A few dollars spent every few years on proper septic cleaning and care is much less expensive than an unexpected repair bill.
How often a septic tank needs to be pumped depends on the tank's design and how it is operated. It is recommended to not go more than
36 months between cleanings or evaluations. All septic tanks must be periodically pumped (cleaned) to remove floating scum and sludge that accumulates. If either floating scum or sludge is allowed to enter the soil treatment system it will cause expensive and often irreparable damage.
The pumping frequency depends on many factors, including the tank size, use and operating condition.

Conventional Septic System
When you flush the toilet or put water down the drain, it flows through the pipes and into the septic tank through the inlet tee.
The top layer of “scum” is made up of light solids that have floated to the top. The heavy solids that settle to the bottom is called “sludge”.
At working level, the wastewater filters out into your leaching field, leaving the solids behind. The wastewater then disperses into the ground.
There is always bacteria in your tank that helps to break down these solids. Pumping your tank is necessary to get rid of the solids and
keep your system working as it should.

If your system is fairly new, there may be a filter at the outlet side of your system. This filter helps to keep solids from escaping into your leaching
field and prolongs the life of the system. A typical residential filter need to be cleaned every 6-12 months. You can easily clean this filter yourself by
hooking it, pulling it out and rinsing it off with a garden hose.

Holding Tank Septic System
With a holding tank septic system, the main septic tank does not have a leaching field as in a conventional system. Your septic tank is a
holding tank and once the tank is full, it needs to be pumped. Holding tank septic systems may have an alarm that goes off when you reach
a high level in the tank. Once the alarm goes off, you only have a few more days of usage. You should call and schedule a pump for your
tank as soon as your hear the alarm to avoid any problems such as backups in your yard or home.

Pump System
With a pump septic system, it works almost like a conventional system except that there is a pump that will pump the water
out of your septic tank to your leaching area. Pump systems are usually found in areas with a high water table and you may
see the leaching field above the normal grade of your yard.

Freezing Protection
To avoid freezing in the wintertime, allow the grass over the tank and soil treatment area to grow taller in the fall.
This will help insulate the system for winter. If adequate cover is not present, it may be a good idea to cover with  straw, hay
or other loose insulating material. Avoid walking or driving over the area to prevent deep freezing.

Overloading
Overloading with water and solids can clog the soil treatment system. Large amounts of water flowing through the system can flush
solids out of the septic tank before it has had a chance to separate the solids, scum and water. Avoid washing too many loads of laundry on the
same day. Space heavy water using jobs as evenly as possible throughout the week to prevent overloading. Lack of septic tank maintenance
can cause biological overloading. This will result in additional solids going to the soil treatment system forcing the biomat to become thicker
than desired. This thickened layer slows the soil's ability to accept water, requiring more soil area than would normally be necessary.

Compaction
Driving heavy vehicles on the trenches, mound or drip system area before, during or after construction can cause damage.
Good soil treatment depends on undisturbed, uncompacted, unsaturated soil to treat wastes; this is especially important in winter.
Nothing heavier than a lawn mower should ever be driven over any part of the septic system.

Vegetative Cover
Good vegetative cover, usually grass, should be planted over soil treatment systems and mowed regularly. Mowing is necessary to
encourage growth without using fertilizer. The vegetative cover helps the system remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus by using
them for plant growth. Do not plant trees or other plants with deep, invasive roots within 5 feet of the soil treatment system. Plants that normally live
in wet soil conditions could damage a septic system and should not be planted near it. Consider the mature size of trees and shrubs when
choosing plants. Be sure to keep gophers and other rodents out of the soil treatment area.

If you are unsure if your tank is in need of service, call us at 218-739-4320.