Preventing Plumbing Problems

Why Does Your Septic Tank Keep Filling Up So Quickly?

24 July 2023 by Calvin Simmmons

Most people need to have their septic tanks pumped every few years. Are you noticing that yours seems to show signs of needing to be  pumped after only a few months or a single year? In the short-term, the best thing to do is call and have the tank pumped before it overflows or backs up. But in the long-term, it's a good idea to look into why your tank is filling up so fast. If you address the underlying cause of this issue, then you can likely go back to having your tank pumped a bit less often, which will save you time and money.

The following are some common reasons why septic tanks need more frequent pumping.

You're using and flushing wet wipes.

Some wet wipes are labeled "flushable," but that really only means they won't clog the drain lines directly below your toilet. These wipes are still very slow to break down, which means they just sit in your septic tank, taking up space, sometimes for years on-end. If you don't want to have your tank pumped as often, stop flushing wet wipes. Dispose of them in a trash can with a well-fitting lid instead.

You put a ton of cleaners down the drain.

Your septic tank relies on bacteria to break down the solid waste so it can be flushed out into the drain field. If you put a ton of cleaning chemicals like bleach down your drains, this may lower your bacterial levels. Lower levels of bacteria mean the waste in your septic tank won't break down as quickly as it should, and you'll have to pump more often. Start using gentler cleaners, and ask your septic professional for a bacterial supplement. If you add bacteria to the tank, this should accelerate the rate of emptying.

Your tank is crushed or smashed.

It's possible that your septic tank got crushed and compacted when someone drove over top of it, or when an earthquake shifted the ground around it. Usually septic professionals will notice this when they pump your tank, but if your tank is in a hard-to-reach spot and they just shove a hose down an access hole, they may overlook it. Unfortunately, the only real solution is to have the tank replaced. Ask your septic company for a quote.

You should not have to have your septic tank pumped every few months, or even every year in most cases. If you do, look into the possible problems above.

To learn more, contact a company like Ace Septic & Excavating Inc. And Ace Chemical Toilets near you

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