The Frequency of Septic Pumping is Not an Exact Science

The frequency of septic pumping depends on a number of factors, including the tank’s capacity, the amount of solids in the wastewater, and the size of your home or business. So it’s not an exact science.

Here are some examples. The average 3-person household might go through an estimated 400 gal of daily flow, while a 7-person family might have 800 gal of daily flow. This family would require a tank of 2000 gal, while the smaller household will only need an 800 to 1000 gallon tank. In a household of just 2 people with a 500 gal tank, they could probably go for 2½ years between septic pumping, but a family of 4 with a 500 gal tank might need it pumped annually. If a household of 5 had a 500 gal tank, then it’s likely that pumping would be needed even more frequently, say every 7 months. If the size of the tank was increased to 1000 gal, the family of 2 could go for 5 years between pumping, while the family of 5 could go for almost 2 years.

Tank size and household size are large factors in determining the time between pumping. However, if you want to further enhance the efficiency of your system, it would be in your interests to have septic pumping every 1 to 3 years even if, technically, you didn’t need to.

At Southeastern Septic LLC, we offer a full range of residential and commercial septic services in the Lakeland area of Florida, including green swamp and real estate inspections. Please contact us for more information.