FAQs

Septic tank pumping frequency depends on the size of your tank, the number of people in your household, and your water use habits. Regular pumping prevents backups, foul odors, and costly damage. Knowing when to schedule maintenance keeps your septic system functioning properly and extends its life.

Most septic tanks need pumping every 3 to 5 years. For example, a 1,000-gallon tank serving a family of four usually fits that range. If your tank is larger or fewer people live in your home, you might extend the time between pumping.

A general rule of thumb: schedule pumping whenever the sludge and scum layers occupy more than 30% of your tank’s volume. Ignoring this can lead to clogging in your drainage field. If you are unsure about timing, Splash Plumbing can help assess your system and advise you accordingly.

Several factors affect how often you should pump your septic tank:

• Household size:  More residents produce more wastewater and solids.

• Septic tank size:  Larger tanks hold waste longer before filling.

• Water usage:  High water use speeds up sludge buildup.

• Garbage disposal use:  Increases solids entering the tank, requiring more frequent pumping.

• Climate:  Wet or rainy regions may impact system performance differently.

Adjusting your pumping schedule based on these elements prevents damage to your tank and environment, helping you avoid emergency repairs.

• Be mindful of what you send down the drain. Dispose of feminine hygiene products, paper towels, cooking grease, coffee grounds, and flushable wipes in the trash.

• Watch what you put in your garbage disposal, as not everything grinds down. It can produce fats and solids that clog your septic tank. Consider using a compost system instead.

• Coffee Grounds

• Disposable Diapers

• Sanitary napkins

• Tampons

• Cigarette Butts

• Condoms

• Dental Floss

• Cat Litter

• Gauze

• Fats, Greases, Oils

• Paper Towels

• Paints, Varnishes, Thinners

• Waste Oils

• Photographic Solutions

• Pesticides

• Other Hazardous/harmful chemicals that require special disposal

The septic tank at your home is a delicate system that relies on bacteria to break down what it contains. So remember, if it's not biodegradable, it can negatively affect the tank and should not be put down the garbage disposal. Here are a few items to avoid:

• Fat, Grease, Oil (when it cools it could cause blockage...always cool in a container and then thrown in the trash.)

• Potato Peels (turn into a gluey mass inside pipes)

• Egg Shells

• Pasta, Rice, Oats (they continue to swell and may cause clogs)

• Bones, Shells, Poultry Skin

• Fibrous Vegetables (artichoke, celery, rhubarb, lettuce, kale, cornhusks, onion skins, asparagus, and chard)

• Coffee Grounds (eventually the grounds build up and form a sludge inside pipes)

• Nuts, Fruit Pits

While anything biodegradable is okay to put in the garbage disposal, remember that a disposal will not liquefy solids. It breaks the solid down into small pieces, which are still solids. If you dispose of small solids with a septic tank, you could potentially damage the system. Be selective about what you put in the garbage disposal, to only include already soft or rotted foods such as old fruits.