Pumping a septic tank can be an irritating job particularly if it starts producing an unpleasant smell and spreading surrounding. In this case, knowing how long does it take to pump a septic tank can help you make proper preparations.
Septic tanks usually require 30 minutes to 1 hour to pump and it costs around $225 to $500. You should pump the septic tank every 3 to 5 years to avoid smelling foul odors and making the surroundings unhealthy.
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How Long Does it Take To Pump A Septic Tank?
A septic tank usually requires 30 to 60 minutes to pump completely. However, the exact time depends on plenty of factors including the tank size, the pump type, and the degree of clogging. For example, a 1000 to 1250-gallon tank may require 20 to 30 minutes to pump. But if you have a 1500 to 2000 gallons tank, it will take between 45 and 60 minutes to pump.
If you apply an efficient pumping process to empty your septic tank, it may take around a few hours to the whole day. If you want to speed up the pumping time of your septic tank, maintain it regularly, prevent clogging, and pump the septic tank by hiring a professional company.
How Much Does it Cost To Pump A Septic Tank?
On average, you may cost around $225 to $500 to pump your septic tank. Septic tank inspection cost ranges from $150 to $450 while repairing costs can go up from $600 to $3000. However, the cost of pumping a septic tank varies depending on plenty of factors including the tank size, location, and preference. For example, septic tank pumping costs in the United States are around $400 to $600. In the United Kingdom, septic tank pumping costs range between £150 to £300.
In Australia, septic tank pumping costs are around $300 to 800. Pump your septic tank every 3 to 5 years to keep it functional and avoid costly repairs or replacement. You should also maintain your septic tank regularly to make sure it’s in good working condition.
What Happens if You Don’t Pump A Septic Tank?
A septic tank holds gallons of liquids. It fills slowly and starts digesting all the materials. But if you don’t pump the tank periodically y, the waxy layer will build up over the tank material’s surface.
Then the slurry or liquid will reach the outlet hole level, close to the top of the tank. If more materials enter the tank, the outflowing material will spread through side pipes and may enter into the leaching field. If the leaching field’s absorbency is higher than the usage, your septic system is functioning properly.
But if the usage is high, the materials will saturate on the ground due to excessive snow or rainfall. It can also make the overlaying ground smelly and soggy. So you can smell very foul odors. it will also be extremely unpleasant to walk in the places over leaching fields. In this case, you’ll need to dig down the septic tank top, open the access hole, and pump out liquid from the tank. Pump the liquid into a large tank truck and haul it to a disposal plant.
How Often Should You Pump Your Septic Tank?
You should inspect your septic tank every 1 to 3 years and pump it every 3 to 5 years. However, the exact time required to pump a septic tank varies depending on tank size, users and their habits, and the tank’s solid holding capacity.
Household Size
The number of your family members determines how much liquid will go into the water. If you have more people in the house, the tank will fill up quickly. so you will need to pump the septic tank more often than usual to avoid clogging the system.
Water Usage
A septic system can hold around 2000 gallons of wastewater based on the usage rate and tank size. If your house produces lots of water, you’ll need to pump the tank frequently.
Septic Tank Size
A larger septic tank requires more time to pump compared to the smaller one. A house with four family members usually requires a 1000-gallon tank while a 1500-gallon tank is perfect for six members. So a smaller family can pump their septic tank quicker than a larger family.
Solids in Wastewater
You must pump your septic tank if it reaches a minimum of 25% solid of the tank’s total capacity. If the solids reach more than the capacity, pumping the septic tank will require a longer time.
How To Determine if Septic Tank is Full?
Below are some easier processes to understand if your septic tank becomes full and it’s time to pump:
Measure the Solids
If you want to determine if your septic tank is full, measure the depth of the solids including sinks and floats. If the solids reach 1/3 of the tank, it’s time to pump the tank. To measure the solids underwater, tie a white rag on the pole’s end and put it into the tank. Then pull the pole and measure the depth of the black mark that the solid leaves.
Check The Grass Or Hear The Alarm
If your septic system has a leach field where water is pumped out into the ground, check the ground in the leach field. It should be soggy, the grass may turn yellow due to moisture, and you will smell water. If so, your septic tank becomes full.
If your septic tank has an anerobic system, you should hear an alarm goes off if the tank becomes full. This is because this type of septic tank pumps out water from sprayers into yards. The septic tank will turn off the alarm if its sprayers become clogged due to an overflow tank.
Odors
If your septic tank becomes full, you’ll smell the unpleasant odor from outdoors or the drain pipe of the dishwasher, sink, and laundry machine. It’s the easiest way to determine if your septic tank is full. When tanks hold sewage and wastewater, they overflow or spread the liquid around the house which produces strong odors.
Slush Draining
If you experience slow flushing, slow draining showers, or washing machines, it can be the result of the full septic tank.
Green Grass Growth
If you notice lots of green grass near the septic tank, it is an indicator of a full septic tank, this is because wastewater spills from full tank into the surrounding ground and delivers nutrients to the soil which increases plant growth.
FAQs on How Long Does it Take To Pump A Septic Tank
How Long Does it Take For A Septic Tank To Fill Up?
The time required to fill up a septic tank with liquid varies depending on plenty of factors including tank size, water usage, and the users. On average, it may take a few days to several weeks for the liquid to reach a significant level. However, if you pump your septic tank at the right time, prevent overflowing, and keep the septic system functional, it will increase the interval between pumping.
Does A Septic Tank Drain itself?
Septic tanks don’t drain themselves directly. Sewage and other wastewater enter into the septic tank and settle down in the bottom as surge and sinkers. The clear liquid from the top of the septic tank flows to the leach field by gravity.
How Can You Reduce Septic Tank Pumping Time?
You can reduce your septic tank pumping time by maintaining it properly, completing the laundry cycle, and applying larger laundry. You also avoid using harsh chemicals to keep the draining line clear and pump more frequently to empty your septic tank quickly.
Final words
You can pump a septic tank within 30 minutes to 1 hour particularly if your tank doesn’t have a clog and use the powerful pump. You will also need to hire an experienced septic tank cleaning company to pump the septic tank quickly and haul the liquid to safe places. Even if you want to keep your surroundings clean, and healthy, avoid damaging the septic tank, and regularly pump your septic tank. In this case, deal with a septic tank pumping company near you.
