Chavis Septic Services 

FAQs

During a septic pumping and cleaning, the technician fully pumps out your tank until empty of liquids. The tank is then backflushed if necessary to break up any solids that remain in the tank and then it is all pumped out again to ensure a thorough cleaning and an empty tank.

The frequency of recommended septic pumping vary depending on each situation, however, a good rule of thumb for the average household is every two years.

The average number of people in an American household is between 3 and 4. If you have more than this, it is highly recommended that you get a yearly pumping. On the other hand, if you have less than this, you may be able to go three years without a pumping if you follow recommended septic guidelines (see our Do’s and Don’ts).

Back Flushing helps break up the solids in a septic tank. The main purpose of pumping septic isn’t for the liquids, it’s for the solids!

Liquid wastewater in your septic tank (commonly called gray water) is designed to exit into the absorption area of your system. A septic tank is designed to trap solids that enter it in order to prevent them from flowing into and clogging up the absorption field. During a septic pumping and cleaning, backflushing helps stir and break up these solids that have built up over time so that they can be properly pumped out. When you purchase a septic pumping, make sure you ask the company if backflushing is included in their price!

NO!

Solids build up in your septic tank over time. If you’ve had septic for a long time but never maintained it, eventually the solids will build beyond its capacity, at which point you may need more than a routine pumping to remove them. They may have built up to a point where it has damaged your system, causing thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs. If you haven’t pumped your septic in many years, consider scheduling one, because it WILL eventually clog up, possibly costing you much more than a septic pumping.

 YES!

Drain Fields are connected to the septic tank, and any time your yard becomes saturated (rain, sprinklers, etc.), the drain field also becomes saturated, which means it cannot properly drain wastewater flowing into it from your septic system and may back up into your tank and even into the pipes leading to your house!