Why is Septic Tank Pumping Important? We all have drains and toilets in our homes, but we don't often think much about them unless a problem arises. Toilets and drains can get clogged for any number of reasons, then it's time to bring out the plunger or call a plumber. However, we don't often think about where drainage waste goes, this article describes the septic system and why septic tank pumping is important. It's estimated that about onethird of the homes in the United States have a septic drainage system. This type of system is pretty simple, but it can cause a big mess if it's not properly maintained. Basically, all the drains in the home connect to one pipe which leads to the septic tank, that's usually buried somewhere outside the home. Once the waste water is in the septic tank, it begins to separate. The heavy matter often called sludge, sinks to the bottom of the tank, while other materials such as fats and oils, rise to the top, creating a layer often referred to as the scum layer. All these materials combined create a component called septage. Septic system design is such that only the liquid waste is discharged into the drain field. A drain field consist of holed pipes that are buried above the water table. The organic materials left from the waste water, create a type of fertilizer. You'll often be able to spot the drain field because it's generally the healthiest part of the yard. It's important that homeowners keep an eye on their septic system, and maintain it regularly. Big problems costing thousands of dollars can arise from not properly caring for a septic tank. The next part of this article describes more about septic tank pumping. No matter how good your septic system is, the sludge and scum will build up over time. You will generally want to employ the services of a septic tank pumping service, when you notice the floating scum layer being close to six inches from the outlet pipe. Homeowners should also have their entire septic system inspected by a professional once every year, to ensure everything is working properly, and that there are no contaminants in the clean drinking water. Septic systems are necessary for many homes in Lakeland, FL and many other places around the country, and it's important to keep them maintained. Ignoring a septic system problem can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Be sure to have a septic tank pumping service perform maintenance regularly, and have the system inspected once a year.