How often should a septic tank be pumped?
ANSWER. There are many guidelines about how often a septic tank should be pumped. The absolute answer is to measure the amount of sludge and scum in the tank and pump when it exceeds recommended levels. Remember that the septic tank acts as a separation device separating solids and greases from the water. It takes time for this to happen and generally the tank should be three to four times larger than the daily flow of waste. This gives three to four days for the water to pass through the tank. As the tank fills, this time is reduced and the effectiveness of the tank declines. Another way of looking at this is to remember that the most expensive part of the septic system is the drainfield. Therefore every effort should be made to protect the drainfield. The only thing in the septic tank that generally has the potential to fail are the baffles. These can be inspected at the time of pumping. Perhaps a better guideline is to pump the septic tank at least every three years so that the baff
