Having your septic tank pumped annually will greatly increase the life of your leach field. Because of our low ground temperature in Alaska, the bacteria that naturally grows in the septic tank does not flourish becoming sluggish, thus causing the solids to build up layer by layer quickly causing the solids to potentially get out of the tank and into the leach field. Solids in the leach field will plug the soil matrix and cause the entire system to back up into the house. Repairing or replacing the leach field costs thousands of dollars, not to mention health risks and clean up costs of sewage in your house.