A lot of people think that if their system is running fine, they don’t need to worry about septic tank cleaning. This is an unfortunate, and often expensive, mistake to make. Regular septic pumping increases the lifespan of the entire system and helps prevent backups.

Homeowners should schedule septic pumping every 3-5 years, unless they have a large family or a smaller tank. In these cases, it should be done more often. Homes with a garbage disposal should have it done annually. It’s also a good idea for new homeowners to schedule septic pumping and an inspection right after they move in if it wasn’t done as part of the real estate closing process.

Businesses should always defer to the recommendations of their septic tank maintenance company and to the business’ log book. Each time a company comes out to perform a septic tank cleaning, they should leave a record of when the septic pumping was done and how many gallons were removed. If the tank was at or near capacity, waiting the same length of time between appointments, or even scheduling a bit sooner is good. If there was a lot of space left, the appointments can be spread farther apart.

Over time, the bottom layer of sludge will build up, clog the pipes, cause a backup, and will damage the system and perhaps the property around the tank, so it’s important to keep up with the septic tank maintenance schedule. Plus, a technician will examine the system during a septic tank cleaning, and may catch other issues, such as clogged or cracked pipes, before they have the opportunity to wreak havoc.