Septic Tank Cleaning

Septic tank cleaning is vital for the maintenance of your septic system. It improves efficiency, keeps your septic tank running for longer and ensures you can avoid the cost of repairs and associated health hazards of a broken septic tank system. Staying on top of cleaning and maintenance is the best way to ensure you don’t get problems with your septic tank and can rely on smooth operation for many years.

The size of your tank, the amount of people living in your house, and your water usage patterns are some of the variables that determine how often you should clean your septic tank. We recommend cleaning your septic tank at least every 2-3 years. If you want to know how often to clean the system at your property, an inspection is a good place to start.

Not servicing your septic tank regularly can lead to a range of issues, including:

1. Drainage Field Failure: Over time, solid waste and soap scum can enter the drainage field and build up and clog the system, potentially causing it to fail. Repairs or replacements can be very costly (approx. $15000).
2. Overflow: If the tank becomes too full, it can overflow, leading to unpleasant odors, unsanitary conditions, and potential contamination of your property and nearby water sources.
3. Slow Drains: Clogs in the system can cause drains to become slow or even back up into your home.
4. Environmental Damage: Overflow or leakage can contaminate groundwater, rivers, and lakes, harming local ecosystems and potentially affecting drinking water sources.
5. Pump Issues
6. Legal Issues: Many areas have regulations requiring regular maintenance of septic systems. Failure to comply can result in fines and other legal consequences.

Regular maintenance, including pumping every 3-5 years depending on usage, can help prevent these problems and ensure the longevity and efficiency of your septic system.

Your septic tank’s size and condition will determine how long the cleaning process takes. The cleaning process typically lasts between 45 minutes to over an hour. However, for tanks that haven’t received regular cleaning and have excess build up it can take longer.

Regular cleaning and septic tank maintenance can remove the unpleasant smell. Septic system-specific smell control chemicals are another option that is proven to be effective.  Septic Fizzytabs are a great option to keep odours away.  You can purchase them here. Make sure there is adequate ventilation around your septic tank and fix any damage or leaks in the tank or lines.

A sure sign your septic tank is getting full is when you notice your toilets and sinks are slower to drain than normal, you may also notice foul odours and puddling around the septic tank area. When this starts to happen, give us a call to arrange a septic tank clean, don’t wait till it’s overflowing.

Our trucks are typically equipped with 30–40 metres of hose, which is sufficient for most jobs. If your septic tank is further away or access is limited, we also have longer hoses available. Simply let our customer service team know when booking your septic tank clean so we can ensure the right equipment is sent to the job.

Our fleet of vacuum trucks are a range of different sizes allowing for access to all properties. Our trucks can all carry between 6500 litres and 10,000 litres, with an additional trailer unit that can carry another 10,000 litres.

4 Wheeler Trucks:  8-9 tonne.  14-15 tonne when full.
6 Wheeler Trucks:  11 tonne.  21-22 tonne when full.

If your septic tank has a filter, you will normally have a second white cap that is visible near the tank’s outlet. The filter should be cleaned every 6-12 months.

If you aren’t sure when we’ll check when we next complete your septic tank cleaning.

Cleaning your septic tank filter is a simple process and it will help to keep your system running at peak efficiency. First, remove the cap/lid, and pull up the filter handle removing it from its housing, then rinse it down with a hose to remove any sludge. That’s really all there is to it, but it’s an important job that will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

We don’t require anyone to be home while completing the septic tank clean, providing that the mushroom is visible, and we can access your property. We do ask that any dogs or other animals are locked away while we are onsite. It can be helpful to be onsite if you have any questions around the septic tank, however we do leave a condition report card after the clean.

The size and condition of your septic tank are two of the many variables that can affect how much it will cost to get it cleaned. Get in touch with our team for an accurate quote.