Your septic tank is a large container that’s buried underground, and it is designed to treat all the wastewater that flows out from a home. They are typically made of tough materials and should be installed by professional tank experts to ensure their longevity. Sludge and scum layers will build up within the tank over time and getting rid of them requires a professional. It’s important that the septic tank is cleaned on a relatively regular basis to properly manage the build-up of sludge and scum. Professional septic tank cleaning is highly important to maintain the overall function of the system. If you fail to look after this part of managing your wastewater system, it may become inefficient and won’t be able to effectively treat the wastewater that flows through it.
Why do I need septic tank cleaning?
It is a good idea to plan for a septic tank cleaning every year or two tank cleaning. but we’re here to help you identify how often you need cleaning. You may not be able to tell with your naked eye that a tank cleaning should be performed but it is usually required when the scum layer accumulates more than six or so inches in the basic outlet pipe in the tank, the system should be cleaned. Once again, it may be very difficult to detect the scum and sludge layers within your septic tank. That is why you need a professional septic tank inspector to determine if a cleaning is needed.
How often should I clean my septic tank?
This depends on your usage patterns and the quality of your tank installation, but you need to have your septic tank routinely pumped to keep it clean. There are a number of things that affect the frequency in which your tank needs to be pumped, such as the tank size, the usage on your home, the number of people living there, the amount of waste your household products, and whether you use enzymes or bacteria in your tank. You should rely on a professional to tell you how frequently your tank should be pumped based on these factors. Outside of worrying about the required frequency.
The general rule of thumb is that a professional should look at the septic system in your home at least one time every three years or so. The tank itself should be pumped at intervals of 3-5 years. There are also certain components that need more consistent work than others on a regular basis. The four factors that dictate how frequently the septic pump should be inspected include:
- Your typical usage patterns
- The size of your home and the people using it
- The total accumulation of a number of solids that are present in the wastewater
- The size of your septic tank
- The amount of wastewater that’s generated in your home on a daily basis
What is involved in septic tank cleaning?
It is our job as septic tank specialists in Renmark to look at the sludge and scum layers while also inspecting for leaks. We will keep track of all the required cleaning and track the development of scum and sludge layers that are relayed to you. It is important that you use a licensed professional to help you in this regard because they are best placed to handle the cleaning process in a meticulous manner.
General guidelines for septic tank maintenance
Septic tanks are highly durable waste management systems but there are some materials that they cannot deal with that are likely to enter the system. This comprises the main justification for regular septic tank maintenance. There is also detailed government guidance about septic tank maintenance that reinforces this notion. System failures are usually linked to the build-up of solids because they cause blockage and overflow. The seepage that comes from insufficiently maintained systems can negatively impact the soil, the premises, and the surface water. Here are some warning signs that something that may need the assistance of a professional as soon as possible.
Signs that your septic tank is malfunctioning
- Water overflows out from the tank openings onto the surrounding ground which results in puddles on your premises
- Strong unpleasant smells near the septic tank openings
- The sewage flows away very slowly or not at all in the toilet or from other fixtures inside your home
Benefits of septic tank cleaning
We may overlook it, but your septic tank system is one of the critical parts of how you function every day on our premises. You can avoid issues as long as you like but as soon as an emergency happens, it will have a seriously negative impact on your life in a big way. Besides this obvious justification for investing in regular septic tank cleaning, you should also want to protect your investment. Septic tanks that are too full will be put under a greater deal of pressure and won’t work as effectively. Simply rely on the services of an expert to professionally clean your septic tank and they will make sure that you have a system that is working at full capacity.
Choose us as your septic tank specialists
Riverland Tank and Drain is more than equipped to help you with your wastewater management solutions. We want to help you look after your septic tanks in a comprehensive way that is holistic in more ways than you realise. Our tank cleaning and maintenance procedures include many different techniques, and they are all effective at giving you a septic tank that lasts long and works well for many decades. The best way to protect your investment and make the system last is to get the system pumped out now and then. This is one of many things to consider before installing a septic tank but this guide is about the cash component.