Septic System – How often do I need to pump (clean) the septic tank?
This depends on several factors. To be safe, we recommend having the septic tank pumped every three to five years. The normal operation of the septic tank results in accumulations of solids in the tank that need to be removed on a regular basis to prevent them from being flushed from the tank and clogging the drainfield or other septic system components.
Related Questions
- For a diagram of a septic system and more info on maintaining a septic system, please see our septic tipsheet. Is it really necessary to pump the tank?
- Septic System - It costs so much to clean the tank, do septic tank additives work?
- Septic System - How often do I need to pump (clean) the septic tank?
