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How to Inspect the Septic Tank After Cleaning 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 & Why to Inspect the septic Tank after Pumping
• Closing the septic tank, recording the septic tank location, advising homeowners

Here we discuss the importance of inspecting the septic tank baffles and tank interior after septic tank pumping/cleaning. 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." This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

A Photographic Guide to Pumping a Septic Tank

Inspecting the Septic Tank Condition After Pumping

After pumping, the empty septic tank is inspected for damage such as damaged or missing baffles, cracks, or holes. The right hand photo shows the septic tank intake baffle viewed from the cleanout port. Warning: do not enter nor lean into the septic tank. We obtained this view using a remote digital camera to see the condition of the tank baffles. If the tank is cracked or the baffles missing or damaged, repairs may be needed. Do not enter the septic tank as doing so is likely to cause death by asphyxiation by methane gas in the tank. Special breathing equipment and other safety measures are needed if a tank needs to be emptied.

Evidence of cracks, settlement, or damaged tank baffles may be seen after pumping. At this time the operator can also confirm the tank size. When a steel septic tank has been serviced by removing entire tank cover these conditions are seen easily. But normally a septic tank is pumped by through a center port intended for tank cleaning. Some older concrete tanks which lack this port are pumped at the tank outlet opening but possibly at the inlet. Septic pumpers can easily fabricate a tool combining a pole, mirror, and bright flashlight to inspect a tank interior.     We have had good success by inserting a digital camera into the tank and taking flash photos. Most of the photos in this article were obtained by that method. 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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• 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.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website

• 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.

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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
• Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.


• Additives & Chemicals: Septic System Maintenance - Are they even needed? Are they even legal?
• Baffles, Septic Tank septic tank baffles defects and inspection suggestions
• Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
• Cesspool failures (MA)
• Cesspool Safety Warnings include dangers of cave-in and fatality
• Cesspools Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Clearances & Distances from septic system components to other site features, property boundaries, waterways, etc.
• Clogged Drain Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system or the Building drain system?
• 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
• Drywells Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
• SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE what to do after a septic system has been exposed to flooding
• Garbage Grinders and garbage disposal units - effects on septic systems
• Levels: Inspecting the Level of Accumulated Solids, Sludge and Floating Scum in Treatment Tanks - Measuring the Sludge and Scum Levels in Septic Tanks
• Liquid Level in the Absorption System - drain fields, seepage pits, galleys
• OUTSIDE SEPTIC INSPECTION - - Simple Visual Site Inspection Gives Key Information About Septic System Condition
• Retention Time in Septic Tanks Septic Tank Pumping Guide discusses retention time and "net free area" in a tank (allowing for sludge and scum layers)
• Septic & Cesspool Safety - septic system, septic tank, & cesspool safety warnings for septic inspectors, septic pumpers, and homeowners.
• Septic D-BOX Inspection provides for help in finding and inspecting the septic system drainfield distribution box
• Septic Sludge & Scum Levels in Septic Tanks - Measuring the Level of Accumulated Solids, Sludge and Floating Scum in Treatment Tanks
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - How to Inspect Septic Tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
• Septic Tanks, Concrete defects and inspection suggestions for concrete septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Fiberglass or Plastic defects and inspection suggestions for fiberglass or plastic septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Home Made defects and inspection suggestions for home made or site built septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Steel defects and inspection suggestions for steel septic tanks
• Septic Tank Sludge and Floating Scum: what makes up the contents of residential sewage
• Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells
• Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• 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
• When Not to Pump a Septic Tank to avoid damage, unsafe conditions, or wasting money

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