Maintenance and Pumping
Pumping is the single most important thing you can do for a septic system. It is also by far the cheapest.
26 questions in this section
- How often should I pump my septic tank?
- Why does my tank need pumping if bacteria break down the waste?
- What actually happens if I never pump?
- How much does pumping cost in New Brunswick?
- What time of year should I pump?
- Who is allowed to pump my tank?
- What do I need to do to prepare for a pump-out?
- Should both compartments be pumped?
- Should I ask for anything else while the truck is there?
- How often should the effluent filter be cleaned?
- Should the tank be washed out or scrubbed?
- Do septic additives work?
- Are any additives actually harmful?
- Is there any situation where an additive helps?
- Do I need to add yeast or meat to feed the bacteria?
- How often should the whole system be inspected?
- What does a septic inspection cover?
- Should I keep records of maintenance?
- Where is my septic tank, if I do not know?
- Should I install risers to grade?
- Are septic tank lids dangerous?
- Should I pump before or after a long absence?
- My system has an alarm. What do I do when it goes off?
- How do I maintain a pump?
- Do I need to do anything for a distribution box?
- Can a septic system be rested or rejuvenated?
How often should I pump my septic tank?
New Brunswick septic service providers commonly recommend every 2 to 3 years for a family of four with a typical tank. General Canadian guidance is every 3 to 5 years. Your household size, water use and whether you have a garbage grinder all shift that number.
Why does my tank need pumping if bacteria break down the waste?
Because bacteria only reduce the volume of solids, they do not eliminate them. Sludge accumulates at the bottom and scum at the top. Once those layers grow enough, the clear zone in the middle disappears and solids start flowing out to the field.
What actually happens if I never pump?
Sludge thickness increases until water can no longer drain properly from the tank. By the time you notice, you have likely damaged the disposal field, and you may have sewage backing up into the house. Field replacement costs many times more than a lifetime of pumping.
How much does pumping cost in New Brunswick?
In the Moncton area and across New Brunswick, pumping commonly starts at around $330 plus tax, varying with location and tank size. Elsewhere in Canada, $300 to $600 per pump-out is typical.
What time of year should I pump?
In mild weather. Avoid the winter months unless you have a problem, because bacterial activity in the tank helps keep it from freezing, and a freshly emptied tank in January is more vulnerable.
Who is allowed to pump my tank?
A licensed septage hauler. In New Brunswick, haulers are licensed through the provincial departments responsible for public safety and environment, and septage must go to an approved receiving facility.
What do I need to do to prepare for a pump-out?
The tank cover has to be accessible so the hauler can lift the lid. If your lids are buried, uncover them beforehand or ask the hauler to locate and dig them - which usually adds to the bill.
Should both compartments be pumped?
Yes. A New Brunswick tank has two compartments and both accumulate solids. Confirm with your hauler that both were emptied.
Should I ask for anything else while the truck is there?
Yes. Ask the hauler to clean the effluent filter, check the baffles, note the condition of the tank and give you a rough sense of remaining life. This is the best five minutes of inspection you will get all decade.
How often should the effluent filter be cleaned?
At least at every pump-out, and annually for most households. A clogged filter causes slow drains and backups - and it is a five-minute job, not a repair.
Should the tank be washed out or scrubbed?
No. Leaving a small residue helps re-establish the bacterial population. Never have the tank pressure-washed clean or disinfected.
Do septic additives work?
For a healthy system, no. The US Environmental Protection Agency has reported that biological additives do not appear to improve the performance of healthy septic tanks, and they do not eliminate the need for routine pumping.
Are any additives actually harmful?
Yes. Additives made of organic solvents or strong alkali chemicals pose a threat to soil structure and groundwater. Some so-called drain field openers dissolve solids that then re-settle in the field and clog it permanently.
Is there any situation where an additive helps?
A narrow one: biological additives used as a recovery tool after a specific event that wiped out the tank's bacteria, such as chemical contamination, heavy antibiotic use or a long vacancy. Even then, they are not a substitute for pumping.
Do I need to add yeast or meat to feed the bacteria?
No. Normal household waste supplies everything the bacteria need. Adding food, yeast or manure is folklore, not maintenance.
How often should the whole system be inspected?
Annually is the ideal for a system with a pump, alarm or treatment unit. Every 2 to 3 years at pumping is reasonable for a simple gravity system. Inspection costs in Canada typically run $100 to $300.
What does a septic inspection cover?
Locating the components, measuring sludge and scum depths, checking the baffles and effluent filter, verifying the tank is watertight, testing pumps and alarms, and walking the disposal field for wet spots, odour and lush growth.
Should I keep records of maintenance?
Yes. Keep the plan of installation, the Certificate of Compliance, the operating instructions and every pumping and repair receipt in one folder. It is the first thing a buyer, an inspector or an insurer will ask for.
Where is my septic tank, if I do not know?
Start with the plan of installation from your Certificate of Compliance package. Failing that, follow the sewer pipe out of the basement, look for a slight depression or a patch of grass that greens differently, and check property surveys. A hauler can locate it with a probe.
Should I install risers to grade?
If your lids are buried, yes. Risers make pumping and filter cleaning far easier and cheaper, and they encourage you to actually do the maintenance. Just make sure the lids are secure - buried or not, an open tank is a serious hazard.
Are septic tank lids dangerous?
Yes. An unsecured lid is a drowning and confined-space hazard, and tank gases are lethal. Never enter a septic tank or pump chamber. Keep all access openings securely covered.
Should I pump before or after a long absence?
Before, if the tank is due. Coming home to a full tank and immediately resuming heavy use is how field problems start.
My system has an alarm. What do I do when it goes off?
Reduce water use immediately - no laundry, short showers - and call your service provider. The alarm usually means a pump has failed or a level is too high. Do not ignore it and do not simply silence it.
How do I maintain a pump?
Have it inspected annually, test the alarm, and keep a record of its age. Pumps typically last 7 to 15 years. Knowing the model number in advance shortens the emergency call.
Do I need to do anything for a distribution box?
Have it checked during inspections. Boxes settle out of level over time, which sends most of the flow to one or two trenches and prematurely fails that part of the field. Re-levelling is cheap compared with a new field.
Can a septic system be rested or rejuvenated?
Sometimes. A field that is stressed but not destroyed may partly recover if flow is reduced or diverted for a period. But a field that has failed because of clogged soil generally needs replacement, and any excavation within the field limits requires an approval in New Brunswick.
Have a question about your own property? General answers only go so far — your soil, slope, water table and setbacks are specific to your lot. Call (506) 233-6272 or send us the details.
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Serving homeowners, builders, and property owners throughout Greater Moncton and southeastern New Brunswick.