How To Prepare For Septic Tank Pumping

Septic tank pumping is an important maintenance activity that needs to be performed once every 3 to 5 years.

With steady and frequent use, there’s an accumulation of waste as well as sludge in your tank. These will have to be cleared out to allow for optimal functioning of the system.

Now, the pumping process requires preparation. Such preparation guarantees a successful job. We’re all about showing you all that needs to be done.

Although the pumping job itself is reserved for the professionals, there are things that you can do to help make the process more successful.

Knowing Where It’s Located

It isn’t a difficult task for a technician to help you locate your septic tank. However, charges for such service may apply. To cut down on cost, you’ll have to locate the septic tank yourself.

Luckily, you have some help right here.

Finding a septic tank isn’t difficult at all if you know where to look. First, you’re expected to look outside the house foundation. More priority should be given to areas where the plumbing emerges from.

Homes with a crawlspace provide easier access to identify where the plumbing emerges from.

A probe bar will come in handy for locating septic tanks that aren’t made of plastic or fiberglass. Also, this tool will be perfect if the tank isn’t buried more than 2 feet deep. The easier route to take is to find on-site sewage plan records.

Having discovered your septic tank, it’s time to start the necessary preparation for pumping. Future maintenance jobs will also rely on the septic tank’s position.

How Soon Before Septic Tank Pumping should One Prepare?

One of the things that readily come to mind when discussing preparation is the timeframe. How soon should preparation start before a septic company arrives?

This is an important question whose answer is quite straightforward. Preparation should begin long before you give the septic company a call.

Preparing For Septic Tank Pumping

Preparation is quite relative and has to do with keeping or maintaining optimal conditions.

There are several ways of preparing for septic tank pumping.

These include water management or conservation, inspections, getting price quotes from multiple sources, and preparing for possible surprises.

• Water Conservation

One of the primary areas to look at during the preparation process includes water conservation. It’s common knowledge that excess water in the system causes issues. So, water conservation should be practiced.

To do this, consider running your washing and dishwashing machines at full loads. These are water-guzzling appliances that can introduce or raise your tank’s water volume significantly.

Water management helps regulate water and ensures it isn’t unnecessarily used.

• Inspections

Another way to prepare for septic tank pumping is to carry out inspections as necessary. An average household septic system should be inspected at least once every three years.

Septic tank pumping frequency should range between 3 to 5 years for an average household.

This type of preparation ensures issues detected are fully resolved long before the tank is pumped. Septic tank inspection is quite thorough and assesses the tank interior for water level.

Such assessment also seeks to determine if your system is overloaded in addition to finding if there are leakages.

• Get Price Quotes from Multiple Sources

Apart from getting quality service, a lot of homeowners want to get the best bargain when it comes to septic tank pumping. To do this, consider comparing septic tank pumping prices by asking for price quotes from multiple licensed septic companies.

You’ll also need to know what’s covered by such prices and ensure there are no hidden charges. Making such comparisons ensures you get value for money spent.

You’re likely to get the best possible deal available by taking this preparatory step.

• Keep All Septic Tank Records

Septic tank records hold a wealth of information about the condition, size, and pumping history. All of these are vital information that helps septic technicians offer better services.

For this to be possible, you’ll need to share all such records in your possession.

Remember, the aim is to get the best maintenance service possible. This information helps the septic company modify its pumping approach or adopt one that best fits your tank condition.

Further recommendations on future preparations will likely be given by the septic service.

• Preparing for Surprises

A lot of times, homeowners get to discover that there are underlying problems with their septic tanks during pumping.

In other words, quite a lot can happen during the 3 to 5 years before a tank is pumped. Roots may have invaded your septic tank and may be set to cause further problems.

This is one of many possibilities that’s likely to spring up during septic tank pumping. Also, there could be a backflow from the drain field when the tank is being pumped.

Therefore, it’s necessary to keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

• Clear All Debris Away

A lot of times, people allow all sorts of a debris to lie around their septic tanks. This shouldn’t be so. When pumping, such debris could end up getting into the septic tank.

When it does, it could lead to damage of important components.

The best way to prevent this is by having the area cleared of all such debris before the septic company arrives for pumping. This allows for easy and unfettered access. Common debris includes leaves, twigs, and mulch.

Clear these out to make way for effective pumping.

• Have a Budget that Allows for Possible Repairs

Before you call for pumping, consider having a budget based on the price quote sampling conducted earlier. Such a budget should be enough to accommodate possible repairs for issues discovered during pumping.

This added layer of preparedness ensures you aren’t caught off-guard. Plus, your septic tank benefits greatly from such fixes.

• Watch What Goes into your Septic Tank

What gets flushed down your drains matters a lot.

Feminine sanitary products are among items that cause clogs to the system. Others include solid waste like coffee grounds, cat litter, personal care products, and cooking fats, flour, and oils.

Knowing how to prepare for septic tank pumping gives you an edge. You tend to spend less and adequately prepare for surprises. The points listed above help you kick-start this process effectively.