When wastewater flows into your septic tank, solid waste sinks to the bottom and lighter materials float to the top. When these materials build up, they reduce the space available for new wastewater.
This can lead to clogged drains and sewage backup in your home. The best way to avoid these problems is to have your septic tank pumped regularly. Contact Septic Tank Pump Out Perth for professional help.
If you have a septic system, it’s important to get it regularly pumped out. If you don’t, the waste can clog drains and cause problems throughout your home.
Luckily, the pumping process is much simpler than it might seem. With the right tools, it can take between 30 and 60 minutes for a professional to pump your septic tank. The key is preparing ahead of time and knowing when you’ll need the service.
The first step is to find the location of your septic tank. You can do this by checking any blueprints or plans that show its location, or looking for a inspection pipe that sticks out of the ground. It’s also a good idea to look at the yard in dry weather, as dead grass can sometimes indicate its position.
Once you know where your septic tank is, prepare it for pumping by cleaning out any debris in the area and making sure that the tank lid is open. Ideally, you should be able to see the sludge line at the bottom of the tank. Getting this information can help you determine how often to schedule your next pumping appointment.
On the day of your appointment, a professional will arrive with specialized equipment that can locate your septic tank. Once they’ve found it, they will remove the lid and insert a vacuum pump. This will suck up all the liquid and solid waste in the tank, as well as the crust and sludge that’s surrounding it. Then, they will flush out the tank’s outlets and filters before replacing the lid.
While you can do some things to reduce the frequency of septic tank pumping, like only using your garbage disposal sparingly and only flushing human waste and toilet paper, it’s essential to keep up with regular maintenance. Neglecting this essential task can lead to expensive repairs and damages throughout your home.
The best way to save time on your septic tank pumping is to hire a licensed, reputable professional with experience handling these services. Before hiring someone, ask friends and family for recommendations or read online reviews. By taking some time to do your research, you can be sure that the job will be done quickly and correctly.
Saving Time
Septic tanks work as settling chambers to separate solid waste from wastewater so the clear liquid can flow into the drain field. It’s important to keep the sludge and scum levels low to avoid overflowing into the drain field which can clog it or cause sewage back up into your home. Septic tank pumping isn’t a fun or pleasant process and it can be expensive depending on the size of your septic system. Taking the steps to reduce how often it needs to be pumped can save you money over time.
Septic systems are more common in rural areas where there aren’t municipal sewer lines. A septic system pumps solid and liquid waste from household plumbing into pipes that lead to an underground tank for treatment and disposal. The more people in a household and the amount of water used will affect how often the tank needs to be pumped.
Larger households will require the tank to be pumped more often than smaller homes. This is because more people use more water and can overload the tank faster. It’s important to keep track of your septic tank usage and look for signs it needs to be pumped more frequently such as foul smells around the home or yard, slow draining, or excessive toilet flushing.
The best way to save money on septic tank pumping is to prevent the need for it in the first place by making simple lifestyle changes. Installing a water meter can help monitor and reduce water usage, while installing low-flow toilets or high-efficiency showerheads will cut down on the volume of household waste that goes into the septic tank. It is also important to keep a log of when the septic tank was last pumped and the service company was called to do an inspection. This will make it easier to determine how often the tank will need to be pumped in the future.
Before the septic tank pumping company arrives, homeowners should prepare the area for service by clearing out the site and uncovering the tank’s access lids and inspection ports. Uncovering the lids in advance can make it much easier for the technician to get to the septic tank, and will save on costs for extra digging and labor. In addition, removing large objects like lawn furniture, grills, and fire pits will allow the technician easier access to the tanks and the drain field.
Getting the Job Done Right
Septic tanks are out of sight and out of mind, which makes it easy to forget that they need to be pumped out. But they are the heart of your home’s sewage system, and regularly pumping them helps to prevent costly and smelly septic tank and drain field problems.
The first step in preparing for your septic tank pump out is to locate your septic tank and its access ports. This can be difficult, as the tanks are often buried and the access lids may be covered with dirt or hidden by landscaping or lawn furniture. Ideally, you should uncover the lids before the septic pumper arrives.
Once the pumper is in place, the hose is connected to your tank and the negative pressure from the pump creates a vacuum that draws the waste into the truck. The operator monitors this process closely to make sure that the hose remains submerged. Depending on the size of your septic tank, this could take 30-60 minutes to complete.
During the pumping process, the technician may use a tool called a muck rake to break up solid waste and sludge and to help remove it more easily from your system. This will also provide the technician with an opportunity to look for signs of damage to your septic system and to the drain fields and pipes that connect to it.
Before the pumping starts, you can try to reduce your water usage in order to make the process go more quickly and smoothly. This can be done by limiting baths and showers, washing clothes with cold water, using a clothesline for drying, and not leaving faucets running.
It’s also a good idea to have a copy of the septic tank diagram on hand to review with the pumping technician, as this can help them determine the exact location and layout of your septic system. This will be extremely helpful if any maintenance or repair work is to be done in the future, as it’ll help to avoid costly mistakes. You can often find a copy of this diagram in your deed records, property records, or septic system paperwork.
Avoiding Damage
As a homeowner, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier for your septic system service technician. First, map out the septic tank and its components. This can be done by making a simple drawing or marking the components with stakes in your yard. This will prevent the contractor from hitting the tank or its baffles when cleaning out the septic system. Also, avoid parking or driving any vehicles or equipment over the septic tank and its components.
Next, for 1-2 days leading up to your scheduled pumping, try to minimize water usage. This will help ensure the tank isn’t full of solid waste, sludge, and scum. This includes things like water-intensive washing machines and swimming pool fills. If you have a garbage disposal, be sure to use it sparingly. Finally, avoid flushing anything that can’t easily break down, including feminine hygiene products, “flushable” wipes, tissues & paper towels, coffee grounds, and household chemicals (like paint or bleach).
Lastly, keep an eye out for warning signs of your septic system getting full. This can include odors, surface sewage, wet spots in your yard, and lush grass growth over the drain field area. If you notice any of these, contact your septic system service company right away.
When the septic tank is pumped, a vacuum system creates negative pressure inside it. When the truck’s hose is connected to the tank, it begins sucking up the sludge and scum from the bottom of the tank. This can take hours, so it’s important to be patient.
Once the pumping is complete, the service company will replace the lid on your septic tank and re-cover the inspection port. If you are worried about forgetting to check your levels before the septic tank is pumped, ask us to come out and measure them for you.
While septic tanks may be out of sight and mind, they are still an integral part of your home’s plumbing system. Regularly checking and pumping your septic tank can save you from expensive drain field repairs in the future.