What to Do After Getting Your Septic Tank Pumped

If you’re the proud owner and user of a septic tank at your home, you’re in good company. It’s estimated that one out of four of all homes in America relies on these systems for their waste disposal needs; however, they do require a standard of care that isn’t exactly necessary if your home is hooked up to a municipal system. It’s important to do regular maintenance on them, and of paramount importance is having the tank pumped regularly.

If you already get it done on a consistent basis, that’s a great first step, but if you’re wondering whether you should do anything to your septic tank after it gets pumped, this is a perfectly natural thing to ponder.

Read on for the next steps you should take to ensure the health of your system.

Create (and stick to) a schedule

Getting your system pumped is great any time that you do it; however, it’s only going to be as effective until the next one is needed. You generally want to have it pumped about every three to five years—roughly when it’s reached 30 to 50 percent capacity. Anything much over that and you might wind up seeing decreased performance and efficiency.

Additionally, there are variables that can affect this frequency, e.g., size of the household, water usage, usage of chemicals and the presence of roots can all alter this. If you’re wondering if you’re supposed to do something to your septic tank following it being pumped, a good first start is to consult with the technicians who you’ve hired and have them help you get on a regular pumping schedule (that you know you’ll adhere to).

Get to know your system

You should also have at least a working understanding of what your system does if you’re wondering whether you should do anything to your septic tank after it gets pumped. For starters, it’s a good idea to know where your tank is located on your property. This sounds like a simple one, but you’d be surprised how many homeowners just don’t know. Once you know where it is, it could be a good idea to draw a rough map or mark it with a small landscaping flag. This can help your technician the next time a pumping is needed.

Knowing where the tank is also helps you protect it. Only grass and small plants should grow over a tank (otherwise you risk crushing it with heavier things like trees), so knowing its location can be helpful as well in that regard.

Protect your pipes

Finally, be aware of what you put down your pipes into your tank. Most aren’t built to handle harsh cleaners like Drano or even toiletries like flushable wipes or cotton balls. These items can gum up your system and cause serious damage, so if you’re wondering if you’re supposed to do something to your septic tank following it being pumped, a good step is to be more aware of what you shouldn’t be putting into it.

If you have questions about your septic tank’s maintenance, then it’s time to call the pros. Our folks here at B.H. Cameron Septic Services LLC. We can help keep your system in perfect working order, so get in touch today.

Categorised in: Septic Pumping

This post was written by Writer