Things to Know Before Getting Your Septic Tank Pumped

With the welcoming season of spring, homeowners must begin to do a lot of things around the house. Planting flowers, raking up musty leaves, and cleaning out the gutters are just a few of the chores that must be done. Another chore to check off the list is getting the septic tank pumped if need be. When thinking about getting a septic tank pumped, there are several things that a homeowner must take into consideration.

Generally septic tanks need to pumped out every two to four years, depending on the size of the tank. Current regulations require homeowners to have at least a 1500 gallon tank. There are several factors that need to be considered when deciding if you should pump it out after two, three, or four years. Obviously, the more people that live in your household will require your septic tank to be pumped out sooner than later. A family of four that takes several showers a day, at least two washings, a load of dishes every day, and that uses the garbage disposal a couple times a day is advised to get it pumped after three years.

If this is a house that you have recently moved into, you may not be sure where exactly to dig the hole to get to the septic tank. Whether you have a good indication or not of the location of the tank, it is a good idea to get the septic plans from your city’s Board of Health. Generally speaking, a septic tank is five feet wide and ten feet long. Whoever installed the tank should have followed guidelines to have the tank placed at least ten feet away from the foundation of your home. Looking for the exit direction of the black pipe that pumps away your waste in your basement, will lead you to the location of your tank in your yard.

Think about the winters and when you see snow on the ground in your yard. Is there a part of your yard that seems to melt away the snow quicker? Chances are that location is exactly where your tank is because the septic system is very hot. Poking around with a long pointed metal stick will also give you clues as to the location of your septic system.

If you are planning to move in the very near future, you best wait to pump out your septic tank. Realtors tell homeowners that if the tank has recently been pumped and the new buyers of your home get the Title V inspection of your tank, it will fail. The Title V inspectors will think that you must have had it pumped because of some concerning reason that you did not want them to know about. Flushing of condoms, wipes, tampons, and pads will create problems with your septic tank. Also, if you put things such as egg shells, coffee grounds, or bones down your garbage disposal, you are awaiting disaster.

Getting your septic tank pumped is not something that you will be excited to do in the spring months, but it is necessary. Calling around to local septic tank companies will help you decide what is best for your situation. Also, by calling around to various companies, you will notice different pricings and you will find out if the companies do or do not dig the hole for you.