About 25% of homes in the United States rely on private septic tanks to treat their waste. Septic tanks are efficient and do not require much maintenance, but they do have to be emptied on a regular basis—otherwise, the sewage may back up into your home. Find out how often septic tanks in Latrobe and across the country need to be emptied to prevent this problem from happening. Size of the Tank Septic tanks come in a wide variety of sizes. Ask your septic tank company if you’re not sure how big your tank is. Most tanks have a capacity of 1000-1500 gallons. Obviously, a smaller tank will fill up faster and will need to be pumped more often than a larger one. A typical septic system should be emptied every 2-4 years. If you are needing yours pumped more frequently, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger tank. Size of Your Family The size of your family is another important factor when figuring out how often you need to empty your septic tank. Larger families use more water and create more waste, so they fill up a septic tank faster than a small family. This is especially true if you have a large family and a small tank. When considering the size of your family, keep in mind that children use more water than adults. Children don't know how to conserve water and often get dirty, so they need to take extra showers or have their clothes washed more than average. If your home has a lot of children, you may need to pump your septic tank as often as every 1-2 years. High Water Use Some homeowners use more water than others, requiring their septic tanks to be pumped more frequently. Even though septic tanks are designed to expel water through the drain field, excessive water use slows this process and prevents the tank from breaking down much of the solid waste material. Here are some ways to reduce the water that goes into your tank: • Install more efficient home appliances (washers, sinks, and toilets). • Make sure your sump pump doesn’t empty into your septic system. • Wash only full loads of clothes and dishes. • Don’t leave the water running when brushing your teeth, shaving, or doing dishes. Garbage Disposal Use Garbage disposals cause septic tanks to fill up quickly with solid waste. If you use your garbage disposal frequently, you will probably have to have your septic tank emptied every year. To cut down on the amount of waste in your tank, use other methods to dispose of your food waste. Start a compost pile in your backyard or simply throw out your food scraps with the garbage. Home Businesses If you run a business out of your home, you will probably need to have your septic tank emptied frequently: usually every 1-2 years. This is especially true if you offer services that require extra water, such as hair styling, pet grooming, or laundry. Home businesses also have to stay clean; however, many of the chemicals used to keep your home sanitary kill the useful bacteria in your septic tank, which are responsible for breaking down solid waste. Flushing these chemicals down your drain will make your septic tank fill up much faster. Signs of Septic System Trouble If you notice any signs of septic tank trouble, you should have your septic system inspected and emptied right away. Some of the most common signs of trouble with septic tanks in Latrobe and every location are appliances that take a long time to drain and bad smells around your drains or in your drain field.
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