What If My Septic Tank Has Never Been Pumped?
If you are a new homeowner or you are moving to a new house, you need to ensure that your septic tank is pumped. It’s a common misconception that septic pumps are not supposed to get pumped. If you are wondering what could go wrong if your septic tank has never been pumped, keep reading further to find out.
What is a Septic Tank?
A septic tank is what we describe as an underground sewage facility. The tank can be found deep in the ground and is usually made of concrete or fiberglass. Some septic tanks are also made of polyethylene plastic. The main function of a septic tank is to hold domestic wastewater and filtering out solids from it.
The ideal duration of pumping out a septic tank is at least 3 to 5 years if you are living in a household with at least 4 people. However, if you are someone who lives alone, you may get your septic tank pumped out once in ten years to ensure that everything is running smoothly. While some people prefer cleaning out a septic tank themselves, it’s always advisable to hire professionals to do the job.
What Happens if You Never Pump Out Your Septic Tank?
Typically, a household septic tank needs to be pumped every 3 to 5 years to ensure that there is no underground soil contamination or clogging of any sort. If your septic tank has never been pumped, it could lead to several adverse consequences.
Sewage Smell
If you fail to get your septic pump cleaned out even after several years, you may notice an awful sewage smell around the area where your tank is installed. This is because your septic tank has clogged now and would eventually stop functioning properly.
Septic Tank Overflow
The biggest nightmare that any homeowner could witness is an overflowing septic tank. Imagine heaps of wastewater and grime contaminating the nearby soil and water sources. Not cleaning your septic tanks leads to clogging which eventually results in an overflow of the tank, creating havoc for you to deal with.
More Swamps
Not pumping your septic tank ever would make you regret it forever. This catastrophe happens when your septic tank reaches its maximum capacity and it is still not getting cleaned out. Not only would it form swamps and sinkholes over the field, but also increase air pollution.
Wastewater Entering the House
Not pumping out your septic tank regularly is one of the biggest mistakes that any homeowner could make. A full septic tank would eventually start overflowing or cause underwater flooding of the wastewater. As a result of this, wastewater could very easily enter your house or backyard and create a nauseating mess that would be difficult to clean out.
What Happens When a Septic Tank Is Full?
A fully functioning septic tank can also start to wear out with time. The usual duration of cleaning a septic pump is 3 to 5 years after which the tank would reach its maximum capacity. To understand what happens when a septic tank is full you first need to understand how the septic tank works.
The septic tank is a large underground sewage box that is full of wastewater and sludge that settles into the foot of the tank. When your septic tank reaches 3/4th of its capacity that’s the ideal time to get it pumped. A full septic tank also means an overflowing one.
Your septic tank would start clogging and overflowing if you continue to use it even after 3/4th full capacity. This could lead to wastewater flooding underground and solid waste and grime overflowing out of the tank.
If this problem persists, the wastewater will start flooding the nearby soil and seep into the field area. As a result of this, your entire field or backyard would reek of sewage smell. Even the grass that grows in this area would be highly contaminated and full of toxins, disrupting the entire ecosystem of the area.
This situation can further worsen during the rainy season. Solid waste would keep clogging your septic tank and the wastewater would continue to pollute the area. Moreover, solid waste would eventually start overflowing too, creating a living nightmare for you.
Get in Touch with Professionals to Pump Out Your Septic Tank
If you wish to avoid all the havoc caused by an overfilled septic tank, then hurry up. The cost of cleaning the aftermath would be much higher than getting your septic tank pumped in the first place. The choice is yours now.
It is highly recommended that you get in touch with a professional to pump out your septic tank. A professional septic tank cleaning company like 911 Restoration is ideal for handling this job. They are present all across Northern Virginia to provide you with exceptional septic tank pumping, installation, and repair services.
If you are experiencing residential water damage or commercial property damage. Call one of our IICRC certified specialists today.
