Understanding When A Septic Tank Needs Pumping
Do you have a septic system on your property? If so, you'll want to know more about how it works so you can better identify the need to service the tank. Here are some tips for a better understanding of when the tank actually needs to be pumped.
The Zones
Your septic tank will have three zones where waste accumulates. The bottom is made of sludge, which is the heavy solid waste inside the tank. Above that is a zone of liquid that doesn't have any solid waste in it. The top zone is the scum mat, which is oils, fats, grease, and things of that nature that have problems leaving the septic tank on their own accumulate.
There is an outlet pipe where that liquid layer is designed to leave the tank. Once the tank fills up with liquid, water essentially leaves the tank as it is being filled. If you shower and fill the tank up with several gallons of water, that layer of liquid leaves the tank through the outlet pipe. If you flush a toilet, that gallon or so of water will enter the tank while the equivalent amount of water leaves it.
The top layer of scum and the bottom layer of solid waste should each take up no more than a third of the septic tank. When they take up more space than this, you should consider having your septic tank pumped.
The Measurement
If you look into a septic tank through the service opening, you are going to see that top layer of scum. It is worth measuring the layers if you are having a problem with your septic tank to determine how much sludge is located on the bottom of the tank.
One way to quickly measure the layers is by using a long board and sticking it into the septic tank. Mark off the board in one-foot increments so you can gauge how far into the septic tank it is going. Insert the board slowly until you feel resistance when it reaches the layer of sludge. Make note of the depth on the board, and continue moving the board to the bottom of the septic tank. This should tell you how deep the sludge layer is. When you remove the board, you should also be able to see markings on it for how far the top layer of oil and grease went.
This will tell you the depth of both layers. If you have a lot of sludge or scum, you will need to pump the tank.
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