Septic tank cleaning is not a job for the faint of heart. It’s dirty, smelly work that most people would rather leave to the professionals.
Watch the video below to decide if it’s best to leave it for the professionals or if you will want to do it yourself.
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkRRxbq8DYs
After watching the video, if you’re up for the challenge, you can save yourself a lot of money by doing it yourself. Just be sure to do your research before you dive in.
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What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Septic Tank?
If you have a septic tank, it’s important to keep it clean and well-maintained. Otherwise, you risk damaging your system and causing serious environmental problems.
When septic tanks aren’t properly cared for, they can release harmful bacteria and pollutants into the ground, which can contaminate groundwater and make people sick.
What’s more, if your septic tank isn’t working properly, it can cause your home’s plumbing to back up, leading to costly repairs.
To avoid these problems, it’s best to have your septic tank cleaned by a professional every few years. If you’re considering cleaning your septic tank yourself, be sure to read this article first.
How Often Should You Clean Your Septic Tank?
The best way to determine how often to clean your septic tank is by looking at your home’s size and its waste production.
For example, if you live in a 100-square-foot house and produce 1,500 gallons of waste per year, you would need to clean your septic tank about every three years.
If your home is larger than 100 square feet but produces less waste per year than that amount (less than 1,500 gallons), it’s probably best to keep the tank clean every six years rather than every three years.
On the other hand, if your home is smaller than 100 square feet and produces more than 1,500 gallons of waste per year (more than 5,000 gallons per year), then it might be best to keep the septic tank clean every three years instead of every six years.
However, there might be situations where you will need septic tank cleaning less than the average 3 years.
Should You Clean Your Septic Tank Yourself?
Most experts recommend that you have your septic tank cleaned by a professional every three to five years. However, some people try to clean their septic tanks themselves in order to save money.
Before you try to clean your septic tank yourself, there are a few things you should know.
You’ll Need To Understand What Septic Tank Is and How It Works
First, it is important to understand that your septic tank is not just a hole in the ground where sewage goes. The tank is actually made up of two parts. The first part is the digestion chamber, which is where all of the solid waste is broken down by bacteria. This is the place where the sewage enters when you flush the toilet or take a shower. The second part is the leach field, which is where the water is drained from the digestion chamber and carried away by the soil.
You’ll Need the Right Tools To Clean Your Septic Tank Yourself
The first thing you need to know about cleaning your septic tank is that you’ll need the right tools. Septic tanks are usually made out of concrete, and it’s going to be difficult to clean one without the right kind of septic tank cleaner. You should look for a powerful cleaner that will help you break down waste in your septic tank.
In addition to the right cleaner, you’ll also need some other supplies. For example, you’ll need to rent a powerful pump in order to pump the waste out of your septic tank. You may also want to consider renting a backhoe. This will make it easier for you to dig around your septic tank and find the outlet pipe.
You May Not Be Able to Completely Empty Your Tank
Before you get started with this project, you should know that you won’t be able to completely empty your septic tank without some serious professional help.
The septic tank pumping or cleaning process is not something that most homeowners should attempt to do on their own.
If you are comfortable with the idea of researching the process and learning about the basics, then you can begin the process of planning and scheduling your septic pumping procedure.
A friendly advice is, get an expert or professional septic tank cleaning company to pump your septic tank to prevent future headache if things go wrong when you attempt cleaning or pumping it out yourself.
How Much Does It Cost to Clean a Septic Tank in My City?
The cleaning cost of a septic tank varies depending on the size, location, and type of septic system.
The cost for your septic tank pumping is usually based on the size of your tank, but it will also depend on what type of equipment you need to remove all that waste.
If your sewer line is small and simple, the average cost of septic tank pumping is around $450. If you have a larger system that requires multiple treatments with different chemicals, then that could be higher — $500-$1,000 per year might be the going rate for a larger system.
If you have an older system, you may want to consider investing in a new one. This can be more expensive than repairing an existing one, but it’s still cheaper than replacing it with a modern one.
If you’re interested in hiring someone to clean your tank or cesspool yourself, there are several things to consider before making an appointment with a service provider:
Location: Make sure they’re located close enough so they can easily access your property without having to travel too far.
Experience: Check out their credentials and ask if they’ve worked on similar systems before. If they haven’t, ask if they know anyone who has and ask them for referrals.
Cost: Ask about pricing before making an appointment because some companies charge by the hour while others charge by the job.
4 Common Septic System Mistakes You Need to Avoid
There are many things that you can do to keep your septic system in good shape and functioning properly. However, there are some unexpected occurrences that could damage your septic system if you are not careful.
Without the proper knowledge of how to clean a septic tank, you could cause more harm than good by cleaning the tank incorrectly or improperly.
Below however are some common mistakes homeowners make when it comes to their septic tank or septic systems.
1. Not emptying the septic tank regularly or often enough.
Your septic system is designed to break down solid waste and disperse it. This waste is called sludge. You should have your septic tank pumped every 3-5 years, depending on the size of your tank and how many people live in your home.
When you do not clean the sludge out of your septic tank, this sludge will build up, begin to flow into the leach field and clog your entire septic system.
If you notice that your drains are draining slowly or if you see water on the ground near your leach field, contact a septic professional immediately. Your system may be backing up and failing.
2. Flushing items down the septic tank that are not to be flushed down your septic system.
Just because your toilet can flush something doesn’t mean it should. Some of the things that you should never flush down your toilet include: Condoms, Diapers, Glass, Grease, Hair, Paper towels, Sanitary napkins, and Wipes.
3. Not cleaning your drains regularly
If you don’t clean your drains regularly, they can become clogged with dirt, hair, and other debris. This can lead to a number of problems, including bad smells, slow drainage, and even flooding.
If you have a septic tank, it’s especially important to keep your drains clean, as a clog can cause your tank to overflow.
While you can buy chemicals to clean your drains, it’s often best to hire a professional. They have the experience and equipment to quickly and safely clear your drains.
4. Using a septic system that is too small for your household
If you have a septic system that is too small for your household, you would be pumping out your septic tank more frequently which will cost more in the long run.
This is because septic systems are designed to break down waste so that it can be safely returned to the environment. However, if the system is overloaded, it can’t keep up with the waste and the result can be a backup or overflow.
This is why it is so important to make sure that your septic system is the right size for your household.
5 Signs It’s Time for a Septic Tank Cleaning
If your septic tank hasn’t been cleaned in the last three to five years, it’s probably time for a cleaning. Here are five signs that indicate it’s time to call a professional septic tank cleaning service:
1. Your drains are slow or clogged.
If your drains are slow or clogged, it’s a good idea to call a septic tank cleaning service. This is because slow or clogged drains can be a sign that your septic tank is full and needs to be emptied.
2. There is water pooling around your septic tank
If you notice water pooling around your septic tank, it’s a good idea to call a septic tank cleaning service. This is because water pooling can be a sign that your septic tank is full and needs to be emptied.
3. Your toilets are backing up
If your toilets are backing up, it’s a good idea to call a septic tank cleaning service. This is because toilet backups can be a sign that your septic tank is full and needs to be emptied.
4. You have bad smells coming from your drains
If you have bad smells coming from your drains, it’s a good idea to call a professional plumber. Plumbers are trained to identify and fix the source of the problem.
5. You have a clogged drain
If you have a clogged drain, it’s important to call a professional plumber. Plumbers have the tools and training to clear your drain quickly and efficiently.
Find septic tank specialists near you
If you’re a first-time homeowner, there are many things to consider before your septic tank is installed. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Research the septic tank cleaning company you plan on hiring.
Make sure that they have a good reputation and that they’re registered with the state board of health or the EPA. Check out their business practices. Are they licensed and insured? Do they have a good safety record? How long have they been in business?
Ask for references from past clients. Find out if they were satisfied with the job that was done.
Get a second opinion. If you’re not sure about a company, get a second opinion from another one.
Get everything in writing. Make sure that you understand the contract before you sign it.
2. Find out if the septic tank cleaning company is insured.
If you’re considering hiring a septic tank cleaning company, it’s important to make sure that they are insured. This will protect you in case of any accidents or damage that may occur during the cleaning process.
You should also ask about the company’s experience and credentials to make sure that they are qualified to handle your septic tank.
Finally, be sure to get a written estimate before work begins so that you know exactly what you’re paying for.
3. Ask if the septic system cleaning services provider offer any warranties or guarantees on their workmanship and products used.
When it comes to septic tank cleaning, it’s important to ask if the provider offers any warranties or guarantees on their workmanship and products used.
This can give you peace of mind in knowing that you’re getting the best possible service. You want to know that they will stand behind the quality of their service and products in case something goes wrong down the road.
4. Find out how long it will take them to complete the job and if they have a set schedule.
Cleaning a septic tank or septic tank maintenance is a tedious and potentially dangerous job and therefore requires time and tact. It’s important to know how long it will take the professionals to complete the job so that you plan or add the visit of your chosen septic tank pumping company’s visit to your calender accordingly.
You can also if they have a set schedule for when they will be in your area, or if they can come out at any time during your project, day or night depending on availability of labor at that time.
Some companies will clean the tank and then pump it out, while others will do both at the same time.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. Try to ask as many questions to be sure of what you would get before engaging the septic tank cleaners.
Conclusion
There are right and wrong ways to service, clean and maintain your tank. If you don’t follow the rules laid out here, you may conceivably increase your chances of having septic system problems later on.
So don’t assume anything: read up on what can go wrong, what the potential causes might be, and how best to resolve them before you get started with any work on your septic tank.
In short, a general rule to follow is that smaller tanks will require less maintenance throughout the year than larger tanks, but likely require more frequent maintenance than a larger tank.
This maintenance process will vary depending on the type of septic system you have, the size of your tank, and its location. Overall, most homeowners can handle this basic upkeep themselves.
However, if you are limited on time or space, it might be a good idea to contact a service provider or hire someone to handle the maintenance for you—especially if you’re inexperienced.
