Why Commercial Properties Need More Frequent Septic Pumping

Commercial properties work their septic systems harder than the average home. Having more people, more water, and more waste. That means they need more frequent pumping to stay healthy and avoid costly downtime.

1. Higher Usage Means Faster Filling

A commercial unit is likely to see a lot more action day to day than your average family home. Take, for example, a well-renowned local restaurant that’s out of town and runs on a septic system.

Before the restaurant even opens for the day, the prep cooks are at their stations washing fruit and vegetables for this evening’s dishes, they’re washing their hands (ideally) between stations. They’re using the washroom, putting loads of dishes through the dishwasher and getting the silverware polished and cloth napkins on the table before the service even starts.

Once the restaurant opens, people arrive and start using the washroom. Remains of drinks and ice are being sent down the drain along with starchy pasta water, the dishwasher has not stopped running and little bits of food are being sent down the drain as the dishwasher kid rinses plates off in the sink. The hostess has started a load of laundry to get ahead of the cloth napkin laundry that builds up over the evening.

As you can see, the septic on commercial properties takes a lot more than just a residential home. The tanks fill up much quicker than what a small family could produce, especially when you consider that serving food and beverages is a surefire way to ensure higher washroom usage.

As a business owner who runs on septic, a back up could cost thousands in lost revenue, clean up and potential damages to your system. It’s best to stay on top of it and get it done often to avoid these costly expenses.

2. Grease and Food Waste Add Extra Strain

In commercial kitchens there’s a lot more potential for things to end up disposed of that shouldn’t be.

Things like oils and grease being poured down the drain is always a big no at home, yet it happens so much more commonly in commercial kitchens. This is not good for your septic tank, or the drains as it can cause blockages and potentially back ups into your property. This can be a costly fix and may also require a plumber to be able to snake the drains and clear them out.

Another thing to be aware of and a good reason to get your tank serviced often is people are more likely to flush their sanitary products down the toilet when they’re using a public toilet. This is hard on the septic tank and should be avoided at all costs, but even with a sign above the toilet that says please don’t flush these, it’s inevitable. Placing sanitary product drop boxes or small waste baskets in each stall is a good way to make a dent in the number of products being flushed.

3. Avoiding Business Interruptions

A septic backup, as mentioned above, can be difficult for businesses both financially and reputation-wise.

The best-case scenario with a septic back up is that it shuts down your business for a day or two while your crew cleans up. This results in lost revenue and potentially cause some distrust from your patrons and create health hazards for those choosing to support your business.

There’s so much to keep track of and we understand that, if you’d like to receive a reminder from Call of The Wild every six to twelve months so you don’t forget or have to think about it, let us know and we’d be happy to.

4. Protecting Your Investment

A failing septic tank can be a very expensive fix, as can all the remediation and cleaning that comes along with fixing a back up. It’s best to keep on top of servicing your septic tank so you don’t have to get a call from an employee when you’re trying to sit on the dock on a Sunday morning and enjoy a coffee, saying that your property is flooded with grey water.

For homes we always recommend every three to five years based on usage. With commercial businesses, it’s harder to come up with a rule of thumb for commercial properties because it would depend how quickly it fills up, which would be based on how busy the business is. Which is something that only you, as the business owner, would know. It would be a good practice to have it emptied before the start of your busy season and then likely done by the middle of your busy season again. If you’re not sure how often you need to get your septic tank at your business property or home property, give us a call and we’ll be able to assist you on your best plan of action.

Final Thoughts

Commercial septic systems work harder than most residential tanks, and they need extra care to keep up. Regular pumping is the best way to prevent problems, protect your business, and keep everything running smoothly.

We can help with keeping your tank emptied and can create a customized pumping schedule based on your busy seasons to help keep up with usage. Check out our Contact Us page to send us an email or give us a call to inquire today.