What Can A Septic Service Do For You?

Most septic tanks need to be pumped every few years, depending on the size of your household and how frequently the toilets are used. Skipping this service might seem like it's not a huge deal, especially if you think that your septic system might not yet be full. But having your septic system pumped goes beyond whether it's full or not. Here's what you need to know about it.

Buildup of Solids

When you use your septic tank, a buildup of solids starts to occur. These solids go down to the bottom of the tank, where they're out of the way, while fluid remains on the top and can drain out of the septic tank via the leach field. However, the longer you wait to have your septic tank pumped, the more of these solids develop. This results in less space in your septic tank and can cause some damage down the line.

Clogging of the Leach Field

The leach field is a series of leaching fields and trenches that are designed to carry away fluids from the septic tank and to dump them underground. Without the leaching field, your septic tank would fill up in a matter of months instead of years.

Unfortunately, when too many solids build up in the tank it can cause damage to the leach field. The leaching field is never designed to handle solids, but if the solids rise high enough, they'll seep out into the leach field. Once there, they can cause significant clogs that can prevent your septic tank from draining its liquids. Once this happens, you're likely to experience an overflow in your septic tank very quickly, but that's not all.

By The Time You Smell It…

It's probably already too late. You and your neighbors will both recognize it very quickly if your leach field is overwhelmed with solids as you'll start to have fecal matter seep into your yard instead of staying in the tank. By this point, the leach field is already damaged and will need to either be thoroughly cleaned by a professional or outright replaced.

Unfortunately, there's no easy way to tell when a septic tank is on the verge of overflowing or its solids have risen too high. This is why it's so important to maintain a regular maintenance schedule and to have it pumped regularly. It's better to do it too early than to do it too late, as the nuisance, smell, and bill will all be considerable. 

For more information about septic tank pumping, contact a professional near you.