How Often Should I Pump My Septic Tank?

You want to make sure you keep your septic system in good working order. While it might seem complex, basic maintenance is easy, and you can always hire someone to handle all of it for you.

Most households will have a septic tank that should be inspected at least once every two years by a professional and pumped about every two to five years. Those who have other types of systems, which include pumps, mechanical components, or electrical float switches should be inspected more often. Ideally, they will be inspected about once per year. It will depend on the system type.

What Factors Contribute to Septic System Inspection and Pumping Frequency?

However, certain factors could require the inspections and pumping of the septic tank to happen more or less frequently. Essentially, you will need to pump your septic system as often as it needs to be pumped. Each system and home is different. Let’s look at a few examples of why that’s the case.

First, there is the size of the household and the number of people in the home. If there are a lot of people in the house, it will likely need to be done more often. Additionally, you will have to consider the total wastewater generated, the number of solids in the wastewater, and the size of the septic tank. A larger septic tank may not need to be pumped as frequently.

You also need to consider the level of sludge and scum in the septic tank. If that doesn’t sound like something you want to check or even know about, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, you don’t have to get involved in those parts of your septic system. Instead, you can work with professionals who know and understand septic systems. They can put your home’s septic system on a schedule for inspections every couple of years.

They can make sure that you aren’t pumping too often or not often enough. Again, every three years or so tends to be average. You aren’t going to need to pump annually unless you have a very large household in most cases.

Put your trust in the professionals at Elk Grove Village Sewer & Plumbing. We Can handle the inspections and the pumping, so you don’t have to think about it. Make sure you keep all of your maintenance records and records for any work that has been done on the septic system.