Septic Services

When to Pump the Septic Tank – 5 Telltale Signs

While it’s something that you may not see every day, the septic tank is an important part of your home. Where do you think all the water from the kitchen sink and the bathroom go? Unfortunately, the septic system is more too often ignored and left uncared of. Until the worst happens. The septic tank needs to be properly maintained and that includes pumping from time to time. Here are five of the sure signs that your septic system needs to be pumped.

The “1 to 3” – year Rule

Basically, the septic system needs to be pumped around one to three years, depending on several factors like the number of people living in the house, or based on the system size and design. The key here is to always maintain a schedule of maintenance, so you don’t have to worry about the system failing you before it reaches its “retirement” age. Septic system installation is actually a very costly thing, and you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on reinstalling one anytime soon. Save money and energy by adhering to your annual pumping schedule.

Slow Draining Sink or Drain

One of the more obvious signs that your septic tank needs to be pumped is when you notice that it takes unusually long for water to get drained. Whether it’s from your kitchen sink, the bathtub, or the toilet, slow draining or flushing is something that you should seriously think about. Unless you want to experience having waste water backing up the drain, have your septic tank pumped in a jiffy.

Terrible Odor

Another horrendous indication that the septic system is feeling under the weather, consists of a terrible smell that may be coming from the sink or drain, or from the septic drain field itself. When the septic tank is all filled up, the waste gas will have nowhere to go to causing it to spring up from the toilet, the drain, and the kitchen sink, for that matter. If you’re noticing an unusually awful odor from your toilet or sink, call your reliable septic service provider immediately. This indicator is not only disgusting, it’s completely unhealthy and hazardous, too.

Long Standing Water on the Drain Field

A normal looking lawn should have equally-colored grass all year long, so if you’re noticing a greener patch, especially near the septic system drain field, you might be in for a septic system mishap. A surprisingly greener lawn patch could mean that the grass is getting fertilized by the waste water. As soon as the septic tank becomes full, the tendency is for water to back up the drain and start pooling somewhere. Over time, the waste water could reach the lawn causing the grass to become lusher and greener than the rest of the yard. When this happens, you need to act immediately. While a lush grass is definitely something nice to look at, the source may be something unhealthy to start with.

Backups in the Sewage

When worse comes to worst, a sewage backup can happen if you fail to have your septic tank pumped at the first telltale signs. Though this is something that you may unlikely experience, it’s still a possible thing, and that’s something that no homeowner would want to happen. Wastewater contains bacteria and viruses that could be hazardous to you and your family. You can prevent backups through regular septic tank pumping.

The septic tank can last for up to 50 years if properly maintained. When you seriously pay attention to the septic system, you can actually enjoy the optimum benefits of the entire septic system.

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