Why Does my Septic Tank Need Emptying So Often?

When your home or business has a septic tank, it is common to have a regular schedule to collect and remove the waste from it.  But why does this need to be done so often?  And who do you use to have an empty septic tank in Worcestershire?

Why a septic tank needs to be emptied

The general set up for a septic tank is that it has a pipe that runs from the tank and flows to a drainage field or soakaway system.  This pipe is part of a network of perforated pipes that allow the waste water to percolate safely to the ground without causing any pollution – in other words, it removes the dangerous waste and leaves behind just the waste water.

Septic tanks don’t treat waste but instead separate it into three different layers – scum separated waste water and sludge.  The names do give a hint as to what is included in each!  So while the separated waste water can be removed through the drainage pipe, the scum and the sludge cannot.  And this is why a septic tank needs to be emptied – to remove these two unpleasant products.

How often should your tank be emptied?

There’s no set rule about how often you should have your tank emptied – a lot depends on the size and the usage level that it sees.  The tank may be big enough and the number of users small enough that one or two times a year is sufficient.  For larger properties such as businesses, then a much more regular schedule is needed.  Working with an expert in septic tank emptying is an important part of establishing the right schedule.

How are tanks emptied?

You need to use a company that is a licensed waste removal company in order to have the scum and sludge from the tank removed and properly disposed of afterwards.  The company will visit the property with a special flexible hose that will be inserted into the tank and then a powerful motor will be used to pull out the sludge and scum into the tanker.  It will then be safely disposed of in line with the Environment Agency standards.

Septic tank myths

There are also lots of myths out there about septic tanks that can lead to confusion for owners – and worse!  For example, some people think that septic tanks don’t need to be emptied because of the drainage system.  But remember, this only removes the separated water, not the other more dangerous waste.

Other people think that you only need to empty the tank when it is full.  While you can wait until this point, the problem can come if you then can’t get it emptied quickly – many companies have regular schedules and unscheduled pickups can take a few days or longer.  If the tank is already full, this can lead to some unpleasant problems.

Conclusion

Shaw’s Loos offer septic tank emptying to our customers around Worcestershire and we can work with you to find a schedule that suits your needs.  That way you need never see what happens if your septic tank is full!