Septic Tank Cleaning Is An Essential Maintenance Chore That Has To Be Done By A Professional

21 July 2022
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog

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Learning how to care for your septic tank isn't too difficult. Your main job is to control what you flush down the drains. Septic tank cleaning is an essential maintenance task, but that needs to be done by a contractor since DIY cleaning isn't possible. Here's what to know about septic tank cleaning

Sewage Can Back In Your Home If The Tank Is Full

Wastewater drains out of the tank, but solids accumulate over time and turn into sludge. The sludge layer keeps building, and if the tank gets too full because you forgot to have the tank cleaned out, the sludge can back up the sewer line and come up your toilet or drains.

This creates a toxic mess, and the sludge can clog up the septic tank filters and cause damage to the drainfield. That's why it's important to have your tank pumped out before it gets too full.

Water Fills The Tank Quickly After Pumping

There shouldn't be any need for you to check the contents of your septic tank. It may even be dangerous for you to do so since a septic tank contains toxic gases. If you did check the tank after it had been pumped, you might be surprised to find out that it's filling up fast. That's because it fills with water since the drain outlet is in the middle of the tank.

Since there is no thick sludge layer on the bottom, the water layer gets larger, but it eventually shrinks as the tank fills with solids again. This is normal after septic tank cleaning and not a sign of a problem with your tank.

You Don't Have To Be Home For Septic Tank Cleaning

When the contractor comes to pump out your tank, they will park the pump truck on your driveway or at the curb and then pull a long hose to the tank to clean it. The hose vacuums out the contents of the tank to haul it to an authorized dump site.

The contractor agitates the contents of the tank so sludge won't be stuck to the bottom. When the contents of the tank are removed, the contractor can make a quick check for cracks and other damage. All of the work is done outdoors and you won't need to help or even be at home while the contractor works.

A Garbage Disposal Fills The Tank Up Quicker

A garbage disposal is a convenient appliance, but it causes your septic tank to fill up quickly. That may not matter to you, but if it does, you might want to avoid using your disposal.

The frequency of septic tank cleaning is estimated based on the size of the tank and the number of people that live in the home. A garbage disposal is considered to be the same as an extra person, so you'll probably need septic tank cleaning sooner if you use your disposal regularly.