Many homeowners do not stick to a regular maintenance schedule to maintain their septic tanks and instead only call in a plumber when a problem arises.
The kinds of problems that would alert you that there’s an issue with your septic tank are…
- A warning sign of a possible clog is if your drains and toilets are slow to and/or you notice sewage backups in your toilets, showers, bathtubs and/or sinks.
- Patches of very green grass in your yard in the area where your septic tank is buried.
- Sewer odors are a very good indication of a failing septic system or at the very least, problems.
To avoid these problems we recommend that if your household is 4 people or less, then have your septic tank inspected every 4 years. If your household is 5 people or more then you should have your tank inspected every 2 years.
This schedule will ensure that you avoid most major sewage backups or other common septic tank problems.
What Happens If A Septic Tank Is Not Pumped?
If you have not been maintaining your septic tank by getting it cleaned out (pumped) every 3 years then your tank may be full and therefore end up causing a backup.
The main consequence of ignoring septic tank maintenance are that the tank will get full and end up sending raw sewage up through the drains and toilet in your home. But there are other consequences as well which include:
- sewage smell
- patches of swampy areas in your yard
- slow drains
How Long Does It Take To Pump A Septic Tank?
Generally speaking, it takes about 30 minutes to pump a 1000 gallon septic tank and about 60 minutes to pump a 2000 gallon septic tank.
This time does not include any set up which may take an additional 30 minutes or so.
Pumping a septic tank certainly does not take much time considering the benefits of keeping your septic tank well maintained.
How Often Do You Need To Pump A 1000 Gallon Septic Tank?
A household of 2 people and a 1000 gallon septic tank should be pumped every 5.9 years. But, generally speaking, your septic tank should be pumped out and cleaned every 3 to 5 years.
This is the standard and of course – the schedule does depend on the number of residents that are using that tank and how well you are adhering to the rules of proper septic tank maintenance which are:
- If your household includes 4 people or less, then you should have your septic tank inspected every 4 years.
- If your household includes 5 people or more then you should have your septic tank inspected every 2 years.
- If you use your garbage disposal several times a day – have your septic tank inspected every 2 years.
- Use septic safe toilet paper which should be biodegradable.
- Use low phosphorous liquid detergents.
- Avoid using chemical drain cleaners.
- Avoid putting non-biodegradable food items in your garbage disposal.
What Do You Do When Your Septic Tank Is Full?
Once your septic tank is full there is not much that you can do except to call in your professional plumber to pump and clean out the tank.
We recommend that if your household is 4 people or less, that you have your septic tank inspected every 4 years. If your household is 5 people or more then you should have your tank inspected every 2 years.
This schedule will ensure that you avoid most major sewage backups or other common septic tank problems.
If you have any questions about your septic tank, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.