Should You Clean Your Septic Tank Yourself?
Most homeowners pride themselves on being able to care for and maintain their homes. But while changing a light bulb and mowing the lawn are easy tasks to take on, it's a completely separate matter to try in pump your septic tank. Not only is it a deceptively colossal job, but it also requires equipment and experiences that most homeowners simply don't have.
If you're considering trying to pump and clean your own septic tank, there are several reasons why that's a bad idea. Consider the following reasons, and then contact a technician to perform septic tank services for you.
It Requires Specialized Tools
Cleaning your septic tank requires hardware that can't be found at your local big box store. First, you'll need a tank to pump the waste into, and then you'll need some way to transport it from your home to a disposal site. A specialized truck can cost thousands of dollars to purchase, and unless you're pumping it every single week, it'll take years, if not decades, to recoup that investment. That's not to mention the cost of the hoses, brushes, cleaning solutions, and the time invested to learn how to do it properly. No matter which way you slice it, it makes more fiscal sense to leave septic tank services to a professional.
It's Deceptively Complex
You may think that cleaning out your septic tank is nothing more than attaching a big hose to a tank, pumping it out, and then hosing down the interior. In fact, what most septic tank technicians do is not only pump the tank, but they also inspect it for signs of deterioration. They scrub the walls with specialized tools that are designed to prevent your tank from clogging, and can even identify issues with the drain field nearby to make sure that the tank isn't hurting the local ecological system. It requires a unique blend of technical know-how and scientific knowledge to clean a septic tank thoroughly.
It Can be Messy
This should go without saying, but cleaning a septic tank can be a disgusting job if you don't know what you're doing. Failure to hook up the hose properly to the septic tank can result in a sewage spray that coats the entire yard and anyone standing nearby while cleaning the inside of the tank can be difficult as well. In this situation, the right tools make all the difference, not only in getting the job done but making sure that it's done safely.