Septic Tank Cleaning: How Often Should You Do It?
Whenever you flush your toilet or drain your kitchen sink, have you ever wondered where the waste water goes? They go to a septic tank which is a system that treats liquid wastes to prevent contamination of the ground water and other bodies of water.
In most cases, a septic tank is a water tight tank that is made from concrete or plastic lined with a bed of gravel which helps filter the wastewater stored in the tank. The septic tank has a capacity to hold the water for a long time so that the solid particles are processed and eventually settle at the bottom as sludge.
The septic tank is the most abused system in your house; hence it can deteriorate over time. A septic tank usually fails if it is located in an inappropriate area and if it not properly maintained. Once the septic fails, it can cause health hazards not only to your family but also to your neighbors as well. A failed septic tank also has the propensity to pollute nearby sources of water including streams, rivers and even drinking water sources.
A properly designed septic tank can last for about 30 years. However, does this mean that you only need to clean your septic tank every 30 years? The answer is definitely no! It is a general rule that the sludge and scum need to be cleaned out of the septic tank every two to five years depending on the tank’s size as well as the amount of solid that enter the tank. Typically, an average family that has four or five bedrooms can hold 1,250-1,500 gallons of waste water inside the septic tank.
Moreover, the clean out interval is also determined on the basis of a 100-gallon tank capacity per individual yearly. This means that a septic tank that has a capacity of 1,000 gallons used by a family with just two members should be cleaned after five years [1,000/(100x2)]. On the other hand, if you also have a garbage disposal, it also increases the load of the septic tank by as much as 50%. In this case, you need to consider septic tank cleaning twice as often. Because of this, it is generally not recommended to use a garbage disposal if you want to increase the lifespan of your septic tank.
When it comes to cleaning your septic tank, it is important that you do not delay getting septic tank cleaning services; otherwise you will suffer inevitable issues in the future. If you are looking for a company that offers septic tank cleaning services, then you can browse through our listings for the right company that can do the job for you.