How Often Should You Have Your Septic Tank Pumped Out?

How good is your memory? Do you remember important dates like birthdays and anniversaries? Do you keep your weekly schedule in your head or in a paper or phone calendar? And the big question – do you remember the last time your septic tank was pumped?

Ok, that last one might not be as important for your day-to-day living but it is a valid question for keeping your household’s plumbing system running smoothly. Having a septic system instead of being part of a municipal sewer system has its advantages but there’s also some basic maintenance to perform.

In this article, we’ll cover how often you should have your septic tank pumped.

Why a septic tank needs to be pumped

When you flush a toilet or discard of dinner scraps down a garbage disposal, the wastewater travels down the drain, through underground pipes into the septic tank. Most of the water is released into the ground and the waste is held inside the tank. Eventually, the sewer solids will fill the tank. If it reaches max capacity, it can overflow and you can experience bad smells, a mucky yard, and plumbing issues inside your home. Luckily, there’s an easy fix – having the septic tank pumped.

Frequency of tank maintenance

How often you need to have our septic tank pumped depends on the size of the tank, how many people living in the home, and other factors like whether you have a garbage disposal or water softener system, and how often you do laundry or throw non-septic-friendly items down the drain. But here are some general guidelines:

• Family of 2, 500-gallon tank – pump every 2.5 years
• Family of 3, 1000-gallon tank – pump every 4 years
• Family of 5, 1000-gallon tank – pump every 2 years
• Family of 5, 1500-gallon tank – pump every 3.5 years

As you can see, the average is to have your tank pumped every 3-4 years. However, if you notice any signs of a septic system backup before then, don’t’ wait to get your tank pumped. Some signs to look out for include slow drains all over the house and gurgling sounds coming from the toilet when flushed.

Scheduling septic tank pumping service

The good news is that once you remember to schedule maintenance for your septic tank, your job is over. At Rick’s Plumbing, we can handle the dirty (and smelly) work of the pumping. Once the tank is cleaned out, it should be good to go for another few years. To schedule an appointment, give us a call today at (203) 874-6629.

• Published at August 14, 2019
• Category: Septic Tank System