SEPTIC TANK PUMPING

In the last four weeks, I have covered many different ways to care for or maintain your system.  Many items have been ways to be mindful on a day-to-day basis (water usage, care when flushing, and lateral maintenance).  However, one of the most important things you can do for your system is pump it regularly. 


Here’s why…


The diagram above shows what an average septic tank contains on a daily basis.  You will see sewage or wastewater comes in from the house, then liquid, sludge and scum get trapped in the tank, and finally wastewater that seeps to the laterals field.

Though you may find all these components completely gross, it’s actually important that each are there in their respective amounts.  However, what’s most important is to regularly pump it out. 

Just like you change the oil on your car to get the bad stuff out, your septic system needs the same type of care.  If the solids that collect at the bottom of the tank aren’t cleaned out from time to time, they can build up and seep out to the lateral field.  You do not want this for your system.  If you can think of your lateral field as being a sponge, the solids that seep out to the “sponge” can clog it up and reduce the life of your system.

It is recommended that your tank be pumped every 3 – 5 years based on activity level.  Therefore, the more people who live in your home, the more frequently you need to have it pumped.  Families of four or more need to be on the 3 year side (maybe even 2 year if you entertain a lot).  If it is just you and your spouse, you could probably go every 5 years.  The main key is to remember it and make sure you do it regularly. 

Until next week!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You are what you read? Really?

Image
Do you agree with this statement?   “You are what you read.”   Prior to being a Pumper’s Wife I would have never really given this statement much thought…but now I can’t help but take it literally!!   You are what you read…if you read about fashion, you’re fashionable.   If you read about cooking, you’re a cook.   If you read about dogs you’re a…wait.   Let’s come back to this in a minute… When I taught science, I loved to read about the latest scientific discoveries…I still do.   I kinda think once a science teacher, always a science teacher…but I digress.     The age of the internet made reading these articles so easy.   As my students’ parents got to know me better, they would find great discoveries to share with me as well.   I especially liked reading anything relating to space or the oceans.   Though I am removed from the classroom now, I still have parents (and former students) who share articles they think I might ...
Read more

HITTING BLESSINGS "OUT OF THE PARK"

Image
Based on what I have written about in recent posts, I am guessing you can probably figure out two things about our family and business.  One, we like baseball.  Two, our area has been getting an excessive amount of rain.  (After seeing some video of the flooding in Texas, I can’t complain – I feel so very badly for those folks! We haven’t had near that amount in terms of rain!  My prayers are going out to those people.  Here in Nebraska, we aren’t currently flooded, but we are plenty wet and don’t seem to be drying out any time soon according to the weather reports!)  I saw this on Facebook the other day and almost peed my pants from laughing! I keep telling Jason I feel like we need to start building our own ark….either that or take up rice farming, but I digress… The rain has kept us very busy and though our business doesn’t advertise 24 hour service, there have been many nights and weekends spent working to help people who might be experien...
Read more

WINTER TIME AND SEPTIC TANK PUMPING

Image
It's that time of year that our family loves -- cool crisp fall days, deer season, sweatshirts, campfires, Thanksgiving...bring on the pumpkin spice too! But winter is coming... So does that mean we can't pump septic systems?  Well, not really.  In fact, many people like to have their tanks pumped in the fall and winter months because we don't screw up their grass since most of it is dormant at this point.   Whenever we pump tanks -- no matter what time of year it is -- our issues are the same, gaining access.  If the tank is too far from a driveway or road and we have to drive in a field, yard, pasture, etc, we have to be careful of the weather.  In the spring and summer, we have to be careful of rain.  (Well, we had to be careful of rain any year prior to this year...still wondering if rain has just decided to bypass the state for good...)  In the winter months, we have to be careful of snow and ice.  There is also that issue that some tanks hav...
Read more