Pumping Maintenance Test

How Often Does Your Septic Tank Need To Be Pumped?

Find Out with a Pumping Maintenance Test

Without testing, we can't tell you how often you need to pump. That's because everyone's septic system is different. But what we can do is show you. Watch the video below. You'll learn why and when a septic tank needs to be pumped. You'll also learn how to maximize your return on investment in your septic system's life while ensuring you never overspend on septic pumping. We help you stop overspending with our Septic Pumping Maintenance Test.

Residential septic pumping with truck, hose and house.

Septic Pumping Science Made Easy

How we decrease your spending on septic pumping while ensuring your septic system doesn't fail.

Watch the video above or read below to find out how we do this using our septic maintenance test.

Don't Overspend on Septic Tank Pumping

Did you know pumping too often will cause you to overspend with little to no improvement in your drain field health?

Just imagine for a second your car engine is exactly like your septic drain field. 

Would you change the oil in your car every 500-1,000 miles to try and increase your engine's life?

That's up to you of course. But as a smart car owner, you know changing clean oil in your car will not have much effect on your engine's life.

Homeowners pumping more often than necessary are pumping out mostly water.

The same exact concept for changing the oil in your car applies to pumping the waste out of your septic tank.

Notice we said WASTE.

Most homeowners pumping more often than is necessary are actually pumping out mostly water. All this does is allow your drain field to rest for 1-3 weeks.

You see, once a septic tank is fully pumped all the way to the bottom it will fill back up with water in 1-3 weeks - depending on how many people are using water in your home. The average person uses about 80 gallons of water a day according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Once your septic tank is at that working level, your drain field will be working again by absorbing the water from your septic tank.

The ONLY reason to pump your septic tank is due to waste level, not water level.

What waste level should you pump at, in order to maximize your return on investment?

The recommended time to pump according to the EPA is when there is 1/3 waste compared to water in your tank.

The reason for this is to prevent waste from traveling out into your drain field while allowing your tank to build up enough waste so that you're not overspending on septic pumping. 

There are two kinds of waste in your tank:

  1. Scum: Grease, Fats, Oils and Toilet Paper
  2. Sludge: Biomaterials - better known as human waste

Your scum levels should be no more than 6 inches and sludge levels no more than 1 foot. 

A pumping maintenance test will tell you how often your tank's scum and sludge levels warrant pumping. 

Septic tank levels of sludge, scum and wastewater

How often would your tank need to be pumped with these waste levels?

That depends...

  • How many people are in your home?
  • How big is your septic tank?
  • Do you have a 2-compartment or a 1-compartment septic tank?
  • How much water are you using per day?
  • When was the last time your tank was pumped?
  • What is your current usage like?
  • What do you put down the drains?

All of these questions will help you determine the best maintenance schedule for your septic tank.

For an average family of 5, the waste level volume in the tank will reach the target 1/3 mark in 2 to 3 years. 

Our Sludge Judge measuring the amount of sludge in a tank

Are you unsure of your waste levels?

For only $157 we will come out to your home and measure your tank's waste levels. And if your tank actually needs to be pumped, this maintenance test is FREE.

To Book, Click Here

What else does our maintenance test include? Valuable information to keep your tank healthy:

  • Free 7 point septic tank inspection:

    • This inspection ensures your septic tank is functioning properly and you never have a backup into your home.

  • Septic system maintenance program optimization customized to your household to ensure you never overspend while maximizing your systems life.
  • Free septic system health test.

    • A visual analysis of your drain field to ensure there are no unforeseen issues.

Checking the amount of sludge before pumping.

OUR STANDARD: We pump to the bottom of the septic tank EVERY time - no excuses.

After We Pump

We will take care of your lawn and replace it as if we were never there.

You will then receive a 7-point inspection report stating the condition of your system. It will include a recommended pumping schedule to lengthen the life of your septic system.

Payment

You are welcome to pay online, through mail or in person. We take credit cards, check, ACH or cash. Whichever payment works best for you is fine with us.

View of yard before and after pumping. Lawn looks completely restored.
View of open tank while truck hose is pumping and Derek works with stick and garden hose spray.