If you're a homeowner, you know all too well the pride that comes from maintaining things around the house. But while you may have no problem pulling weeds and painting the spare bedroom, one task you should never undertake yourself is cleaning your own septic tank. Not only is it nearly impossible unless you have the right tools, but it's also a really labor-intensive job. And, to be honest, it's pretty disgusting too.

Once you know what goes into the average residential septic tank cleaning, you'll feel more confident about hiring someone to clean your own septic tank.

What Happens Before a Septic Tank Cleaning?

Before a septic service technician can take a brush to the walls of your septic tank, they'll need to pump it out first. This consists of taking a big truck with an empty, reinforced tank in the back, dragging a large hose to the septic tank, removing the cover, and pumping the sewage out slosh by slosh. This process should take between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how large the tank is and how much sewage is inside the tank.

Only after the tank is pumped of all the available waste does the actual residential septic tank cleaning process begin. The technician will grab a high-pressure water hose from the truck and spray the inside of the tank until it's clean. If necessary, they'll also grab a brush and scrape alongside the walls to get all the dirt and muck off, then hose it down again, paying special attention to the inlet pipes and the holes that take sludge to the drainfield. The last thing you want as a homeowner is either one of those areas clogged.

How Can You Extend Time Between Septic Services?

Though it's not a fun experience, pumping your septic tank shouldn't happen more than once every couple of years. The best way to make sure your septic tank is in tip-top shape and keep it as squeaky clean is to watch what you throw down the drain. Excessive toilet paper, grease and food waste from the kitchen sink, and hygiene products can all clog your tank, making the job of residential septic tank cleaning much more difficult. If this happens, they'll most likely have to use specialized tools to either de-clog the tanks or repair the damage that has been to the inside of the septic tank. Both of these can incur more costs for the homeowner, so it's important to maintain it properly.

For more information, reach out to a local septic service.

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