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ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS I HEAR IS THAT A SEPTIC TANK DOES NOT NEED TO BE PUMPED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO NOTICIBLE PROBLEMS. NOT PUMPING/CLEANING YOUR TANK BECAUSE OF THIS REASON COULD LEAD TO BIGGER PROBLEMS. REMEMBER THAT A TANK NEEDS TO BE PUMPED/CLEANED EVERY 3-5 YEARS!! THINK OF IT LIKE CHANGING THE OIL IN YOUR VEHICLE, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR GOOD MAINTENANCE!!!!

FOR THOSE WHO ARE WANDERING, THIS IS HOW A SEPTIC TANK WORKS:

A SEPTIC TANK OPERATES FULL AND IS JUST A HOLDING TANK FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES DOWN YOUR TOILETS, SINKS, BATHTUBS AND WASHER. MOST OF THE STUFF THAT GOES INTO YOUR TANK DOES BIODEGRADE, BUT IT IS WHAT DOES NOT THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OUT.

FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO YOUR SEPTIC TANK, YOU HAVE ITEMS THAT SINK (SLUDGE) AND ITEMS THAT FLOAT (SCUM). BETWEEN THESE TWO LAYERS IS A JACKET OF WATER THAT GOES AROUND A BAFFLE (USED TO STOP FLOATERS IN THE TANK) TO THE FIELD LINES. THIS ILLUSTRATION IS SEEN IN FIGURE A.

WHEN A SEPTIC TANK IS NOT PUMPED/CLEANED REGULARLY, THE SINKERS AND FLOATERS (SCUM AND SLUDGE LAYERS) MEET, CAUSING ONLY SLUDGE, NOT WATER TO GO THROUGH THE BAFFLE AND OUT TO THE FIELD LINES. THIS EITHER CAUSES A STOPPED UP LINE, WHICH COULD NEED REPLACED, OR PUSHES THE SLUDGE TO THE D-BOX, THEN OUT TO THE FIELD LINES, CLOGGING THE PORES OF THE SOIL. THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO REPLACE THE FIELD LINES (SEEN IN FIGURE B AS ABSORPTION FIELD) WHICH COULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!!

PAST THE SEPTIC TANK IS THE D-BOX OR THE DISTRIBUTION BOX. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WATER FROM THE TANK GETS DISPERSED ALL OVER THE YARD USUALLY IN 3-8 LINES. IF YOU EVER SEE WET SPOTS OUT ON THE YARD PAST THE TANK, THIS IS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM, COMING FROM UNADJUSTED LINES IN THE BOX, BUT IS USUALLY AN EASY FIX.

HOGUE SEPTIC TANK CLEANING

#1 IN THE #2 BUSINESS

FIGURE A FIGURE B