Homeowners who have a septic tank know that a certain level of maintenance is required to keep everything running smoothly throughout the year. Skimp on the maintenance and you’re likely to find yourself battling a messy and costly septic situation! And while taking care of your septic tank can be as simple as being mindful of what you flush into it and keeping an eye out for minor issues here and there, far and above the most important thing to remember is to have your tank appropriately pumped.
The question of when septic pumping in Prior Lake, MN is appropriate can be a confusing one, however. There are numerous resources online that can give you an idea of when it’s time to have your tank pumped, but few of them actually take into account the uniqueness of your tank and its capacity versus your use of it on a daily basis. What this means is that there’s no real “one size fits all” solution to septic pumping—it actually depends on your unique situation.
Determining your pumping schedule
Septic pumping revolves around three main variables: the size of your tank, the number of people in your household and the time between pumping. Together these three variables will dictate something very important: the balance of your septic environment. Failing to take into account the three variables listed above can result in over or under pumping:
- Over pumping can lower the fluid levels in your septic tank and create a disparity between the effluent and bacteria. Flushing out bacteria too frequently means not having the homeostasis you need in the septic environment, which means less effluent breakdown and more volatility from the tank itself.
- Under pumping leads to backups and overflows—especially when it comes to back flow and flooded drain fields. Under pumping means built up effluent has nowhere to go, which can put a strain on your system as a whole.
By looking at how big your tank is, how many people use it on a daily basis and when the last time it was pumped was, a septic professional can calculate when you’ll next need septic pumping in Prior Lake, MN to a high degree of accuracy!
Pumping precautions
Being on a regular and routine pumping schedule is far and away the best thing you can do for your septic system and the tank itself, but there are a few times when proactive and preventative pumping might be wise.
Before the holidays, for example, is a prime time to have your tank pumped. An influx of relatives all using your facilities can put a temporary strain on septic tanks, leading to issues that can be avoided with a quick pumping of the tank before they fly into town. Summertime pumping is also common with water use on the rise.
The bottom line when it comes to septic pumping Prior Lake, MN is this: getting on a regular pumping schedule and being cognizant of issues that could call for emergency pumping are the best ways to keep your tank and your overall system in good shape, all year round.