Should You Perform Septic Tank Pumping More Often?

Dec 26, 2022

Should You Perform Septic Tank Pumping More Often?

This is a question that comes to mind very often for septic system owners who aren’t aware of the ideal septic tank pumping frequency. Regular septic tank pumping has a huge impact on the performance and lifespan of a septic tank. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you pump out your septic system every 2-5 years, septic pumping frequency depends on a number of factors.

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Let’s look at some of the factors that determine how often you should pump out your septic tank.

Septic Tank Size

A typical residential septic tank size ranges from 1000 to 2500 gallons. A smaller septic tank needs to be pumped out more frequently than a larger unit. If you have a 1,000 gallon septic tank with 5 people living in your home, you should pump out your tank every 2 ½ years. For a 2000-gallon septic tank with 5 occupants in a home, the tank should be pumped out every 4 ½ years. If you have a 2500-gallon septic tank with 5 people living in your home, you will need to pump your tank approximately once every 5 years.

Sludge and Scum Levels of Your Septic Tank

You should pump out your septic tank when the sludge and scum accumulation is between 30% and 50% of the total tank volume. You’ll also know it’s time to pump out your septic tank when the solids begin to encroach on the inlet and outlet baffle entrances. Other telltale signs that your septic tank needs to be pumped include:

  • Unusually lush green patches on your lawn
  • Slow drains
  • Sewage backing up into your drains
  • Foul odors coming out of the drains
  • Pooling water on the surface of your lawn

Household Size

The number of people living in your household will also determine how often you’ll pump out your septic tank. The more people using your septic system, the shorter the intervals in between pumping sessions. With regard to household size, you should pump out your septic tank as follows:

  • 1-3 occupants= Pump out every 4-5 years
  • 4-6 occupants= Pump out every 3-5 years
  • 7-10 occupants=Pump out every 2-3 years

Why Is Septic Tank Pumping Is Important?

  • It helps prevent water contamination
  • It helps prevent bad odor, slow drains, and drain backup
  • It prevents damage to your septic tank and helps to prolong the lifespan of your septic tank
  • Septic tank pumping helps to identify septic tank problems before they become major and expensive problems
  • Keep your home and yard waste free
  • Saves you money in the long run

Need Septic Tank Pumping? Call Septic Blue of Charlotte

The benefits of septic tank pumping cannot be overemphasized. Apart from improving the performance of your septic tank, pumping out your septic tank regularly will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. When it comes to septic tank pumping, you should always hire a professional septic company to help you. At Septic Blue of Charlotte, we pride ourselves on providing a range of reliable and cost-effective septic services, including septic tank installation, septic tank repair, septic cleaning, septic tank pumping, and more. Our septic technicians have the knowledge, experience, and top-of-the-line equipment to provide fast and dependable septic services.