Owning a septic system comes with the need to have a little more knowledge and consideration of your wastewater than when your wastewater is connected to city sewers. There are many things that you need to keep in mind when you have a septic system, but one of the most important is scheduling regular septic pump-outs for your septic system. Where it gets slightly complicated is that there are many different variables that can change your timeline of septic pump-outs. If you have a septic system, the appropriate schedule might change based on a few different factors, including:

  1. The size of your septic tank. When you are installing a septic system, you get to choose the size of your tank. Should you move into a home that has a septic system, however, the tank size may or may not work with your family size. Larger tanks will need to have septic pump-outs less frequently whereas smaller tanks will need it more frequently.
  2. The number of people in your household. Like tank size, the number of people in your household is crucial in determining when you should schedule your septic pump-outs. More people are going to create more wastewater, filling your tank faster. You should also consider bumping up your timing if you were to have someone staying with your family long-term, thereby increasing the household numbers.
  3. Water usage. The amount of water that you use affects the scheduling of your septic pump-outs. Thinking about your daily habits such as long showers, frequent loads of laundry, or how often you run your dishwasher are important.

If you are ever unsure about your septic pump-outs, talk to a local septic service professional about finding a schedule that will work for your needs.