Septic Pumping & Cleaning in West Hollywood, CA

How does the septic system work?

Knowing how the septic system works is an important step in understanding the value of routine maintenance. Let’s dive into a quick outline of how the traditional septic system operates.
As you use the plumbing fixtures and generate waste and wastewater, they travel down the pipes and into a septic tank installed underground near the building. There in the septic tank, the waste and wastewater naturally form three layers: a top layer of scum, a middle layer of liquid effluent or wastewater, and a bottom layer of solid waste.
The liquids continue flowing out of the septic tank and toward the drain field where they percolate through the soil for treatment. Back in the tank, vital bacteria breaks down the solid waste into space-saving, dense sludge.

The septic tank must be periodically emptied.

The septic tank is a watertight container, generally capable of holding 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of waste and wastewater. The helpful bacteria saves valuable space by breaking down solid waste into dense sludge, but even the sludge levels will rise and have to be pumped out before the solid waste and scum get near the septic tank’s inlet and outlet pipes.
Septic pumping in West Hollywood involves vacuuming out the majority of waste and wastewater in the tank to prevent overflowing, clogging, and other disruptions to the septic system.
Though the frequency of septic tank pumping depends on the size of the septic tank, the number of people in the household, and other factors, a general rule of thumb is to pump the septic tank once every 3 to 5 years.