Distinguish Between Septic Tank Pumping and Cleaning

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Your residential septic system features a large underground tank called a septic tank. The septic tank is what collects all the wastewater and human excreta that exits your house and separates it into three main layers: sludge (solids), scum (floatables) and effluent (liquids).  

Keeping up with septic tank maintenance is essential to avoid problems with your septic system, allowing it to keep functioning well and extending its life.

Septic tank pumping and cleaning are two essential tasks you should perform on your septic system. Many people often think that these similar-sounding septic care tasks mean the same thing, but that is not the case.

Read along to learn the difference between getting your septic tank pumped versus cleaned.

Septic tank pumping 

As solids, liquids and floatables accumulate inside your septic tank over time, the tank loses its operating capacity. If this situation remains unchecked, you might see raw sewage leaking into your yard. That's where pumping comes in.

Septic tank pumping involves emptying the contents of your tank to return it to its working capacity. Typically, your septic company will use a vacuum truck – a work truck connected to a powerful vacuum hose – to draw waste from your tank. The waste ends up in a waste management facility approved by the local council.

The frequency of septic tank pumping varies from property to property, depending on several factors, such as septic tank size, household size and water consumption rate. 

Septic tank cleaning

While septic tank pumping primarily focuses on removing waste from your tank to restore its capacity, septic cleaning takes things up a notch. During tank cleaning, solids stuck at the bottom of the emptied tank will be cleaned to help assess the tank. Early detection of tank problems helps avoid expensive repairs down the line.

Having your tank pumped and cleaned during a single appointment is a clever way to save time and money on septic maintenance.

Although septic tanks are an absolute necessity for anyone not connected to the municipal sewerage system, they require regular maintenance to work as they should for many years. Building a septic system takes time and costs money, so it would do you well to take good care of it. 

Contact local septic tank services if you need professional assistance with your septic tank maintenance. The experts working at the company have everything required to get the job done correctly.

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23 May 2022

Septic Services: A Detailed Guide

Yo! My name is Stan. While septic services may not seem like a very cool subject for a blog, I can assure you that it is a very important one. I first became interested in septic services when I moved out of the city to the country. It was a real change of gear and there were many differences which I needed to get used to. One of the most important differences was that the property was not connected to the local sewer system. This meant I had to get used to maintaining the septic tank. Thankfully, I got lots of great advice from my neighbours and the septic company. I hope you like this blog.