One of the critical aspects of septic service in Modesto, CA and perhaps the most important of all maintenance items is septic pumping. Unfortunately, few homeowners can remember the last time their tank was pumped because they’re not on a regular pumping schedule—they simply pump their tanks after problems occur and wait for them to occur again in the future before they think to call a pumping service.
This brings about a very important question: “how often should you pump your septic tank?”
The answer is complicated. Septic pumping isn’t something that can be put on a timetable, which is why many homeowners end up neglecting it. But, through careful consideration of your home and its corresponding septic tank, it’s not hard to get a feel for when you can and should be seeking septic service in Modesto, CA in the form of septic pumping.
- First and foremost are the general guidelines. At a minimum, homes without a garbage disposal should have their septic tanks pumped every three years or so. For homes with a garbage disposal, this frequency rises to annually. Remember, this is at a bare minimum!
- Consider how many people live in your home versus how many gallons your septic tank is. A tank’s size is designed to support a specific number of people and thusly, is designed to be pumped corresponding to that ratio. As an example, if your home has 3 people living in it and it’s supported by a 750-gallon tank, it’ll need to be pumped every 2.6 years. Consult with a septic professional to learn your tank-to-occupant ratio for pumping.
- If your septic tank has a history of backflow or drainfield issues, it may require pumping annually. These issues indicate a tank that’s older or not able to thoroughly breakdown bio waste, which means it’ll need more help in a shorter span of time.
- It’s also a good idea to pump your tank before any major changes to your home’s occupancy. For example, if you have two kids coming home from college for the summer, you may consider pumping your tank before it needs to acclimate to two extra occupants for an extended period of time.
The best way to answer the question of when a tank should be pumped is to get on a regular and routine service schedule with a septic service provider. Saying on top of your septic service in Modesto, CA and using the same service provider is going to put you on the right track to a consistent level of care for your tank. In turn, this will mean keeping it on a pumping schedule that’s tailored around its unique needs.
It’s also important to understand that over-pumping can cause just as much harm (if not more) than insufficient pumping, as this could disrupt the ecosystem within your tank and cause helpful bacteria to die off.
The bottom line is that a septic pumping schedule is unique to the tank and home—make sure you work with a septic professional to determine yours and stick to it.