A regular septic cleaning routine is essential to the long-term care and maintenance of your system. As solids and other materials form a layer at the bottom of your tank, they need to be removed to prevent damaging clogs. Left unattended, your septic system may back up into your house or seep above ground into your yard.

However, many homeowners are unsure how often their septic tank should be pumped to prevent these problems. Pumping out your tank can save money on costly repairs and recommends scheduling a septic cleaning service every one to three years.

How often do you need to have your septic tank pumped? It depends on how large the tank size is, how many people live in your home, and your tank's ratio of wastewater to solids. This ration is often dependent on how soiled dirty clothes are and whether a home uses a garbage disposal. Homes that use garbage disposals dump much more solid waste into their septic system than homes that scrape food remnants into the trash. This solid waste builds up over time and can lead to clogs.

Using non septic-safe toilet paper and flushing paper towels or sanitary products increases the solid layer at the bottom of the tank and can increase the frequency of septic pumping. Putting cooking grease, non-biodegradable detergents or cleaners, plastics or chemicals into the tank can also contribute to buildup, making more frequent septic cleaning services necessary. Periodically pumping your septic tank helps the bacteria in your system break down waste and keep it running properly, reducing the risk of messy backups.

When you're due for a septic cleaning service, contact the septic system repair experts at A-1 Pumping Service of Dalton, GA. Call (706) 272-3352 to schedule an appointment or to discuss your septic tank needs. For more information on septic tank installations, visit them online.