Cleaning the Septic Tank, How & Why to Wash Septic Tank Interior 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, how and why
How to inspect the septic tank after pumping
Closing the septic tank, recording the septic tank location, advising homeowners
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Cleaning the septic tank during tank pump-out can expose damage to
the septic tank sides and bottom that cannot otherwise be found.
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.
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."
After the tank is nearly empty the operator might connect a garden hose to wash-down the tank baffles, septic tank
sides, and tank bottom. The pump will continue to run to remove the excess water that is entering the tank.
This step is not mandatory, and some septic pumping contractors leave it out. But if it is performed
we have an opportunity to better inspect the septic tank sides and bottom for cracks, breaks, or spalling.
In sum, washing the septic tank permits a more careful inspection of the condition of the septic tank interior.
The additional water in the septic tank
and any remaining bottom debris is washed out at this time.
The need for septic tank interior washing depends on the tank type,
age, and conditions which may require extra water for final sludge removal or wash-down to permit
inspection of suspected problems such as a rusted-out tank bottom or missing tank plug. Certainly if the
effluent levels in the tank were abnormally low at the start of pumping, this wash-down and detailed inspection is a good idea.
Incidental bits of masonry debris in the bottom of the septic tank such as chips from a concrete cover, stones, or old terra cotta waste line which happen
to remain on the tank bottom may remain in place and are harmless.
If septic tank damage is found such as cracking, it may be possible to repair the septic tank by cleaning the surfaces and
applying an appropriate masonry patching compound. But no one should enter the septic tank without proper equipment or
preparation as there is a real danger of death by asphyxiation by the methane gas remaining in the tank.
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
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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.
Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us
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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