4 Common Septic Tank Pumping Mistakes To Avoid
Our discussion is on common septic tank pumping mistakes to avoid. Pumping your septic tank wrongly is equally as damaging as not having it pumped regularly.
Septic tank pumping is one of the fundamental maintenance actions that must be taken. These tanks need to be pumped every 3 to 5 years. However, pumping your tanks regularly isn’t a guarantee that problems will be avoided.
Doing it the wrong way could also pose a lot of problems.
You’re likely reading this for answers on what these mistakes are and how best to avoid them. All the answers are right here! You only need to read along to find solutions to your septic tank maintenance problems.
Septic Tank Issues Don’t Develop Overnight
Septic tank maintenance is an important action that must be taken as frequently as possible.
While pumping is very effective in keeping a sound system, not doing it right brings up a whole range of issues.
These problems don’t develop overnight. However, they gradually accumulate to result in bigger issues. You want to avoid these as much as you can and we’ll show you how.
You’re Saddled with the Responsibility of Maintaining your Septic System
Unlike the centralized sewer system where homeowners do not have to deal with pumping and other related issues, a septic system is much different.
Here, you’re solely responsible for your system’s condition. Pumping must follow proper preparation and laid-down procedures for better results.
This includes avoiding common mistakes quite a lot of homeowners make. Such mistakes end up worsening the condition of a septic tank. Now, the tank is a critical component of the system. Its functional state impacts or affects the other components.
So, what are these common septic tank pumping mistakes to avoid?
There are several! Join us as we get into the basics.
Familiar Septic Tank Pumping Mistakes to Avoid
Whether a septic tank gets pumped too frequently or never presents a problem. Quite a lot of people think that clogs can be solved by simply having a septic tank pumped.
Other common misconceptions include infrequent pumping, and pre-pumping before an inspection.
Over-pumping your septic tank is also a problem that needs to be addressed. These and more are among the most repeated mistakes by homeowners.
As a way of helping you avoid these mistakes, we’ll be discussing a number of these issues as well as wrongly held misconceptions about septic tank maintenance.
i. Pumping your Septic Tank Too Frequently
Is there such a thing as pumping a septic tank too frequently?
There is! This is also known as over-pumping. The fact that a septic tank needs to be pumped every 3 to 5 years doesn’t make it a necessity.
In other words, there are lots of other factors to take into consideration before a septic tank is considered for pumping. These include the system capacity, frequency of usage, size, and age.
All of these key factors need to be taken into account when figuring out whether a tank needs to be pumped or not.
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Shouldn’t a Septic Tank be Pumped when Full?
Not exactly! This will sound strange right?
Well, you only need to read on to find out why. Technically speaking, a septic tank can be said to be always full. This is mostly the case when it’s in normal use. It’s full right up to the bottom of the outlet pipe.
This is always the situation a few days after the tank has been completely pumped. So, your tank isn’t empty.
Pumping is only necessary based on an analysis of the sludge and scum levels. Effluent always gets discharged to the drain field for further treatment (filtration) and absorption.
So, the theories about having a septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years aren’t automatic. The sludge and scum levels need to be determined before pumping is recommended.
You’ll need to call for a professional inspection from a reputable septic company to determine whether a tank is due for pumping or not.
Now that you know, you don’t have to waste money pumping your septic tank more than necessary.
ii. Infrequent Septic Tank Pumping
Infrequent septic tank pumping is another common maintenance mistake homeowners make. This mostly has to do with negligence and impacts negatively on other key components of the septic system.
One such critical component of a septic system is the drain field. This receives and treats wastewater from the septic tank.
As such, a buildup of sludge in your septic tank due to infrequent pumping may result in drain field failure signs.
Despite the presence of a filter, sludge may end up in your drain field. This situation complicates the smooth functioning of your septic system.
At the end of the day, negligence may end up costing you more to fix issues than pumping your septic tank when due.
iii. Pumping your Septic Tank When Drainage Pipes Clog
A common mistake made by lots of homeowners is the tendency to think that clogs can be solved by pumping a septic tank. This is a major error that leaves the problem unsolved, thereby costing you more money.
The possibility of this happening increases when using the services of non-professionals. They misdiagnose the problem and offer an erroneous solution that won’t give results. The best solution to your septic tank pumping needs is to call a reputable company.
An online review of septic companies within your location will reveal the most reliable for the job.
iv. Pumping Before an Inspection
For a septic tank to be well maintained, inspection should precede pumping. This helps with the detection of possible problems and proffering appropriate fixes.
Now, pumping a septic tank before an inspection only defeats the aim of identifying and fixing issues.
Calling for septic inspection after a tank has been pumped leaves the technician with nothing to work with. Any inspection conducted isn’t conclusive as there’s little data to work with.
For best results, you’ll need to call for an inspection before the tank is pumped.
These are common septic tank pumping mistakes made by a lot of people. Now that you know, there’s little chance of repeating such. Consider speaking to a professional technician on how to proceed.