Good Question! It's generally every 3-5 years for the average family of four. If you have a suite on your property, lots of bathrooms or a much larger family, it can increase the frequency of your pump-outs. Aside from the time lapsed between each pump out there are other signs that you should be looking for too.
- Is sewage backing up into your home?
- Do you notice foul odors from your tanks or septic field?
- Do you notice water pooling up around your septic field?
Another way to tell is to pop off the lid on your septic tank and to measure the scum and sludge layers. The scum layer is at the top of your tank and should not measure more than 8-10 inches deep. The sludge layer sits at the bottom of your tank and should not measure more than 12 inches deep. These levels can be checked using a long piece of pipe or other measuring tool that can reach at least 10 feet. We can do this for you if we're called to provide septic pumping services.