SMART SOLUTIONS
How Often Should Your Septic System Be Inspected and/or Pumped?
Septic systems should be inspected at least every 3 years, although Arizona law only requires the property owner to do a Transfer of Ownership Inspection when selling the property.
https://legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/water/permits/download/septictank.pdf
Some states require periodic inspection, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that septic and other onsite wastewater treatment systems be inspected at least every 3 years. The EPA also recommends that septic tanks be pumped every 3-5 years.
https://www.epa.gov/septic/how-care-your-septic-system
We at SMART Plumbing & Septic have discovered through extensive experience that many property owners with septic systems do not have their septic system inspected until they sell their property, or the system fails. In fact, in many cases, property owners do not bother to have their septic tanks pumped for 10 or more years. In a small number of cases, property owners are not even aware that they have a septic system until they decide to sell their property or the system fails.
Why do the EPA and SMART Plumbing & Septic recommend that property owners have their septic systems inspected at least every 3 years, and have them pumped every 3-5 years?
The primary/overarching reason to keep your septic system well maintained is simple common sense; be a SepticSMART homeowner. Your septic system is one of the most expensive and valuable parts of your property. It is also the primary system (when properly maintained) that keeps you and your loved ones healthy, and your piece of our environment clean. Therefore, if your system is not well maintained, you are not only at risk of being exposed to major repair and/or replacement costs that can and do often total tens of thousands of $$$, you are exposing yourself, your family, and possibly your neighbors to the potential of major health risks, including contaminated drinking water, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and more. You may also expose yourself to legal action.
SMART Plumbing & Septic is dedicated to educating you about your septic system and assisting you in the proper maintenance and service of it. Our goal is to make every customer with a septic system SepticSMART.
The vast majority of home and small business septic systems in the Quad City area of Arizona (Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey/Humboldt) are various versions of conventional decentralized wastewater treatment systems consisting of a septic tank and a leach/drainfield configuration.
https://www.epa.gov/septic/types-septic-systems#conventional
All require monitoring, maintenance, and service in order to save the home or business owner money and to assure a safe and healthy environment.
Are you aware of the location of your septic tank and drainfield? We have had more than one customer who had no idea. It is very important that the system is not driven over or utilized as a parking area.
Have you made an addition to your home or business, possibly adding a bathroom, more bedrooms or additional kitchen facilities? Your septic system was designed for the original building and planned water usage at time of installation. It is possible that your system is being overwhelmed.
When was the last time that your system was inspected? A SMART Inspection may preempt costly problems down the road by insuring that your system is operating optimally under your current circumstances. It will include SMART Tips and Recommendations to help you become a SepticSMART home and/or business owner. Tips like what you should and should not flush down your toilet and pour into your drains.
When was the last time that you had your septic tank pumped? As mentioned above, the EPA and SMART Plumbing & Septic recommend that average functioning septic tanks be pumped every 3-5 years. More than once we have accessed septic tanks that were filled to the top with sludge/solids. In every one of those cases the result was far more costly than if the home or business owner had the septic tank pumped as recommended.
To incentivize you to become a SepticSMART home or business owner SMART Plumbing & Septic is offering a
free video inspection of your septic tank inlet and outlet with your septic pumping. That is a
$200 value
that can identify problems that will cost much more if not repaired.
In future blog entries we will explore in more depth common issues with septic tanks and drainfields.
We await your call or email to offer you the SMART Solution to your septic and plumbing issues. Be a SepticSMART home or business owner and take advantage of our special offer with every septic tank pumping today!!
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