Septic Tank Pumping Services in Purcellville, VA
A septic tank needs to be pumped out every 3-5 years. Over the passage of time, three layers form inside your septic tank. A sludge layer forms on the bottom of the septic tank. The sludge layer is made up of a combination of human waste products that do not break down quickly, some that don’t breakdown at all, thick wads of toilet paper and products that sink and are not supposed to be flushed down the sewer.
The middle layer, the wastewater layer, is mainly liquid and products that are slowly sinking. The natural bacteria that are needed in the septic tank live in this layer. Bacteria is what helps breakdown the human solid wastes and toilet paper.
The top layer is called the scum layer. This layer is made up of toilet paper, food that floats and may not breakdown (such as waste from garbage disposals) and waste that doesn’t sink. If this layer gets too thick, there is a chance that the proper flow into the septic tank could be impeded or stopped.
If the flow is stopped, the sewage from your house can’t make it into the septic tank and will back up. If the scum layer is allowed to thicken, it can overtake your filter. When this happens, the flow from the septic tank into the pump tank or the distribution box slows down or stops. Soon, the septic tank will backup into your house.
If you don’t know whether your tank needs to be pumped, give us a call. We offer “sludge judge” testing with free estimates. We also offer great prices if you are on a county permitted pump and haul.
Please complete the form below or call us to schedule a septic tank pump out.
