Septic Tank Cleaning and Pumping Service Should be Performed Regularly
Eventually, your septic tank will have too many solids in its tank and the septic tank will need to be cleansed of those solids. Some people call this septic tank cleaning, while others refer to as septic tank pumping. Regardless of how you refer to it, it is still a necessary and important step in proper septic system maintenance. If these solids are allowed to accumulate, they will eventually enter the drain pipes and clog the drain field, and this will lead to unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
Not all septic contractors clean septic systems or even have the equipment necessary to properly pump the solids out of your septic tank. Some septic contractors only clean septic tanks, while others will only repair them or only install them. It's important to know the capabilities and expertise of the septic tank cleaning and pumping contractor you hire. Additionally, different jurisdictions have different requirements for a person to be a septic tank contractor. Check with your local government regarding their regulations for septic contractors and make sure your septic contractor adheres to those regulations.
Some local jurisdictions also have individual requirements regarding how often a septic tank must be pumped, so you will want to check local statutes are regarding septic tank cleaning. Most septic systems have inspection ports for you to check the levels of accumulated solids in your tank, so you will know when it is time to have your septic tank cleaned and pumped. Be careful to use the inspection port to check the level of solids, and not the manhole.
Your septic tank system's manhole should only be handled by a licensed septic contractor to avoid any serious injury from the manhole cover itself, or from any of the noxious gases that may be released once the manhole cover is removed. Keeping accurate maintenance records will remind you when it should be time to have your septic tank cleaned.
When the septic tank contractor cleans your septic tank, ensure that it's pumped out through the manhole, not through the inspection ports. Insisting that your septic tank be cleaned through the manhole cover ensures complete removal of all of solids from the septic tank. Remember, any solids or sludge left in the septic tank can clog the drainpipes and cause the need for very expensive repairs in the future. Make sure that the septic tank is cleaned and pumped out completely, with nothing left behind. Also, ask your septic tank contractor to inspect the baffles and check to make sure that the septic tank has no leaks. Keeping up on the preventative maintenance of your septic system today minimizes the risk of expensive repairs or replacement in the future.
