Signs You Need to Pump Your Septic Tank

How do you know that it is time to call a septic tank pumping Chattanooga TN company to pump your system? Here are a few signs to look out for;

Sewage smells indoors and outdoors – If you notice foul smells indoors, especially when you flush the toilet, that is a sign that your septic tank might be full. If you also smell sewage odors around your septic tank, know that your tank is almost full and needs pumping. 

Soggy areas around the tank – If you find that the area around the septic tank is soggy or has pools of greenish water, know that your septic tank needs pumping. The soggy area or pools of sewage water is a result of sewage overflow, meaning your tank is full and it is time to call one of the top-rated septic tank pumping companies in Chattanooga area to empty it. 

Slow drains and sewer backups – If you notice that when you flush the toilet water doesn’t drain as usual, know your system has an issue. Also, if the water in the sink and bathtub or bathroom doesn’t drain as usual, know that your system might be full. Slow drains and sewer backups can also be a result of clogs within the septic line. 

Scum level – You should open the septic tank lid for inspection. If the scum level in the septic tank is within 6” of the bottom of the outlet pipe, know the tank is full and needs pumping immediately.

Lush green vegetation around the tank - If grass and vegetation around the septic tank are growing more quickly than normal and look really healthy, know that sewage is leaking out of the tank. You should inspect the tank, and if it is full, you should hire septic tank pumping Chattanooga experts to pump it.   

Cost by Location

If you live in a highly populated area with a higher cost of living, expect the cost of pumping your septic tank to be relatively higher. However, if you live in a rural area, the cost of pumping will be relatively lower than in the cities.  For instance, in Chattanooga, the average cost of septic pumping is around $400, and with tanks being between 600 and 2000 gallons in size, the average cost is between $180 to $600.

Cost Per Gallon

The more gallons you have to pump; the more money you will spend. So if you have a larger tank and it is full, know that more gallons of waste will be pumped out. A person with a smaller tank will spend less money on pumping as fewer gallons will be pumped. On average, it will cost you around $0.23 and $0.40 per gallon. So do the math based on the capacity of your septic tank to know how much you’ll pay for septic pumping. 

Factors That Will Influence Your Septic Pumping Cost

Tank Size – Typically, the smaller the tank the lower the cost of septic pumping. This is because much less sewage will be pumped out and it’ll take much less time to complete the job. However, if you have a larger tank, get ready to pay relatively more as more waste will be pumped out, requiring more labor, time, and resources to pump. 

Amount of waste – The higher the amount of waste the higher the cost of septic pumping. But talk with the septic tank pumping Chattanooga company your hire to know if their rates are based on gallons of waste pumped out or tank size. 



Usage – The water you use at home for laundry, cleaning, bathing and even flushing the toilet ends up in your septic tank. So if you use too much water daily, your septic tank will get full quickly and you will have to pump it more frequently. And that means you will spend a lot of money in the long term. So conserve water to reduce the flow of wastewater into your septic tank to reduce pumping costs in the long run.