Are you in the process of building a new home outside of city limits? If so, there is a good chance you will need to install a septic system. A septic system removes wastewater from your home and also treats the water. Besides a drain field, a septic system also includes the septic tank.

The septic tank is an underground watertight container. The primary function of the septic tank is to store wastewater. This wastewater gets separated into sludge and scum. The septic tank prevents the sludge and scum from entering the drain field, which is where impurities are removed from the water. To remove the sludge and scum from your septic tank, you will need to get it pumped on a regular basis.

Now that you know how a septic system works, the next thing you'll need to know is how big your septic tank should be. If you get a septic tank that is too small, you'll need to get it pumped more often, which could get expensive. If the septic tank is too large, the septic system may not work correctly.

When it comes to septic tank installation, you should consider the following factors when installing the right size.

Consider the Size of Your House

The first factor to consider is the size of your house. Homes that are less than 1,500 square feet and contain one or two bedrooms should be able to get by on a septic tank that holds 750 gallons.

If your home is 5,500 square feet and contains up to six bedrooms, you may want to consider a septic tank that holds 1,315 gallons. Homes that are in between 1,500 square feet and 5,500 square feet will need either a 1,000-gallon septic tank or one that holds 1,250 gallons.

Consider How Much Water Your Household Uses

Along with the size of your house, you will also need to consider how much water your household uses. If your household uses 500 gallons of water or less, you may only need a septic tank that holds 900 gallons.

If your household uses over 1,200 gallons of water a day, you may need a septic tank that holds 1,900 gallons. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the average person uses about 80 to 100 gallons of water a day. To know about how much water your household uses, take the number of people in your home and multiply it by one hundred.

Now that you know how big your home is and how much water your household uses, you will have a better idea of what size septic tank your home needs.

For more information, contact a septic tank installation service.