What To Know About Septic Tank Cleaning

For many people, owning a septic tank is like second nature because they've used one their entire lives. However, for people used to city sewage, owning a tank could seem overwhelming because you are responsible for the maintenance. One type of maintenance you can't ignore is residential septic tank cleaning. Septic tanks should be regularly cleaned to prevent serious consequences. Check out these three facts you must know about septic tank cleaning.

Regular Cleanings Keep Systems Maintained

Part of keeping your tank clean is buying over-the-counter products that help breakdown waste faster. However, eventually, all septic tanks must be emptied and cleaned, which costs about $376. However, if you don't get it cleaned, you risk the chance of an overflow, which may cause damage to the system so you need costly repairs or a new system completely. During cleanings, maintenance technical can also look for potential problems and maintain any areas inside the tank, so it keeps working well.

There is no set limit on how often you should have your tank cleaned. Different families have different needs. For example, a big family likely creates more waste than a single couple with no children. Therefore, they will need the tank cleaned more often. Once you've owned the tank for a while, you can start to estimate how often the tank must be cleaned based on how full it was during the last cleaning. If you've just purchased the home, contact the previous owners to find out when they last cleaned the tank.

Cleanings Prevent Potential Damage to Your Yard

As previously mentioned, if the tank isn't emptied, it may overflow, which can cause serious damage to your yard. In some cases, the overflow is so bad it turns your entire yard into a swampy mess of waste and mud. In order to protect your family from contamination, you'll need to have this professionally cleaned immediately, make any necessary repairs to the tank and fix any damage to your yard.

Sometimes, a leak isn't so easy to spot, especially if it is a slow leak. In some cases, you may only spot small puddles of smelly water above the septic tank. In other situations there may be no visible liquid. In this case, look for lush green grass around the septic tank and unpleasant odors.

A Clean Tank Is Less Likely to Contaminate Water

Besides ruining your yard if it leaks, a damaged tank can also seep sewage into drinking water. If you don't have city water, there is a risk of the sewage reaching your drinking well. This is especially the case if the tank has spilled but isn't pooling on the surface of your yard. It needs to go somewhere, and that may be your well. If you suspect your tank has a leak, inspect your well water for unpleasant odors or discoloration.

While less likely, your overflowing septic tank can contaminate other bodies of water, so even if you don't use a well, you need to be wary. The sewage could reach groundwater that other people use for drinking water, causing them to become sick. In other situations, the sewage may use the ground water to travel to bodies of surface water like lakes and rivers, which are likely used by the entire community.

Many people love the affordability of a septic tank because they don't have to pay for city sewage. However, it's important to keep your tank well maintained and cleaned to prevent damage or the threat of disease. If you would like more information regarding septic tank cleanings or repairs, contact a septic tank specialist in your area today.