Why Does Your Septic Tank Need To Be Cleaned So Often?
Posted on: 24 May 2021
Everyone's septic tank needs to be cleaned on its own schedule. But if yours needs to be cleaned every year or two, while your neighbors only need to clean theirs every four or five years, you might be wondering why. Usually, it comes down to a number of factors.
You have extra people in your home
When builders choose a septic tank, they do so based on the size of the home and how many people they expect to live there. For example, if you have a two-bedroom home, the builder may have installed a septic tank that could accommodate the waste of three people. If you now have five people in your home, the tank may be filling up faster than intended, which is why you need to have it pumped more often. If frequent pumping is bugging you, then you might want to have the tank replaced with a larger one to better accommodate your family size.
You use a garbage disposal
This is a little gross to think about, but it is the truth. The fecal waste that goes into your septic tank is already digested, and it breaks down pretty quickly. Any food that goes down your garbage disposal is not digested, so it takes a lot longer to break down in the septic tank. As such, your tank will fill up quickly and need frequent pumping if you have and use a garbage disposal.
If you stop using your garbage disposal, you can probably go a lot longer between pumping sessions. But what most people do is simply cut back on their use of the disposal. They may only use it when preparing really big meals or when guests come over. This can allow you to space your pumping appointments out a bit more without having to give up your disposal entirely.
You clean with a lot of harsh chemicals
Any bleach or ammonia you use when cleaning your sinks and tubs ultimately ends up in your septic tank. There, it kills some of the bacteria that are meant to help break down the waste in the tank. So, the waste builds up faster, and you need to have the tank pumped more often. If you switch to more natural cleaning products, you may be able to space your pumping sessions out a bit more.
If you don't like having to have your septic tank pumped every one to two years, it's time to make some changes to the way you use it or buy a bigger tank! Reach out to a septic tank cleaning service for more advice.
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