An essential part of taking good care of your home revolves around taking good care of the septic system. And to do this properly, you need to be familiar with septic pumping. There are several factors to consider when deciding how often to book this service. Keep reading to learn which ones matter most.

You Have a Large Family or Several Roommates

When more than two people are living in a house, the septic tank will usually fill up faster than it would in most smaller households. This is especially true when daily routines are full of showering, doing laundry and flushing toilets, which is quite normal in homes with large families or multiple roommates. With this in mind, most larger households need to schedule septic tank pumping every two to three years. Those living in a one- or two-person household can usually get away with pumping every three to five years.

You Have a Small That Needs More Frequent Pumping

The size of the tank plays a large role in how often it needs pumping. Smaller tanks, of course, fill up faster than bigger ones, especially in homes with multiple occupants. If you keep noticing slow drains, sewage backups or foul odors, these are clear indicators of septic problems that may benefit from pumping the tank. Scheduling a professional inspection is the best way to determine whether the tank is full, or another problem is affecting the system. If your setup is smaller than a standard-sized tank, it’ll most likely need pumping every one to three years.

You’re Constantly Using the Garbage Disposal

Using a garbage disposal makes it easier to keep the kitchen clean, but heavy use can be detrimental to your septic system if you don’t have it regularly pumped. The immense volume of food solids and grease that comes from shredded food particles can end up overwhelming the waste-decomposing bacteria in the tank, throwing off the system’s natural ability to break down waste. If your household uses the garbage disposal a lot, you probably need to have the septic tank pumped every one to two years rather than every three to five.

In addition to regular pumping, your household should use septic-safe toilet paper and avoid flushing wipes, paper towels and feminine hygiene products to help the septic system run reliably. A skilled sewer and drain specialist should perform yearly inspections to ensure you never overlook small problems that could grow to require costly repairs. If you live in Tampa, FL or a surrounding area and need septic tank services, make your first call to Tampa Septic Company.