Every septic tank eventually becomes full. Septic cleaning
services pump the tank to prevent a variety of problems. Overfilled tanks can
cause unpleasant odors, swampy yards, and backed-up pipes in the home. Regular
cleaning empties the tank before problems begin. Here is what to expect when
tank pumping and cleaning takes place.
Schedule the Service
Contact a septic service company for the cleaning.
Technicians will usually ask why you want the system pumped. Some plumbing
issues may start because of problems elsewhere in the system and not because of
a full septic tank. The technician will want to make certain a cleaning is what
the home needs most.
Expect Little Damage
Many homeowners worry most about the potential damage to
their yard. Tank cleaning does not require the technicians to uncover the
entire tank. A technician may have to dig to uncover the lids if they are not
on risers that bring the lid above the ground. A technician will use a prod to
search the yard for the location of the tank and only remove the earth
immediately above the lids.
After the cleaning, the technician will replace the original
dirt and sod, which will hide almost any sign of the work that took place. Some
flattening of the grass could occur if the tank was too far away from a paved
surface for the hose to reach the tank. The driver may need to bring the truck
onto the grass to perform the cleaning.
Homeowners can uncover and recover the lids themselves if
they prefer. To do this, measure the distance of remote tanks to the nearest
accessible paved surface. If the distance exceeds the length of the hose, the
homeowner can decide where to direct the technician to park for the least
amount of disturbance to the yard.
Prepare for Odors
Unsurprisingly, septic tanks do not smell nice. Some odor
exits the tank as the lid comes off, and the smell usually remains throughout
the cleaning service. The odor will dissipate once the service ends and the lid
goes back on the tank.
No odors will come into the home through the drainage
system. Homeowners may wish to close their windows on the side of the home
where the tank sits to reduce any chance of the smell entering the house. Even
if the windows stay open, the smell will fade quickly after the completion of
the service.
Keep Your Schedule
It is unnecessary to stay home for the service if the tank
only needs cleaning and there are no problems. People that need to go to work
can do so. Let the technicians know so you can discuss any details and billing
issues before the work takes place.
The technician may request any homeowners at home to flush a
toilet or run water once the cleaning ends. Water entering the system enables
the technician to see if the system works properly. This step is not a
necessity if the home has had no leaks or problems with clogged drains.
Discuss Future Cleanings
Septic tank cleaning is an ongoing maintenance task and not
a one-time event. Most residential properties need cleaning about every three
years, but many variables affect the timeline. How many people live in the
home, the use the system gets, and the items that go into the drains can affect
the timetable.
Longer waits between cleanings rely on homeowners following
some simple guidelines. Use less water because excess water fills the tank
quickly. Only flush toilet paper and biological materials, and avoid rinsing
food down the drain. Heavy use of anti-bacterial products will kill the
beneficial bacteria in the tank that helpfully digest solid matter.
Septic tank cleaning should take place before obvious signs
of a full tank begin. Homeowners who do not know when the last cleaning took
place or have not had a cleaning done in years should contact us to arrange a
service. At Pete's Outflow Technicians,
we offer a thorough and efficient professional cleaning. Call today.
