In order to keep your home’s wastewater system in order, septic tank pumping is a necessary maintenance job. But what is the cost of draining a septic tank? To ensure that your septic tank continues to operate properly, they must be drained every 2 to 3 years. This process, when done on time, may costs you no more than a few hundred bucks. However, if septic cleaning has been left ignored for decades, then it can become an expensive project that costs some $5,000-$10,000.

It’s important that you know what’s needed to make septic tanks work or function. Generally, it’s where waste goes. Septic tank systems operate differently, depending on each household. It works in addition to the municipal wastewater drainage system. Its productivity depends on the size of your home. It is the ultimate destination of all your household wastes, including the one that comes from the pool, shower, drain, toilet, sink, and laundry.

How Septic Tank Works

There are different types of gravity-based septic tanks. Wastewater flows outside the house and into the tank, which is then deposited to the ground. The water is transferred from the tank to the drainage area through sloping pipes. The proper disposal of the wastes of your home depends on the functionality of the septic tank.

As wastewater enters the septic tank, it splits into three parts automatically. The solids fall to the ground to produce a sludge coating. The liquids sit in the middle, frequently forming a liquid surface. The top layers are the fat and oils that rise to the surface, forming a layer of mud. The fluid layer contains 90% of your tank’s capacity, so excess water consumption will influence the tank’s performance over time.

Ideally, for a few days, the water flows through your tank as the bacteria break down the material on the surface. Through drainage pipes, water is then transported to the drainage or leaching area and distributed to the soil. The depth of the drainage area depends on the type of soil and size of the septic tank. Clay, for example, can only carry a small amount of water.

Septic Tank Pumping and Clean

At the bottom of the tank, the sludge needs regular septic washing or pumping. Even the best bacteria down there can’t completely break down all the organic materials, which means they will build up and take up more space in the tank. If the flow of liquid isn’t enough, then the sludge can’t continue to the leaching area or home pipes.

Homeowners can pump and clean their septic tanks on their own, but in doing so, they must safely dispose of the sludge. Specialized septic cleaners come with a tank truck that collects and removes the material from your septic system and transport it from your property safely.

On average, the price of septic tank cleaning is around $270. You may pay anywhere from $245 to $295 if you request for a septic tank pumping service from qualified contractors. Rarely do companies provide discounts for this type of service.