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Septic tank maintenance schedule
Once a year in spring, check when the tank was last pumped and book a pumping if it is due. Walk the drain field twice a year, in late spring and in September.
3 jobs a year, timed for mild winters. Tick them off as you go.
April
May
September
"Add these to my calendar" opens the free planner with this already ticked. Tick the rest of your house there, and it saves one calendar file that repeats every year.
The numbers, worked
A septic system gets 3 jobs a year here. Where winters are mild: the pumping check in April and the drain field walk in May and September.
Where winters are cold the spring jobs move a month later, after the ground thaws: the pumping check in May and the first drain field walk in June. The September walk stays.
Questions
How often does a septic tank need pumping?
That depends on the tank and the household, so this schedule doesn't set it. It reminds you once a year to check the date of the last pumping against what your pumping company recommended.
What am I looking for on the drain field walk?
Soggy spots or odors over the field. If you find them, call a septic company.
Why spring?
The check comes once the ground has thawed, so a pumping can be booked while the weather is good.
Can I get reminders?
Yes. "Add these to my calendar" opens the free planner with Septic tank ticked; it saves a calendar file that repeats every year.