Knowing how often to empty a septic tank isn’t always easy. After all, you don’t really want to look inside and see all the sewage sloshing around…

Generally speaking, you should empty your septic tank roughly once every one to three years, depending on use. However, how regularly you need to do it usually depends on the number of people living in your home, but can vary as the volume can vary significantly over time.

Professionals such as Alton Pump Services empty septic tanks using special suction pumps built into specially designed tanker vehicles.

How to tell if your septic tank requires emptying
There are usually three tell-tale signs that indicate that your septic tank is full. These are:

– Sewage backing up into your home and overflowing out of your toilets
– Visible overflow around the tank

– Boggy or water-logged grass around the tank

When you flush your toilet, the waste goes into the septic tank. On arrival, liquids usually flow down the pipework into the ground via a soakaway and solids stay in the tank and forms thick sludge.

If this sludge builds up, it can block or fill the tank, leading to serious healthcare issues. It can also back up in extreme situations, causing smells, damage and risks to wildlife.

If you are in the Surrey & Hampshire area and would like to book a septic tank empty, call us on 01420 561661.