What if I Stopped Septic Pumping?
Pumping a septic tank is an expensive chore, but what would happen if you stopped septic pumping? And how long can you go without septic pumping? A car will not blow up if you wait until 5000 and 1 miles, and a septic tank can continue to operate past the point in which it needs septic pumping. However, the longer you go without septic pumping, the more damage the system will inflict on itself. Here are a few working parts in a septic tank that can be damaged if pumping does not happen regularly.
Sludge Build-up: While the bacteria in the septic tank is meant to prevent sludge from building on the bottom, septic pumping removes any excess. Without pumping, the solid sludge can buildup and cause the tank to be too full, and push waste liquids back up. This can lead to a horrible smell emanating from the ground, to wastewater leading back into the home. This is not only disgusting, but also a health hazard because waste materials are not being properly stored and disposed of.
Water Running Poorly: Due to gravity, the lower water sources in the home will have a more difficult time than higher ones. This means that a sink, toilet, or any drain on a lower floor will begin to struggle to drain water because the tank is getting too full. As mentioned previously, a tank that has not been pumped will be full, which means that waste will find its way back, making it difficult to send more waste water in the opposite direction.
While there are many problems that are a result from not pumping your septic tank, another one to consider is the life-span of a septic tank. Bad smells and improper storage of waste are not desirable, but continued lack of pumping means either living with these issues or installing a new septic tank. If you go too long without pumping your septic tank, you will need a brand new one, which hopefully will get pumped regularly.
And that is why it is important to pump your septic tank. Between the terrible smells, inability to drain water effectively, and not being able to repair the septic tank, it is clear that septic pumping is very important and should be done regularly.
