Septic tank servicing

Servicing your septic tank will help prevent your system from breaking down and ensure that it’s working efficiently.

It's important to keep your septic
tank in good repair

A septic tank acts as a temporary holder for waste, often situated near the house. Septic tanks can usually hold up to 1,000 gallons of waste at any one time. This waste comes from all over your home, including sinks, showers and toilets.

How often do septic tanks need servicing?

This depends on how much you use your septic tank; once it’s been filled up it is a good idea to get it serviced as soon as possible. Some septic tanks will need to be pumped out to clear the waste, while other tanks can last between ten to twenty years before being pumped. A properly designed septic tank should be odour free and besides the odd inspection and pumping of the septic tank, should last for decades with hardly any maintenance. How often you need to service your septic tank will also depend on the material the tank is made out of, long lasting materials such as maintained concrete, fibreglass or plastic will last you around fifty years.

Why do you need your septic tank serviced?

There are several reasons that you may need your septic tank serviced:

• The septic tank has hit full capacity.
• Flushing non-biodegradable items down the toilet such as cigarette butts and sanitary towels will rapidly fill or clog a septic tank.
• Excessive water entering the system, such as leaving the taps in the bathroom on, will likely cause the septic tank to fail.
• Dumping oil and grease will cause the inlet drains in your septic tank to quickly block. Oils and grease are difficult to degrade and will cause problems with the emptying of the septic tank.
• Roots from shrubbery and bushes in your garden growing above the septic tank or the drain field can clog up the septic tank also causing it to fail.
• Chemicals will damage the working of a septic tank, especially pesticides and herbicides.

How much will it cost to get the septic tank serviced?

If you decide not to call in a professional to service your septic tank and go it alone then you will save yourself a lot of money, but will need to be very careful when trying to empty it. If your septic tank is fitted with a pump then it will be much easier for you to go it alone, as the pump will eliminate the labour that goes into the process of servicing the tank. If your septic tank doesn’t have a pump, then the best policy will be to contact a professional. Most professionals will quote you around £250 to £300 pounds depending on the size of the tank; some will also offer to remove the waste from the septic tank at an extra charge.