When should I have septic tank cleaned?

Answer 1

every 3 years

Answer 2

Your septic shouldn't make a "terrible stinky mess" in your house. You'll know of course when it is due for a cleaning. The toilet usually stats to go down slow, the water sits for seconds before going down. It shouldn't however backup to a point that it flows all over unless there's something positively wrong.
My septic went for almost 17 years and, the water was going slow, I called the guy, got the top open for him, he pumped it and cleaned it, all for $75.00 and he was gone in two hours. Most people go for up to te even fifteen years.

I see on here some people have their tank pumped every two years, there's something wrong with a tank that has to be pumped every two years, even every five or six.

The county takes a "perculations test" this determines how long the water takes to go into the soil, then this determines the amount of certain types of gravel or combinations to use so you can use the tank properly for years without problems. When you start pumping every two or three years, you better start thinking of a new drain field. Then you talking of spending thousands of dollars.

Answer 3

It's really according to how much solids you put in it. Most of the water, liquids etc. flows out to the lines, it's the grease and solid stuff you put in it that builds up in the tank. Usually every 4 or 5 yrs is sufficient. It's been 6 now for us and I was thinking of scheduling it very soon even though we haven't had any problems with it yet. You surely don't want to wait till it starts backing up to do anything. That can make a terrible stinky mess in your house.