Septic Tank Cleaning Advice for Homeowners InspectAPedia® -
How to pump out / clean a septic tank, step by step photo-illustrated guide
Before starting, some safety warnings for septic pumpers and homeowners
When to pump, how to find the septic tank, inspect before opening the tank; removing the tank cover
How the pumper truck or vacuum truck is operated
Tank inspection before pumping; Actually pumping out the septic tank; inspections while pumping
Washing the septic tank after pumping, inspecting the tank after pumping
Closing the septic tank, recording the septic tank location, advising homeowners
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Septic Care and Maintenance Advice for Homeowners: safety, condition of the system, use of chemicals, additives, septic filters.
This document provides a step by step, photo-illustrated guide to opening, pumping, and inspecting septic tanks,
how a conventional septic tank is
located, opened, pumped out, cleaned, and inspected. This guideline is intended for septic pumping tank truck
operators and as general information for homeowners or septic service companies concerned with septic system care.
The steps in servicing a septic tank are listed below, accompanied by
photographs that show each of the critical steps in pumping, cleaning, and inspecting a septic tank.
Readers should see Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for a table explaining when to schedule a septic cleanout.
Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved
to the author. Technical reviewers are welcome and are listed at "References."
This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems.
Advising Owners About Septic Tank Conditions and Safety Hazards
Tank and Field Conditions: Inform the owner of the condition of the septic tank and of any indications of leach field failure
such as back flow into the tank during pump-down or damaged baffles.
Inform the owner of the approximate level of sludge and scum found in the tank. This information
assists in determining the actual tank pumping frequency needed for the property.
Inform the owner if obvious clearance violations were observed between the tank and other
site features such as a nearby well - health hazards may be present.
The photo shows the septic service operator recording the results of the septic
cleanout on the client's bill.
In addition to telling the client orally of any unsafe or
other important conditions observed, the operator must provide exactly the same
information in writing. Writing this data clearly on the invoice is often sufficient.
(See "Clearances & Distances" link at "More Reading" below.)
Safety: If immediately dangerous conditions exist, such as a missing or unsafe septic tank cover
or a collapsing or risk-of-collapsing septic tank, seepage pit, drywell, or cesspool are
observed, the operator should:
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
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Rope off and secure the area so that adults or children do not walk over or near the unsafe area.
Inform the property owners and any property tenants or occupants immediately, orally and in writing of a very dangerous condition involving a possibly
fatal hazard, and explain that immediate actions are needed.
Inform the pumping company of unsafe conditions and confirm that the owner and any other appropriate
people such as tenants in the building have been informed.
Close off or cover over unsafe openings even if simply by using expedient materials such as nearby
construction materials.
Special thanks to M & O Sanitation, Dutchess County NY (845) 471-0308 for permitting us to photograph steps during septic system service at our demonstration property.
Advising Owners About Septic Tank Additives and Septic Care
Non-Biodegradable Debris: if during pump down a significant amount of non-biodegradable debris such
as baby diapers, condoms, tampons, cigarettes were noted the pumper should recommend that the owner
read the "Don't Flush" article linked-to below.
Septic Helper Chemicals: Septic tank additives such as yeast, enzymes, bacteria, or "septic helper" are unnecessary, in some
cases can damage the system, and in some jurisdictions are illegal and are considered environmental contaminants.
(See "Additives & Chemicals" link at "More Reading" below.)
Septic Filters: can extend drainfield life and may be a useful system improvement that can
be added while the septic tank is exposed and before it is returned to active use.
(See "Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater" link at "More Reading" at "More Reading" and at the links just below.)
Additives & Chemicals for septic system maintenance. Are septic products needed? Are septic treatments legal?
Books on Septic Systems to Buy Online, our list of recommended books on septic system maintenance, design, and alternative designs available at Amazon.com - septic system education materials
Don't Flush these things into a septic system: a list of what's ok and what's not ok to put into septic tanks and building drains offers important septic maintenance advice
Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, groundcover over the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for septic tanks: when, how, what to watch for when pumping or cleaning septic tanks - the key septic maintenance schedule
Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - How to Inspect Septic Tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, groundcover over the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
SPOTTING SEPTIC BREAKOUTS - Spotting Dyed Septic Effluent Breakout Outside - Where Septic Dye is Likely to Show Up During a Septic Dye
Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to septic systems & domestic wastewater treatment systems include
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and
Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by
Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)
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