Get matched with top septic tank pros in Clinton, IA

You only need to pump the septic tank. The leach field allows the liquid and waste to naturally seep into the ground, so there’s no need to pump the leach field. You should call a local septic tank pumping service to remove the materials from the tank every three to five years. Without pumping the septic tank occasionally, solids could flow into the leach field pipes and clog them.

Mound systems can fail if foreign objects are flushed into the septic tank, the septic tank is backed up with solid waste (sludge), if wastewater floods or seeps from the mound, or if any part of the system is clogged. To prevent this, only flush toilet paper and your normal “business” down toilets, and get a septic inspection at least yearly.

Depending on the size and location of your septic tank repair job, you may want to let the septic pros finish before tackling other backyard work. However, in some cases, it’s not a bad idea to coordinate between your providers if the timing’s right and your septic repair pro says it’s safe to do so. For instance, if the septic repair work is happening in the fall, you might want to take advantage of the opportunity to prepare your backyard landscaping for winter , or in spring, start mulching the garden beds.

A septic tank lid is often 1 foot underground, but it could be just 4 inches from the surface or 4 feet deep. For septic tank lids that are closer to the surface, you’ll have an easier time locating them just by looking for signs in the yard or using a metal probe. But for septic tanks that are buried deeper underground, you’ll need to hire a pro with specialized equipment to track down the lid without risk of damaging utility lines.