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Septic tank overflow can be off-putting and expensive, which is why it pays to know the signs that your septic tank needs to be drained. Here are seven such signs and what to do when it is time to call a septic tank pump out service.

1. It Isn’t Draining Like it Used to

Septic tanks can often drain less efficiently as they age, meaning that you will need to drain it more often. If your septic tank is older, be sure to have it checked for possible draining more often. Regular maintenance can help ensure that it doesn’t need increased draining as well, especially when you partner with a professional company.

2. There’s a Smell

The smell can often be the first indicator that a septic tank is overflowing as the smellier compounds can rise to the surface before any visible signs. If you think you can smell your septic tank, then it is likely time for it to be pumped out.

3. You Have Sewage Backup

A sewage backup is one of the worst symptoms of septic tank overflow. You will, unfortunately, know when this is happening for a number of reasons and will likely already be in contact with someone to have your septic tank drained. If you haven’t, contact a professional fast, as sewage backup can be just as dangerous as it is smelly.

4. Nitrate Content in Your Well Water

An indirect way to know if your septic tank is leaking is through testing your well water for nitrates. A high level of nitrates in your well water can mean that your septic tank is leaking underground and impacting the chemical compounds present in the water. In these instances, it is incredibly important to have your septic tank not only drained but checked for leaks. Other compounds could make your well water dangerous to consume or use. If you find high nitrate levels in your well water, be sure to contact a septic tank professional to assess your tank and have any repairs or replacements made.

5. Pooling Water

One of the most potentially expensive signs that your septic tank is leaking is pooling water, which can get into your home, other infrastructure or simply ruin your yard or driveway. If you notice pooling water where it doesn’t usually pool, especially if that water isn’t where it typically gathers after rain, then your septic tank is likely in need of draining.

6. Very Green and Lush Grass

The contents of a septic tank can actually be very good for your lawn, especially with the nitrates that can infiltrate your well water supply. So if your lawn or plants are looking particularly green and lush around the drain field, then your septic tank is likely leaking.

7. It’s Simply Time

Regular maintenance and monitoring of your septic tank is the best way to avoid all of the problems above, and that can be easily accomplished by partnering with a septic tank company like Drane Ranger.

Drane Ranger can set up a regular schedule to empty your septic tank and, while we’re there, we can make sure that it is working properly as well. If you have a septic tank and want it to last as long as possible, then this is the best way to have your septic tank emptied by a professional septic tank pump out service.

Nobody wants their septic tank to overload or break. The smell is awful, and repairs can be costly. But, just how often do you need to empty your septic tank? A lot of homeowners ask this question, and it’ a good question to ask. However, the question is a bit more complicated than a single answer.

Why Empty a Septic Tank?

Neglecting your septic tank maintenance can lead to some serious household issues. If your septic tank gets too full, it can lead to clogging of lateral field pipes and absorption into the surrounding soil first, and later will mean the sewage is reaching the surface. It’s not a pleasant smell for you, or your neighbors is hazardous to both yourself and the environment around your house and will need to be repaired. Even if you’ve never experienced an overload, this isn’t something to take chances with.

General Rule:

As a general rule, you should call one of your local septic tank pumping companies about once every three to five years. This timeline may be larger or smaller depending on a lot of factors, though.

Septic tank Size:

Your septic tank size will play a large role in how often you must hire septic tank pumping companies. A smaller septic tank will hold less sewage before being filled, so it will need to be emptied much more frequently than a large septic tank. For example, an average household size with a small septic tank may need to pump out the tank every one to two years instead, whereas as much larger septic tank will perhaps only need to be emptied every six to seven years.

Household Size:

Household size is also important to consider. A larger amount of people using the septic tank means that it will need to be emptied more frequently than a smaller amount of people. For example, if you are a single person using a moderately sized tank, you might go as long as a decade before needing to have it pumped out. However, a large family using the same tank might need to call septic tank pumping companies about every two years or less.

Volume of Solids in Wastewater:

The amount of solids that are in the wastewater will also impact how often you must call septic tank pumping companies. The more solids, the more room is taken up in your septic tank, and the more often it will need to be emptied out. Be sure to consider this when deciding how often your septic tank needs to be emptied.

Total Wastewater Generated:

Depending on your toilet’s efficiency, any leaks, and the amount of flushes per day, you may have to have your septic tank emptied. If you have an efficient and good quality toilet, you’ll likely make fewer calls to the septic tank pumping companies. However, if your kids flush the toilet five times per hour, you might be emptying your septic tank much more often.

Overall, there are a lot of factors determining how often you need to pump out your septic tank, including septic tank size, household size, solid volumes, and water generation, however, as a general rule of thumb, it’s good to hire a septic tank pumping company about every three to five years.

When Was the Last Time the Tank Was Pumped?

Generally speaking, a septic tank needs to be pumped by a tank cleaning company every two to three years. You may need to have it cleaned more frequently, depending on how many people live in your household and how old your septic tank is.

If it’s been more than three years since your septic tank was serviced by a professional septic tank cleaning service in Alvin, TX, don’t delay. Chances are, your tank is long overdue for proper cleaning.

Are You Expecting Guests in the Near Future?

If you’re anticipating heavy septic tank use shortly—maybe your entire extended family is coming to visit (gulp)— it’s a good idea to have your septic tank cleaned and ready for action. If you’re local, you can call a professional septic tank cleaning company, and they will advise you as to what you need to do to prepare for the heavier influx of sewage. Getting your septic tank cleaned means you’ll have one less headache to worry about.

Is there a Bad Smell?

One sure fire way to know if you need to call a septic tank cleaning company in Alvin, TX, is if there’s a bad odor coming from your lawn, or any other area surrounding your septic tank. If there’s a major problem with your septic tank, you are going to smell it. Make sure you contact a septic tank cleaning company right away so that you don’t—ugh—see it.

Are You Worried Tree Roots Are Clogging Your Septic Tank’s Drainage Lines?

Tree roots are a leading cause of pipe blockages, and your septic tank is no exception. If you have a lot of trees on your property, you’ll want to ensure that they aren’t causing any trouble underground. Even if you’ve had your tank cleaned in the last two years, you may want to call a septic tank cleaning service in Alvin, TX, to ensure that tree roots aren’t going to cause you any expensive damage in the near future.

Is Your Yard Wet but It Hasn’t Rained?

If your yard is wet but it hasn’t rained (or you haven’t had the sprinklers on), no—it’s not a new weather phenomenon – your septic tank is most likely leaking sewage. A squishy, lush lawn may just mean that you are long overdue to have a professional septic tank cleaning company in Lavin, TX come out and take a look at your tank to see if everything’s working properly or, if not, to clean or repair your tank.

If you live in Alvin, TX, and own a septic tank, you need to make sure it’s properly functioning at all times. Don’t wait for these indicating signs to tell you it’s time to clean your septic tank. Call a professional today, so that you can avoid expensive repairs and smelly messes. No one wants to deal with a septic tank problem, except for the professionals whose job it is.

Are you a new homeowner or simply new to owning a septic tank? It’s definitely a new learning curve that will have you thinking a lot more about what goes down your drain. Let’s dispel a little of the new-owner worry by taking a quick look at what you can expect to happen during a septic tank pumping.

1) The arrival

When your septic tank pumping expert first gets to your home, he or she will most likely want to consult with you to make sure you haven’t been experiencing any problems with your septic tank.

2) Locating and exposing the tank access lids

Before the tank can be emptied, the septic tank pumping technician will need to locate the tank. Don’t worry if you don’t know where it is; they have tools to help them find it. Your tank access lid may be clearly accessible, or it may be covered by sod.

3) Initial inspection

The septic tank pumping won’t start right away; once the tank access is uncovered and opened, the technician will do a quick inspection to take note of the liquid level of the tank and how that is related to the tank’s outlet pipe. This will help to establish whether you have a problem like a tank leak or a drainpipe or drain field issue.

4) The pumping begins

The technician will place a large vacuum hose into the tank’s manholes to begin the septic tank pumping. The hose is attached to a strong pump on the Honey Wagon (the septic truck). It will continually drain all of the solids and liquids from the tank while a septage spoon and backflushing techniques may be used to loosen and remove any persistent sludge.

5) The inspection continues

As the septic tank pumping is taking place, your technician will be inspecting your tank for signs of trouble. For instance, too heavy or too light backflow as the tank empties may suggest a drain field problem. The technician will also check for signs of structural damage, including holes, cracks, seam leaks, etc.

6) Once emptied, the tank gets cleaned

The technician will follow the septic tank pumping with a quick cleaning by spraying the walls of the tank with clean water. Once finished, the tank is closed back up, the access lid is re-covered, and the technician will inform you of anything observed during the inspection.

Questions you may have about septic tank pumping:

Here are the answers to a few common questions you may have about the septic tank pumping process.

How often do you need to have your tank pumped?

This depends on usage and the number of people in your house. Relax, we don’t just mean the number of flushes (trust me, no one’s judging here); the water that goes down the drain has an impact, too, so if you do a lot of laundry or cooking or just have hard water, that can have an impact on your septic tank, too. On average, you should arrange for septic tank pumping every 1 to 3 years, or when the tank’s total solid accumulation hits 30% – 50% of total capacity.

How long will it take?

Septic tank pumping usually takes 20 – 35 minutes, although this can be slowed down if there is too much accumulation, or if poor flushing decisions or tree roots have led to clogs.

How much will it cost?

This depends on the size and condition of the tank, but you can expect septic tank pumping to cost anywhere from $75 – $300.

Can I do things to reduce pumping frequency?

Make sure you are using water sparingly and only disposing of septic-friendly materials. Avoid flushing things like diapers or baby wipes since they can plug your tank’s hoses. Make sure you aren’t using your in-sink garbage disposal; your septic tank isn’t designed to break down food waste. Try to disperse laundry day over the week, and don’t pour any chemicals down the drain that could corrode pipes or kill the bacteria that help break down waste. Making these adjustments may reduce the required frequency of septic tank pumping, but don’t push this back too far; overloading the tank can have problems and reducing inspections may mean missing warning signs.

How much do you know about how your septic tank works? How often should it be cleaned? What is involved in the cleaning process? And what should you know about it all so that you can choose the best company for septic tank cleaning in Houston?

First of all, don’t forget about the septic tank. If you haven’t had it cleaned for a while, don’t wait much longer. It’s a very necessary part of your environment, and if something were to go wrong with it, you would definitely regret it, and so would your neighbors. As well, it’s not needed just for the cleanliness of everything around you, if the septic tank isn’t pumping properly, proper functioning of the household plumbing isn’t happening. It is important to choose the best company for septic tank cleaning in Houston before an emergency happens.

When you are looking for the best company to help you with your septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas you should be questioning those you find about the following things:

1) What experience do they have? How popular are they as a septic tank cleaning company in Houston? The best company will be able to do the job correctly and efficiently, so be sure that the company is known and trustworthy.

2) Do they have the right amount of knowledge? A septic tank isn’t that complicated, but there is a lot to know, and it isn’t something that just anyone with a big truck can do. So, in addition to experience, the best septic tank cleaning company will be knowledgeable about the variety of septic tanks out there, new and old, and how all parts work together, or separately.

3) Can they perform a variety of services? Your septic tank doesn’t work alone; there are other systems, like the sump pump and grease trap that also need cleaning. For the most efficient service and simplicity for you, one question to ask the professionals you interview is if they can work on all parts of the systems at once so that you will not need other contractors for similar work. Once you have researched to find the best septic tank cleaning company in Houston, be sure to keep that company in mind for your similar needs.

4) Are they reliable? You want a company who comes promptly for the regular maintenance, and who comes quickly when there is a problem. For the best septic tank cleaning in Houston, the professional company must follow through on appointments and do their work efficiently.

5) Does the company have positive reviews online? The best place for you to find recommendations and the answers to all these questions is to ask your neighbors and friends. As well, read reviews online about the company’s pricing, professionalism, quality, and reliability. If others think highly of them, they will likely do a good job for you too, and it will help you feel good about your choice.

Looking for septic tank cleaning in Houston? Call Drane Ranger to talk about how they can help you keep your home clean and healthy.

Does anyone like having to do chores? It’s not an ideal way to spend your weekend or a day off of work, but the least appealing chores are often the most necessary. If you have a septic tank on your property, you need to ensure you are regularly pumping it. A septic tank goes unnoticed throughout our daily lives, after all, it is buried underground outside of our homes, but it is hard at work twenty-four hours a day treating and disposing of your household waste. Your toilet water, bathwater, and laundry discharge are separated into three components – sludge, liquid, and scum. The solids that can’t be broken down settle to the bottom of the tank and must be pumped, every three to five years, by a septic tank pumping company to avoid problems like unpleasant sewage odor, seeping, and backups.

A backup is one of the most common septic system problems, and it is one of the grossest. There might be an issue with the tank itself, but it could also be caused by the drain field, a mechanical malfunction, or a clog in the drain line and even filter. A septic tank pumping company can diagnose or troubleshoot your septic tank to help avoid total system failure. However, this issue can easily be avoided by ensuring you regularly have your tank pumped by septic tank pumping companies and are mindful of what you allow into the system. Not only is it a messy situation to clean up but it’s harmful to your family’s health as everything you flush down the toilet is coming back up.

Gas Hazards

The most immediate danger is the gases that sewage generates. The most common gas hazards are hydrogen sulfide and methane. Hydrogen sulfide can cause illness, disorientation, and, if doses are high enough, death. Methane is an odorless and colorless gas that is fast-acting and extremely harmful even in small doses. It can asphyxiate any occupants of your home, including animals, causing them to lose consciousness or even die. Don’t wait until it’s too late to contact septic tank pumping companies to get a quote on cleaning your tank.

Harmful Pathogens

Pathogens are microorganisms that cause illness in humans and are released from overflowing septic tanks. Pathogenic organisms can also grow outside of our bodies. Botulism is a powerful toxin produced from bacteria found in raw sewage. Your family can easily come into contact with other harmful pathogens like e-coli, salmonella, campylobacter, intestinal amoebas, shigella, and even cholera during a sewage leakage. Scheduling regular septic tank maintenance with local septic tank cleaning companies can eliminate this risk.

Dangerous Chemicals

One way to completely disrupt your septic system’s production of beneficial bacteria is to flush chemicals down the drains and toilets. Not only do cleaning products kill beneficial bacteria but they can cause damage to your pipes and promote oxidation. If this damage results in a leak, then these same chemicals are released into the house, and your family is exposed to them. If you suspect there are dangerous chemicals in your septic tank, you need to contact a septic tank pumping companies right away.