How often should a septic tank be emptied?

Having the sludge that sinks to the bottom of your septic tank taken out regularly can prevent problems from occurring.

If your property has a septic tank, it’s important to know how to properly maintain it, particularly how often to have the sludge emptied from it.

When septic tanks become too full it can cause the plumbing and appliances inside your property to work less efficiently.

A full, or blocked, tank can even result in a seriously unpleasant overflow of sewage sludge that can be dangerous to both the environment and your health.

So, how often should your septic tank be emptied to avoid problems occurring?

Unfortunately, there is no fixed answer to this question as it depends on several factors including:

• The size of the tank
• The number of people using the property
• Your property’s water usage
• Tank’s age and condition

As a rough guide though, most septic tanks tend to require emptying once every three to five years.

Don’t make the mistake of waiting until yours is full before doing so.

The more sludge there is in your tank, the less efficiently it will work and the more chance there is of it becoming blocked.

Signs that your septic tank needs to be emptied

We always advise that septic tanks should be emptied on a regular basis before they begin showing signs of being too full.

However, knowing the indicators to look out for can help to identify problems early, potentially preventing costly damage and dangerous health hazards.

Some signs that your septic tank urgently needs emptying include:

A bad smell – If you begin to smell sewage it could be a sign that your tank is full and the sludge is backing up.

Standing water – Pools of water around your system’s drainage field could indicate that your tank is overflowing.

Slow drains – If water is moving through your drains very slowly and you have tried to unclog them to no avail, then it could be a sign that the tank is full.

Slow flushing toilets – As with your drains, if your toilet stops flushing properly but there is no evidence of a blockage, it could mean that your septic tank needs emptying.

Septic tank maintenance

To avoid reaching a point where you start to experience problems, it’s important to practice regular septic tank maintenance by inspecting your tank’s condition and performance.

Septic tank sludge should be removed and emptied by trained professionals with special equipment.

They can safely pump the sludge out of the tank and then dispose of it at an approved processing facility.

For help or advice with the maintenance of your septic tank, get in touch with our team of experts here at OMDI by calling us today on 01977 800418.