Septic Tank Pumping Service

More frequent pumping is needed if a garbage disposal is used. Generally the indicated frequency will vary with the volume of solids (+20% for high volume, -20% for low volume). Also, more frequent pumping will be needed if your tanks are not water tight, and allow the infiltration of storm or ground water.

Under current Texas law a 750 gallon septic tank is the minimum size that must be used for a home with three bedrooms or less. If six people reside in a three-bedroom house, the tank should be pumped every year. If the same system serves a family of two, the tank would be ready for pumping every 4.2 years. Systems installed before the current rules and regulations were implemented may need to be pumped more often, perhaps every year or less.

As indicated in the footnote to Table 1, garbage disposers will increase the frequency of pumping. For example, if this same three-bedroom house with six residents had a garbage disposal and was generally producing a higher volume of wastewater, the pumping frequency could be estimated as follows:

1.0 years - [(0.2) x 1.0 years] = 0.8 years, or about every 9-10 months.

TABLE 1 Estimated septic tank pumping frequencies in years
(for year-round residences)

* Below the minimum size allowed by rule.