Septic Tank Pump Out

The normal recommendation for frequency of septic tank pumping is to have the tank pumped every 3-5 years. Some service companies and some health departments may recommend every 1-3 years. However, this is one of those questions where we must say the answer depends upon several factors.

It depends upon the size of the tank and the way the tank is used. The number of occupants contributing wastewater, the amount of solids that are washed down the drain and into the system, the temperature of the water in the tank and the size of the tank all factor into determining how frequently the tank needs to be pumped.

If there are 5 occupants in a home served by a 1,000 gallon septic tank, that tank will need to be pumped at least every 4 years. Thus the 3-5 year recommendation is a good one. However, if two conservative water users have a 1,000 gallon tank, the tank might go 20 years before it absolutely needs to be pumped.

This long interval would not be our recommendation but stories of "my grandparents had a septic tank that they never pumped and they didn't have any problems" may be true for a conservative couple. However, unless people are willing to check their tank every couple years and determine its need for pumping, the recommendation of 3-5 years is a good recommendation for most people.

Why an S.O.S. Inspection Agreement?

Security - Without proper maintenance, your system will fail prematurely, causing:
Health and environmental problems for you, your family, and your community
Expensive, unplanned repairs costing more than the original cost of the system.
Reduced value of your home on resale.


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