How Often Is Residential Septic Cleaning Necessary?

Jan 31, 2023

How Often Is Residential Septic Cleaning Necessary?

One of the common questions that homeowners who use septic systems ask is "how often should you get your septic tank cleaned?" Septic cleaning is an integral part of keeping your residential septic tank running efficiently. If you rely on a septic system for waste management in your home or business, you may be wondering how often you need to clean your septic tank.

Reviews
Mitch Kranes

Tim Grant of Septic Blue performed our septic system service. He was fantastic. Tank had not been serviced in a…

double
Tim P.

Bret Brooks arrived on time, was completely professional and courteous.  I needed my septic tank pumped and a riser installed.…

double
Ashley Maylott

We are renovating a home that has a septic tank. We contacted Septic Blue and scheduled an appointment. They came…

double
Eric Lehtinen

Bret was professional and courteous.  Bret walked me through his process and explained everything to me.  When it came to…

double

Typically, you should have a professional septic company clean out your septic tank once every 2-5 years. However, there are several factors that determine how long you should go between septic cleanings. A septic tank should be cleaned as often as your system needs, regardless of when it was last cleaned. Every septic system has different needs, and every household is different. Your septic tank pumping and cleaning frequency will depend on a wide range of factors.

Factors That Affect the Frequency of Residential Septic Cleanings

  • Sludge and scum levels of your septic tank: When the sludge layer reaches six inches at the bottom of the tank or the scum layer falls within six inches at the bottom of the tank, it’s time to have your septic tank cleaned out, regardless of when the last cleaning occurred.
  • Size of your household: The more people that live in your home, the more waste is produced. If you have a 1250-gallon septic tank with 3 people living in your home, you’ll need to clean the tank every 3 ½ years. But if the tank is bigger, you can expect shorter intervals in between septic cleaning sessions. For a 1500-gallon septic tank with 3 people living in a home, the ideal septic cleaning frequency should be every six If you host guests in your house every so often, your septic tank will fill up much quicker, and you’ll need to schedule septic tank cleaning sooner.
  • Size of the tank: A typical residential septic tank ranges from 750 gallons to 1,500 gallons in size. A smaller septic tank would need to be cleaned out more frequently. For instance, a 1,000-gallon septic tank which is used by four people should be cleaned once every 2 ½ years. If you have a 1,500-gallon septic tank with four people living at your home, the septic cleaning frequency can be extended to 3 ½ years. But for a 2,500-gallon septic tank, you can have it cleaned every 5 years.

Rather than waiting until you experience septic problems like sewage odor and backups, consider getting ahead of the game by having your septic system inspected. If you’re having a hard time deciding how often your septic tank needs to be cleaned, reach out to Septic Blue of Charlotte for professional advice. Our experienced septic technicians will inspect your septic system and determine what your septic cleaning schedule should be.

Contact Septic Blue of Charlotte for Reliable Residential Septic Service

If you’re looking for a trusted septic company that offers professional septic services, look no further than Septic Blue of Charlotte. Here at Septic Blue of Charlotte, we pride ourselves on offering reliable septic services, including septic cleaning, septic tank pumping, septic tank repair, septic installations, septic maintenance, and more.