| Q: | How often should I have my septic tank pumped? |
| A: | RJ Lacombe recommends that you have your septic tank pumped every two to three years. If you live in
an older house with a smaller tank or if you have a large family you should pump your septic tank more often. |
| Q: | How does a septic system work? |
| A: | Water from sinks, laundry, showers, etc.. (also called grey water), along with waste sewage (also
called black water) enters the tank at the inlet baffle. Solids settle to the bottom creating a sludge layer, lighter solids float
to the top creating a scum layer, and liquid (or effluent) settles in the middle. The effluent is purified naturally by the sludge
layer and seeps out of the outlet baffles into the leach field, where it trickles through a gravel layer (where it is further purified)
to the soil. From here the wastewater is allowed to return to the water table. |
| Q: | What would happen if I wait too long before I have my septic tank pumped? |
| A: | Accumulated solids (or sludge) will overflow out of the tank and will have no place to go except out the
outlet baffle into the leach field. This will eventually clog your septic system's soil absorbtion system, causing it to fail. |
| Q: | What can I do to keep my septic system working correctly? |
| A: | Other than pumping your system regularly you can perform some additional things to keep your system in good working order.
Click here for some common do's and don'ts. |
