and extend its lifespan by doing it regularly. Many homeowners may be tempted to postpone service due to high costs; however, this could result in costly repairs later. On average, an septic tank typically lasts 50 years; you can extend that by regularly pumping.
