Septic Maintenance Schedule

The schedule

Task	Frequency	Typical cost
Pump the tank	Every 3–5 yrs	$300–$550
Inspect baffles & filter	At each pumping	Included
ATU service contract visit	1–2× / year	$200–$400 / yr
Check for leaks / wet spots	Seasonally	Free
Divert roof & surface water away from field	Once	Varies

Households with garbage disposals, more than 4 people, or a small tank should pump on the 2–3 year end. A family of two in a 4-bedroom house can stretch toward 5+.

Never put down the drain

Grease, "flushable" wipes (they aren't), feminine products, condoms, coffee grounds, paint, solvents, and antibacterial overloads. Garbage disposals roughly double the solids your tank must handle — if you have one, pump more often.

Warning signs of failure

• Slow drains throughout the house (one slow drain is plumbing; all of them is the system)
• Sewage odors inside or over the yard
• Wet, spongy spots or suspiciously lush green stripes over the drain field
• Gurgling sounds or backups in the lowest fixtures

Any of these: call a licensed professional. Additives won't fix a failing field, and driving over or building on the field makes it worse.

Protect the drain field

No parking, no buildings, no deep-rooted trees within the field's footprint, and keep roof gutters and sump discharge routed away from it. A drowned field can't treat effluent.

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