How Often Should You Pump Your Septic Tank?

How often your septic tank should be pumped depends on a few factors. While routine maintenance and upkeep are essential, knowing when your tank needs to be pumped is still crucial. A full septic tank can lead to many issues should it not be addressed ASAP. Below, we discuss when to know your Northern Wisconsin home’s septic tank needs pumping and how to go about it.

Learn more about the septic tank services provided by Frasier’s by calling (715) 804-0947 today.

Factors That Determine the Frequency

Different homes rely on other tanks to care for their needs; because of this, different types of tanks are met with distinct factors that inevitably affect how often they should be pumped. Factors include: 

• The size of your home: The more people that live in your home means more waste will be produced, leading to the need for a larger tank and a greater need for it to be pumped.
• The size and capacity of the tank: Most tanks range between 1,000 to 2,000 gallons in size; a good rule of thumb is 1,000-gallon tanks should be pumped every two and a half years, a 1,500-gallon tank should be pumped around every four years, a 2,000-gallon tank every five years, and so on.
• How much wastewater is generated: More wastewater produced, including showers, dishwashers, laundry, etc., will increase the need for a septic tank pumping.

Sludge vs. Scum: What’s the Difference?

Scum is the substance found floating in your septic tank, while sludge is the substance found at the bottom. When your septic tank is pumped, the thickness of the scum and sludge present is measured to determine the condition of your tank, such as if it’s being pumped as frequently as it should be and if the septic fields have been damaged or not.

How Do I Know if My Septic Tank Is Full?

Several ways to tell your septic tank is full without calling a professional. If your septic tank is full, it’s operating correctly — however, your tank must be pumped to continue doing so! A few telltale signs that it’s time to pump your tank include the following:

• You have trouble flushing your toilet
• Your pipes are slow-draining
• You notice pools of water in your yard
• Your pipes are making gurgling sounds
• Your drains are backed up with sewage

Calling a Frasier’s Professional To Pump Your Septic Tank

With all the aspects mentioned above in mind, homeowners must schedule a professional septic tank pump from Frasier’s as soon as needed. Once you consider the size of your home, the size of your tank, and the amount of wastewater generated alongside the levels of sludge and scum present, call our team of expert plumbers for a reliable septic tank pump service.

Since 1918, Frasier’s has provided exceptional septic tank services to the Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Marathon, Langlade, and Forest counties. Our team is friendly, professional, and trained well to handle any project you need. We offer a 100% guarantee on our services for added peace of mind, so you can always know we’re on your side!