How Often Should I Have My Septic Tank Pumped? 

One of the questions we get asked most often is "How often should I have my septic tank pumped?" If your township doesn't send you a reminder every few years, it can be hard to keep track of how often your tank should be emptied. We recommend having your tank pumped every 2-3 years but there are two major factors to consider:

1. How many gallons your septic tank holds
2. How many people are in your household

Below is a chart, courtesy PSMA, that shows how often you should have your septic tank pumped based on those two factors. It's also important, however, to consider things like whether or not you have a garbage disposal, how much water your family uses, and what kind of things your flushing on a regular basis - baby wipes etc. For more information on septic tank maintenance and what not to flush, click here.

Most townships require pumping every 2-4 years and if your live in such a township you'll receive a notice in the mail when you're due to be pumped. If not, mark your calendar and use this chart to determine how often you should have your septic tank emptied. Once we pump your septic tank we'll make a note of our recommendations and we can give you a reminder call when it's time to be pumped again.

If you're not sure of your septic tank size, here's a general rule of thumb - Most septic tanks are based on the number of bedrooms in your home. If your home has 3 bedrooms, you most likely have a 1000 gallon tank; 4-5 bedrooms is typically a 1500 gallon tank. Older homes have smaller septic tanks so if your home was built prior to the 1980's you may need to have your tank emptied more often.