Millions of people worldwide depend on private disposal systems called septic tanks.  Yet most of these folks lack the basic understanding of how this system works or how to maintain it.. Unless it stops working, it is of low priority (not even thought of) in their daily lives.  A mystique surroundsthe septic tank.  To most people wastewater is simply water that they want to "go away".  They don't stop to consider the overall cycle; Water never goes away, it is simply recycled!
If you can't remember the last time your septic system was serviced, then it is probably time for a septic pumpout!  Unfortunately the adage "if it ain't broke it don't need fixing" does not apply to a septic system.  Just like a car, your septic system needs to be maintained in good working order so as to prolong its life.  Lack of maintenance alone can cause a well designed system to break down.
Getting to Know Your Septic Tank System
Failing systems are a major cause of tainted shellfish beds, polluted beaches and contaminated well water. Why does a system fail?
Organic clogging is the primary cause of septic system failure.  If a septic tank is neglected and not pumped out on a regular basis, unprocessed solids and debris can overflow out to the leaching field.  The field's pipes, rock beds and soil become clogged with grease, soaps and solids.  Perpetual dampness is one of the first indications of a problem with a drainfield. If left to continue, a black , slimy organic layer will form that prevents percolation of gray water and cuts off needed oxygen.  With nowhere else to go, sewage can overflow onto your lawn, or worse, start backing up into sinks, bath tubs and shower (even worse with a houseful of company!)
However, not all failures are caused by clogging.  Some older fields constructed with cement tiles are beginning to crumble with age. Do not drive or park on your drainfield. extra weight of vehicles, pools, sheds etc can crush sub terrain pipes.
Warning Signs of a Field Failure

-Mushy ground over your system
-Sluggish drains or back ups
-outdoor sewage odors
-sewage surfacing in the yard
-patches of lush growth over the drainfield
Sewage overflows onto your lawn cause a mess and terrible problems.  Among which are these common diseases capable of transmission from sewage:  Cholera, Gastroenterisits, Infectious Hepatitis, Salmonellosis and Cryptosporidiosis.  Many of these are accompanied with fever, diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes are fatal.  We urge you if you suspect that raw sewage is being discharged into your yard, that you take action quickly. It will affect not only yourself  but the lives of your children, pets and neighbors.

A regular maintenance schedule by far out weighs the costs of replacing a field system which in ballpark figures could add up to anywhere from $4000 and up to five figures.  We hope that this site was informative and if you have any questions that you don't hesitate in contacting us. We remind you that if your system requires alterations that you contact your local health authority for specifications in your area.
Pumping Frequency Guidelines
How often a septic tank needs to be pumped depends on the tank’s design and how it is operated. In this chart, the negative factors that affect the pumping frequency are called EFFECTS and the positive factors that reduce the frequency of pumping are called CREDITS.

Consider the frequency guideline from this worksheet AND the conditions observed when the tank is pumped to decide when the tank will next need pumping. No tank should go more than 36 months between pumpings or evaluations!

EFFECTS  POINTS FOR EACH FACTOR
Enter 10 points for wastewater that enters the septic system for each of these appliances: Water conditioning unit (water softener or iron filter)  
Garbage disposal  
Automatic clothes washer  

Enter 10 points if you have:
An in-home business (such as daycare, beauty shop)   
More than 4 over-night guests at a time, several times per year   
A laundry pattern of doing three or more loads/day   

Enter 10 points if your septic tank is smaller than indicated
for the size of the house:
HOUSE SIZE TANK CAPACITY 
2-3 bedrooms 1000 gallons 
4-5 bedrooms 1500 gallons 
6-7 bedrooms 1750 gallons 
8-9 bedrooms 2000 gallons  

Enter the points indicated if the last cleaning was: 
FREQUENCY POINTS 
1-2 years ago = 0 
3-5 years ago= 5 
6-10 years ago =10 
more than 10 years ago =12  

The number of people living and using water in the household affects the cleaning frequency. Enter the number of people for the house size and do the calculation.
HOUSE SIZE  # OF PEOPLE LOAD 
2 bedroom  ______ - 3 = ______ x 3 =   
3 bedroom  ______ - 4 = ______ x 3 =  
4 bedroom  ______ - 5 = ______ x 3 =  
5 bedroom  ______ - 6 = ______ x 3 =  
6 bedroom  ______ - 7 = ______ x 3 =  
7 bedroom  ______ - 8 = ______ x 3 =   

TOTAL EFFECTS    

CREDITS  POINTS FOR EACH FACTOR
Enter 10 points if you:
Use a suds-saving or front-loading clothes washer, or do 4 or fewer loads of laundry spread throughout the week  
Have two full-size septic tanks or one tank with 150% or more of the capacity required for your house  

Enter 5 points if you: Are ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE on water use   
Use low-volume toilets (3 gallon or less per flush)  
Use low-flow shower heads  
Have two or fewer people in the house and bathe fewer than five times per week  
Have no one at home for 10 hours or more most days  

TOTAL CREDITS    


Enter your numbers in this equation to calculate how often your septic tank should be cleaned. 36 - (effects number) + (credits number) = months between  pump outs