When do i need to empty my septic tank

Out of sight, out of mind. Pumping your septic tank is one of the easiest home maintenance tasks to forget about — the tanks are buried, and the access port is usually covered in dirt and hard to access. However, this important maintenance task will help you avoid smelly and expensive septic tank or drain field repairs. If they are regularly pumped, septic tanks can last decades and provide reliable sewage treatment.

The size of your family, tank size, whether or not you have a garbage disposal, and climate are a few factors that will influence the service interval.

Use the chart below to find out the how often you should pump your septic tank. If you notice the drains in your home backing up, this is a good indicator the septic tank needs to be pumped. Foul odors, sewage smells or standing water outside your home can also indicate septic tank failure. If none of these symptoms is present, locate your septic tank access port.

Use the chart below to find the correct service interval for your septic tank. All of the water a household sends down its pipes winds up in its septic system. The more water a household conserves, the less water enters the septic system.

Efficient water use improves the operation of a septic system and reduces the risk of failure. Toilet use accounts for 25 to 30 percent of household water use. Many older homes have toilets with 3. Replacing existing toilets with high-efficiency models is an easy way to reduce the amount of household water entering your septic system. Faucet aerators, high-efficiency showerheads, and shower flow restrictors help reduce water use and the volume of water entering your septic system. By selecting the proper load size, you will reduce water waste.

If you are unable to select a load size, run only full loads of laundry. Try to spread washing machine use throughout the week.

Doing all household laundry in one day might seem like a time-saver; but it can harm your septic system, not allow your septic tank enough time to treat waste, and could flood your drainfield. Other Energy Star appliances provide significant energy and water savings. Whether you flush it down the toilet, grind it in the garbage disposal, or pour it down the sink, shower, or bath, everything that goes down your drains ends up in your septic system.

What goes down the drain affects how well your septic system works. Your septic system is not a trash can. An easy rule of thumb: Do not flush anything besides human waste and toilet paper. Never flush:. Flushing Toilet Paper! Watch this video demonstrating why the only thing you should flush down your toilet is toilet paper.

Your septic system contains a collection of living organisms that digest and treat household waste. Pouring toxins down your drain can kill these organisms and harm your septic system. Whether you are at the kitchen sink, bathtub, or utility sink:. If you spend any time in an RV or boat, you probably know about the problem of odors from sewage holding tanks.

Your drainfield—a component of your septic system that removes contaminants from the liquid that emerges from your septic tank—is an important part of your septic system.

Being a subject that people don't necessarily want to talk about, confusion can often set in and misconceptions arise. We have put together a few myths and facts to keep you in the know about your septic tank. Unfortunately this is not true - Your septic tank needs emptying regularly to remove the settled solids, preventing them from moving through the system. Bacterial treatment also helps to improve and maintain the levels of bacteria within the tank.

The thought here is that chemicals will kill the bacteria however certain chemicals and detergents can be used safely. Try to use laundry and dishwasher soaps that have low or no phosphate in them. Bleach and disinfectants can kill the bacteria in the tank so use sparingly and in small amounts. Or, septic treatment like our Biotreat microbial formula, can help to replenish bacteria lost through overuse of chemicals. Again this is incorrect - The rate at which your septic tank needs emptying can vary depending on how many people live in your household, and the size of your tank, but The Environment Agency recommends that household septic tanks are emptied at least once per year.