When to Start Pumping to Get an Empty Septic Tank

One of the dreary tasks of modern living is making sure that every now and then, work is done to have an empty septic tank. This humble receptacle is responsible for taking in everything that is discarded from your sink, bath tub, shower, bath tub, washing machine and toilet. However, there is a limit to what it can accommodate and things can be really messy when that limit is exceeded.

How the Septic Tank Works

All the water drained from different parts of a house come together in a single pipe which leads to the septic tank. Once the combined water gets to the tank, the heaviest particulate matter in the waste water settles down to the bottom and forms sludge. The oil, fats and proteins rise to the top to form scum. In the middle is the relatively clear liquid which is called effluent or gray water. Only the middle part, the effluent or gray water, gets to leave the septic tank. It is discharged through pipes with holes drilled in them. Through these holes the degraded effluent water is released into the ground and into the leach field.

Warning Signs

Some warning signs will alert you that it is time to get work started for an empty septic tank Selby. It is best not to ignore these signs because doing so will only mean bigger problems and expenses in the very near future. Some people have an alarm system attached to their septic tank but most people have to learn to watch out for the following reminders:

1.  You can smell the sewage. This probably means your septic tank is full and it is time to have it pumped. The only exception to this would be if there is a break in the line of pipes that drain the sewage water onto the leach field. A deciding factor in this case would be the date when the tank was last emptied. If that was done more than three years ago, chances are the tank is full.

2.  Smelly water is overflowing around the septic tank and above the tank lid. This is usually a very strong indication that it is time to start draining the tank. Again, sometimes the overflow does not mean the tank is full. It could simply be caused by a break in the system’s lines. 

3. Your toilets are backed up. Your toilets clog persistently and discolored waste water keeps flowing right back into the toilet bowl and out of the bathroom drains even after you’ve tried using an auger or a snake. When you get to this stage, it is time to contract the services of a reliable outfit so that you can get your empty septic tank and avoid the spread of disease.