Septic tank cleaning is one of those home maintenance jobs that's easy to forget since it doesn't have to be done very often. If you wait too long, you'll know it because you may smell sewer odors or even find sewage in your yard or bathtub. Here are some things to know about septic cleaning.

1. You Need a Licensed Professional for the Job

It's not possible to pump out your septic tank because you need a pumper truck and a way to dispose of the waste. Dump sites are licensed by the state and can only be accessed by septic contractors. Besides, working with a septic tank is dangerous due to the toxic waste and fumes.

2. Pumping Eliminates Sludge on the Bottom

The goal of septic cleaning is to pump out the sludge that has accumulated on the bottom. The layer of water on top of the sludge will be pumped out too, but that's not the main goal since the wastewater drains out naturally and empties in the drainfield. Pumping on schedule is important because if the sludge layer gets too deep, solid waste can back up in your home or enter the drainfield and cause a lot of damage.

3. Your Septic Tank Fills With Water Fairly Fast

If you could see inside your tank, you might be surprised that it looks almost full again in a fairly short amount of time. That's because water keeps filling the tank until it reaches the level of the drain so it can start emptying. As the sludge layer builds up the space for the water shrinks, but the sludge layer should always be kept lower than the drain, which is easy to do by pumping out the tank regularly.

4. Several Factors Affect How Fast the Tank Fills

Your septic contractor can estimate how often your tank should be cleaned based on the size of the tank, the number of people living in your home, the presence of a garbage disposal, and if you put wet wipes and other trash down the toilet.

The size of an original septic tank is usually determined by the number of bedrooms a newly built home has. If you live alone in a three-bedroom home, you may go a long time before your tank gets full. However, your contractor may recommend pumping the tank after a certain number of years whether it's full or not just to make sure the tank is inspected and no leaks are found.

5. Septic Cleaning Is Usually Quick and Easy

You don't even need to be home when your tank is cleaned out as long as the contractor can reach the tank with the truck and hose. The contractor has to locate the lid if it's buried and then pump out the sludge. They may also flush the baffle and tank with water to loosen solids so they can be removed. All the work is done outdoors, and as long as no problems are found, the work can be done fairly fast.

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