To avoid pollution of soils, waterways, and groundwater by wastewater, septic tanks are used. This sanitation system makes it possible to collect black water, which comes mainly from toilets. However, it is essential to maintain it well in order to keep your home healthy and hygienic. Discover here the essentials of what you need to know before emptying your septic tank.
When should the septic tank be emptied?
It is estimated that a septic tank should be emptied every 4 to 5 years taking into account the volume and number of people in the household. If the pit is of small capacity, it must be emptied on average every 2 years. In order to be sure to benefit from optimal maintenance, it is advisable, for a septic tank emptying, to call on a specialized company. The services it offers take into account the emptying of all types of pits, sanitation and unclogging of pipes.
In a house occupied by 6 people, the pit must be emptied within an interval of 30-40 months. On the other hand, for a house in which 2 or 3 people live, we can wait about 8 years before emptying the pit.
What are the signs that the septic tank is full?
When bad odors start coming out of shower pipes, toilets or sinks, don't neglect these signs. The obstruction of your drains that manifests itself by the difficulties of flow is likely a sign of a full pit. When you notice areas of moisture where the water begins to stagnate above the filter bed, you can call your emptying service.
Before, you can perform a stick test to be really sure of the need to drain your septic tank. Dip a stick into the tank to check the height reached by the sludge. If this reaches 50% of the total volume of the tank, then it must be emptied. Another way of checking is to push the stick as much as possible into the manhole of the septic tank. When there is resistance to a shallow depth, it is because the level of the mud is reached and the pit must be emptied. If the sludge level exceeds 50% of the tank level, the pit is full and must be emptied as soon as possible. Note that plugs can form downstream of the pit and cause it to overflow when it is not yet full. The only solution, in this case, is to empty the pit in order to be able to unclog it.
Why regularly empty your septic tank?
A pit that is not drained regularly or that is filled with sewage can cause significant damage. With such a pit, the risk of having drainage problems is quite high. When the amount of solid contents in the pit reaches 8% of its entire volume, this leads to a bacteriological imbalance.
Pits that lack maintenance can become a source of very unpleasant olfactory pollution and make your living environment unhealthy. Indeed, the accumulation of black water, domestic water and kitchen water that it collects generates bacteria that are harmful to your health. Under these conditions, the risk of developing an infectious disease becomes high.
What to do when the septic tank is clogged?
When domestic pipes such as toilets or kitchens become clogged due to accumulations of material, locating the plug is difficult. On the other hand, for a septic tank, this is easy to locate and simple to unblock.
Start by diagnosing your pit to determine the origin of the blockage. Once the clogged part is uncovered, call a professional to help you unclog it. In the future, avoid throwing or introducing waste other than human waste and toilet paper into the pit.
How much does it cost to empty a septic tank?
A classic emptying of your septic tank will cost you an average of 240 euros. For this amount, you can drain a 3 m³ pit. This also includes cleaning the pit and inspecting it using a specific camera. The same rate also takes into account the pumping of the grease trap and the cleaning of the pit. If the capacity of the pit exceeds 3 m³, plan 150 euros more for 1 m³ extra.
Similarly, premium services are available with an initial price of about 550 euros for 3 m³. They take into account the cleaning of the pit, its cleaning, its inspection with a pit camera, and the pumping of the grease trap. For an additional 1 m³, you need to complete with 100 euros on average. These rates are not fixed. They can change depending on the specifics of your septic tank.
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