Septic Tank Emptying

A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete, fiberglass or plastic which is used as a domestic sewage removal and treatment. When correctly installed and maintained, septic tanks are considered to be eco-friendly solution to ordinary household sewerage.

The septic tank is part of a system that lets homes that aren't hooked up to city sewers still have the same level of comfort as those that are.

Sewage solids decompose or digest into a "sludge layer" between 24 to 48 hours after being flushed into the underground septic tank. These heavier solids sink to the bottom where specialised bacteria digest the waste and release methane and other gases. Grease, oils, and fats, which are lighter than water, float to the surface and form a "scum layer" in the tank and are not digested in the process.

The drainfield or "overflow" of sceptic tanks filters excess water from the tank and then disperses it into the surrounding soil and eventually the groundwater. Plants that have good phytoremediation properties are often planted near to the sceptic tanks drainfield to further ensure the safe breakdown of bacteria or chemicals before they sink to the water table.

Most people schedule septic tank pumping every three to five years depending on their family size and usage or size of their septic tank system.

Pricing for septic tank cleaning services varies based on how much waste content is in the septic tank each time we empty your tank. Scheduling a new septic tank cleaning service also requires a new call-out fee.
The standard price to empty septic tanks is around €410 however this price may change, depending on the size and location of the tank. Kollects online database is a useful solution for vetting and finding the cheapest solutions to empty your septic tank in your location. Contact Kollect today and let's get the best price on clearing your septic tank in your area.

In most cases, a septic tank needs to have an inspection performed once a year. Leaving or ignoring a septic tank can have some costly consequences if left too long. There are a number of signs you can watch for or to tell if it's time to have your septic tank pumped or not.

• When sludge builds up, the tank can overflow. These overflows can prevents the waste water or toilet paper from dissolving. The liquid wastewater may still flow out of the outflow pipe and into the drainage area but backed up tanks can result in bad smells and contamination of the surrounding area.
• Slow Drain - this could be a clog in the plumbing, or it might just be the septic tank is full.
• If you notice an unpleasant odor even if it just occurs occasionally, you should probably contact a professional septic tank cleaning company.
• If you see water pooling around your septic tank after rainfall, it could be a sign that your septic system is full or needing to be cleaned.
• If the greenery area above the drainfield looks as healthy as the greenery in any other parts of your garden your septic tank system is functioning normally. If however some parts of the greenery surrounding the drainfield are noticeably greener and lusher than others, it may be time to have the septic tank pumped. The presence of nitrates at high levels is the final indicator that maintenance is needed on your septic system.

Keeping your septic tank clean is important for the health of your plumbing system and the environment. The EPA recommends cleaning tanks every 1-3 years however it's important to maintain your septic tank through regular checks before it overflows or causes damage your property or the environment.

In Ireland the other problem is that:

• You could be fined for not emptying your septic tank or allowing it to overflow and contaminate a nearby water course.
• You could even be charged for contaminating the land around the well or drinking water wells where other people get their water from.

Before you move into a new place, make sure you have a copy of the previous owner's sewage maintenance records.

If no records exist it may be a good precautionary measure to simply call a expert septic tank cleaning service.

How often your septic tank needs to be cleaned depends on a few factors.

• 1) Household Size
• 2) Total Wastewater Generated
• 3) Volume of Solids in Wastewater
• 4) Septic Tank Size

When water begins to pool around your home, you know it's probably time to have your septic tank pumped. The surplus water collects in your yard because it has nowhere else to go. When a septic tank backs up, it's usually because of clogged drain lines, but excess sludge isn't the only possible cause. Tree and plant roots that have invaded an area are a common cause of drain field issues.

When caring for your septic system, it's best to prevent problems rather than deal with them as they arise. When septic systems fail, they can pollute nearby water sources with harmful bacteria, viruses, and chemicals.

One of the more common reasons why septic tanks overflow is that they are not maintained well enough. When water goes through to the septic tank, solids that don't break down will sink to the bottom of the tank. Over time, these solids will build up into a layer of sludge that rises to the point of overflowing.

Your home's septic system is made to deal with a certain amount of waste every day. Overflows can happen if you exceed this amount of water usage, which is why homeowners need to ensure that they have tanks big enough to cater for their home usage. The drainage field takes in waste water then distributes it to the drain field overtime. With a lot of rain, the drainage field can become waterlogged which inhibits the even flow and distribution to the drainage field. As a result overflows may happen from the tanks themselves or pooling starts to form in the drainage area, in which case the septic tanks will need to be pumped in order to resove the water backlog.

Your septic tank should be 8 to 12 inches from the top of the septic tank, depending on its size. The exact measurement varies for every situation. Whenever you see water come out of the outlet pipe and it stops just below, your tank is at the standard operating level. If it surpasses that mark and comes into touch with high water level, you may have a failing septic system and should have it inspected by a professional as soon as possible.

"Desludging" is another term that refers to the method of cleaning out sediments from a tank by draining and flushing the contents of your septic tank. Over time, your treatment system for wastewater will slowly build up a layer of solids, or "sludge," which sits at the bottom of the main septic tank. The effluent first goes into the primary tank, where all the solid  waste can settle and the rest of the water can flow through the other chambers for cleaning. The layers of sludge can be efficiently pumped out of the tank using a vacuum tanker wherafter the tanks contents will be taken to a properly licensed disposal facility.

Both layers of scum and sludge must be removed from the septic tank for it to function properly, last as long as possible, and avoid more serious problems into the future.