Homes in the U.S. are either connected to a public sewer system or have their own septic tank. If the home you recently purchased has its own, private septic tank, then you are responsible for maintaining that tank and having it pumped. Here are the key things you should know about that process.

Why do septic tanks need to be pumped?

Your septic tank captures all of the water and waste that goes down your home's sewer pipes. The liquid water mostly flows out of the tank and into the surrounding soil, which is known as the leach field. The solids, on the other hand, sink to the bottom of the tank. Those solids slowly break down, and as they do, some of the smaller particles end up rising and washing out of the tank along with the liquids. However, this process does not happen fast enough for the tank to completely empty of solids. The solids do build up slowly in the bottom of the tank over time. Pumping is necessary to remove those solids so they don't take up too much space in the tank. If you never have your tank pumped, it will run out of room for liquid and will start overflowing.

How often should your tank be pumped?

This depends on the size of your tank relative to how many people you have in your home. If you have a big septic tank and only a few people whose waste the tank is handling, you'll only need to have it pumped every few years. If you have a smaller tank and lots of people in the home, you may want to have this done annually. Your septic care professional can give you a more accurate estimate of how often to have your tank pumped once they take a look.

How do you know when your tank needs to be pumped?

The following are all signs that your septic tank needs to be pumped ASAP:

• Your yard is getting wet. Grass may be growing higher in certain areas.
• Your drains are all slow or seem to be backing up.
• You smell sewage in your yard or near your drains.

Ideally, you'd have your tank pumped regularly before these signs develop. So, reach out to a septic company near you and make an appointment. They can tell you more about their specific services and the costs.

Contact a company like Morris Septic & Sewer for more information.