What You Need to Know About Septic Cleaning

Almost all artificial things have one thing in common – the better you maintain them, the longer they last. Septic tanks are no exception. 

If you want your tank to efficiently handle the waste coming from your home and serve you for many years, it's important that you maintain it. This includes seeking regular septic cleaning services. Keep reading as this post teaches you some most important things you need to know about septic cleaning. 

How Often Should a Septic Tank Be Cleaned?

Most homeowners wonder how often they need septic cleaning services. On average, the EPA recommends household septic tanks be cleaned every three to five years. However, there are various situations when you may need more frequent cleanings. Here are some factors that will affect your cleaning schedule. 

  • Tank size
  • Household size
  • Water usage in your home

Overall, the easiest way to know when you need septic cleaning is to seek regular inspection services from a septic system professional. They will measure the sludge and scum layers in the tank to determine if a cleaning service is necessary. 

Why Is Septic Cleaning Important?

When you wash dishes in the kitchen sink, shower in the bathtub, run the washing machine, or flush a toilet, the used water flows through your drains into the septic tank. The tank is designed to process the wastewater and dispose of it off to a drain field. Unfortunately, some of the waste isn't eliminated and instead settles at the bottom of the tank.

With time, the waste turns into sludge or slime-like material, and the tank gets overfilled. You'll start to notice issues like slow drains, sewage backups, and foul odors. Septic cleaning removes the sludge-like material and wastewater, preventing your septic tank from overflowing. 

Can You DIY Septic System Cleaning?

Trying to clean a septic tank on your own is probably not the best idea. First, the process is challenging and laborious for anyone who isn't trained to handle septic systems. If you don't fully understand what you're doing, you could damage your tank or not remove all the sludge from the tank. 

Besides, septic cleaning requires a set of tools such as a pump truck, high-capacity vacuum, wrecking bar, muckrake, sewer jet, power rodding, and septic tank risers, which you may not have. And some of these tools are expensive, so buying them is likely to cost you more than hiring a septic tank cleaning service. Hence, get a professional to do the job, and save your septic tank as well as your money!

Share