Get matched with top septic tank pros in Greenleaf, WI

Although cesspits may be necessary depending on your main sewage system access or nearby soil quality, they carry a few drawbacks. Cesspools require regular emptying and have relatively high maintenance and pumping costs. Certain areas also disallow the use of cesspools and may require you to cover the cost of existing cesspools to be converted into septic tanks.

The size of your septic tank plays a role in determining the proper size of the drain or leach field. As a general rule, you should have 1 square foot of drain field size per gallon of septic tank capacity. However, you could install a leach field that’s as much as 2.5 square feet per gallon of septic tank capacity. Most professionals determine the right septic tank size and drain field size by the number of bedrooms in the house. A three-bedroom house needs a minimum 1,000-gallon septic tank, for example.

When your septic system is failing, you’ll probably smell it. Common signs of a septic system failure include sewage odors in the home or around the yard, flooding in the yard above the septic tank or in the leach field, and wastewater or even raw sewage backing up into your home’s drains.

The best times of year to pump or empty a septic tank are spring and fall. Many professionals recommend spring because the ground has thawed, making the tank easier to access, and any snowmelt or rainfall can aid in proper drainage. Pumping before summer is also ideal to avoid conflicts with vacations or outdoor gatherings.

Fall is another great option, as contractors may be less busy than in the spring. Servicing the tank in late fall or early spring can also reduce the risk of overflow from extra precipitation during winter and spring.

While summer is a possibility, winter is generally not recommended. The ground is often frozen, which can make it difficult to access the tank, and the waste inside may also be frozen.