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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
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  TANK PUMPING FREQUENCY TABLE
  WHY DOES A TANK NEED PUMPING?
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  EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME
TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE
TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE
CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS
WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK
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Septic System Maintenance - Septic Tank Pumping Table Shows When to Clean the Septic Tank
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  • Complete septic system care & maintenance guide, how often & how to pump out septic tanks
  • Septic System Life Expectancy for septic tanks, septic fields, septic pumps, etc.
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.

This document explains a key point in how septic systems work: the septic tank & septic system cleaning schedule - when to pump out the septic tank. We explain why a septic tank needs to be pumped regularly, how septic tanks are cleaned, how much it costs to pump a septic tank, how to inspect and clean septic tanks safely, what is septic tank effluent retention time, how to measure septic tank scum and sludge levels, and other septic tank maintenance advice for homeowners. How often should septic tanks be pumped?

Also see Septic Tank Pumping Procedure Detailed step by step photo-illustrated guide to find, pump and clean a septic tank and see see Septic Backup Prevention for tips to avoid a septic problem during times of anticipated heavy septic system usage. © 2008-1978 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved.

Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical reviewers are invited and are listed at "References." © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE - A Guide to Septic Cleaning - How Often Do You Pump Out A Septic Tank?

Table I below lists the recommended septic tank pumping frequency according to septic tank capacity and household size. The frequencies were calculated to provide a minimum of 24 hours of wastewater retention assuming 50 percent digestion of the retained solids.

Septic system maintenance and repair are discussed in a collection of detailed articles listed at Septic Tank and Septic System Maintenance. The removal of septic waste by cleaning the septic tank is a critical step in septic system care as it extends the life of the septic field. Even if you don't care how septic systems work you need to know when to clean the septic tank by pumping out septic waste. Look up your tank size and number of building occupants to see how often the septic tank should be cleaned.

Table I. Septic Tank Pumping Frequency in Years
.Household size - Number of Occupants
.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Tank-GallonsSeptic Tank Pumping Frequency in Years
500* 5.82.61.51.00.70.40.30.20.1--
750* 9.14.22.61.81.31.00.70.60.40.3
900 11.05.23.32.31.71.31.00.80.70.5
100012.45.93.72.62.01.51.21.00.80.7
125015.67.54.83.42.62.01.71.41.21.0
150018.99.15.94.23.32.62.11.81.51.3
175022.110.76.95.03.93.12.62.21.91.6
200025.412.48.05.94.53.73.12.62.22.0
225028.614.09.16.75.24.23.53.02.62.3
250030.915.610.27.55.94.84.03.53.02.6


NOTES to the Septic Tank Pumping Schedule Table:

  • Numbers in the septic pumping table indicate septic treatment tank pump out in frequency of every nn years for conventional septic tanks, and assuming for year-round occupancy of the residence. (This data does not pertain to simple holding tanks which retain all solid and liquid waste with no treatment no effluent disposal system.)
  • * These septic tank sizes are below the minimum size allowed in Pennsylvania and other jurisdictions. Florida septic tank pumping rules and Ohio septic tank cleaning rules may be more demanding.
  • Minimum septic tank sizes: Under current Pennsylvania law a 900 gallon septic tank is the minimum size that must be used for a home with three bedrooms or less. If six people reside in a three-bedroom house, the tank should be pumped every 1.3 years. If the same system serves a family of two, the tank would be ready for pumping every 5.2 years. Systems installed before the current rules and regulations were implemented may need to be pumped more often, perhaps every year or less.
  • Garbage disposers will increase the frequency of pumping. For example, if this same three bedroom house with six residents had a garbage disposal and was generally producing a higher volume of wastewater, the pumping frequency would be calculated as follows: 1.3 years - [(0.2) x 1.3 years] = 1.0 year. For more analysis of the effect of garbage disposers on septic systems see Garbage Grinders or Garbage Disposes and Septic Tank Maintenance
  • Typical Septic Tank Pumping Costs: A typical fee to pump a septic tank is $200. to $300 to pump a septic tank up to 1000g in size, provided that the tank pumping access port has been uncovered and is readily accessible. If the septic pumping contractor needs to find the septic tank and then excavate the septic tank pumping access opening, expect to pay an additional $350. to $400. provided that no extraordinary measures are needed. Prices vary somewhat by region. A part of the fee you're paying your septic pumping contractor is the cost to dispose of the septage.

Onsite sewage disposal system holding tanks, where there is no septic field, will need to be pumped more frequently based simply on the rate and volume of septic waste inflow. Portions of this information were provided by the Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension.

I've edited and added considerably to the original material based on research and field experience testing, inspecting, and installing septic systems and based on study of other reference sources on septic system maintenance and design.



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05/02/2008 - 01/01/1995 www.inspect-ny.com/septic/tankpump.htm © Copyright 2008-1995 Daniel Friedman - all rights reserved