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Photo of septic tank sludge and scum layer being broken up prior to septic tank cleanout.Septic Tank Pumping Procedure - Sequence of Steps for Pumping, Cleaning, Inspecting Septic Tanks

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Septic tank pumping guide & procedures, Step 1: initial checks before pumping the septic tank.

Things to check before starting the actual septic tank pumpout or cleanup. In these articles the steps in servicing a septic tank are given by photographs that show each of the critical steps in pumping, cleaning, and inspecting a septic tank.

This article series 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.

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A Photographic Guide to Pumping a Septic Tank

PHOTO of a risky practice, leaning into a septic tank opening.Septic System Safety Warnings

This septic care guideline describes the steps in pumping and cleaning a septic tank.

While it is common for a septic service company to send a pumper truck with a sole operator, pumping septic tanks is an inherently dangerous procedure and I advise against working alone. An operator can be injured, or overcome by fumes such as methane gas.

Don't lean over or crouch down at the tank opening such as shown in the photo above. In this example case the operator was not working alone. Having a buddy watching is invaluable.

If someone does fall into a septic tank, do not enter the tank to try to save them - call emergency rescue. Double fatalities have occurred when a second worker entered a septic tank to try to safe the first who had entered the tank and was overcome by gases.

Because cleaning septic tanks involves potentially dangerous hazards (cave-in, collapse, methane gas explosion, or asphyxiation) readers should

be sure to read our SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY

If a cesspool, drywell, or seepage pit is or might be installed, be sure to read

CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS

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.

Below at in the form of individual detailed articles are the Steps in Septic Tank Cleaning Procedure in the order that they should be performed.

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2020-08-14 - by (mod) -

Pumping out a septic tank followed by pumping the old or effluent fluid back into the tank is basically getting paid for doing nothing useful

On 2020-08-14 by Stephen Arlaud

One septic pumping company would pump the tank dry and rinse with a hose. A different company pumped out the tank and returned some of the truck content back to the tank and said it puts good bacteria back for the system to get started again. That’s after I asked if he needed the hose after another company asked for the hose. What is the correct pumping procedure?

On 2020-05-30 by (mod) - septic pumper truck returning suspended solids to the septic tank?

Massport Pumps septic pumping system inlet filter cited & discussed at InspecctApedia.comWolf

Other readers have reported this same - In my OPINON - questionable practice.

Re-filling a properly-installed septic tank after pumping is unnecessary and unfortunately creates a high risk of pushing small floating solids into the drainfield, drastically shortening its life and leading to a costly repair.

This is particularly concerning because the process of breaking up sludge and scum layers, mixing that with effluent, passing that through the septic vacuum pump and into the pumper truck's tank is absolutely going to cause a very high level of suspended solids in the liquid effluent.

That's the worst sort of material to return to a septic tank and thence to allow out into a drainfield.

ONLY if there is a septic effluent filter at the septic tank outlet tee might you be protected from serious septic field damage or life reduction.

Why would a septic pumper "pump put" your septic tank and then "pump it back again" claiming it's just "gray water"?

The answer is that it costs the pumper a fee to empty their septage at an approved disposal facility. So if the pumper can get paid for "pumping out" your septic tank and then giving back nearly all of what they removed, that's more profitable.

I don't necessarily blame the septic pumper truck driver-operator, as most-often he's simply following the instructions of the owner of the septic pumping company.

I have collected typical septic pumper truck specifications

at PUMPER TRUCKS & VACUUM PUMPS SOURCES / SPECS

I have not found any septic pumping trucks that are equipped to pass septic effluent through a fine effluent filter such that returning that liquid to a septic tank would be safe.

There ARE traps and filters on septic pumper trucks intended to protect the vacuum pump from damage.

An example is supplied by Masport Pumps www.masportpump.com/vacuum-truck-components/inlet-filters and is shown here. The purpose of the traps and filters in this case are to protect the vacuum pump.

I will continue research other such pumper truck effluent filtering pump systems & who is using them, but thus far finding nothing of the sort, I'm doubtful.

We would welcome hearing from septic pumping companies and other experts on this topic.

On 2020-05-29 by Wolf

Hello. During past septic tank pumpings, the operator wold pump out the tank, have me flush a toilet near the tank end of the house pump that out and then reverse the tank truck pump and fill the tank back up with gray water (presumably). Is it standard practice to refill the tank from the pump truck?

On 2017-04-01 - by (mod) -

Excuse a few typos, I'm dictating while traveling.

On 2017-04-01 - by (mod) -

If the septic tank was too full at means that the outlet was blocked or the leach field was in Failure. Opening in inspecting the septic tank at the outlet in would probably show evidence of that such as sewage marks over the top of the septic tank Outlet baffle or tea.

If the worker broke 80 at the septic tank Outlets you might be able to recognize that by seeing that the edges of the broken material are fresh. In any case it is incomplete and improper work to dig up and leave a mess in a yard when you are pumping a septic tank. The excavation should have put back in place and Smooths out.

I suggest that you call the owner of the septic pumping company and have a polite conversation with them asking for help from the more experienced worker. You need help with diagnosing the condition of the tank and if the key is broken that needs to be replaced.

If the Septic company is not willing to come back and complete the job I would suggest that you tell the owner you'll find another company to do the work and then Bill the company who did an improper job. You might have to go to small claims court I rather doubt that is worth the aggravation.

On 2017-04-01 by Anonymous

I don't know what to do or who to call. He just left with a check and I have a big mess in my front yard and no septic system.

On 2017-04-01 by Anonymous

What should I do

On 2017-04-01 by Anonymous

I had my septic pumped and the person pumping it said it was too full and the tee was broken. System was working in fine and pumped for maintenance.

He acted odd and called his boss and tried to not let me hear the conversation. He gave me a bill and said I needed to have repaired.

Could he have broken the tee when pumping? He left and I have a big hole and a big pile of dirt and no septic system.

On 2016-09-14 - by (mod) -

Yes

On 2016-09-14 by Anonymous

can you snake your sewer line to your septic tank

On 2015-08-25 - by (mod) -

Anon:

In my personal experience in both working with septic system service companies and in researching this article series I've found that most septic pumpers are honest and hard working; indeed you might come across an occasional bad apple in any line of work.

On 2015-05-23 by Anonymous

where to honest septic tank cleaner company when they come they give you bull sheet story and scare you for money I have not found one honest person.


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Continue reading  at CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Septic Pumping Procedure & Pumper Truck Operation Articles

Watch out: some septic system designs use fragile media or media filters for which service should be performed only by properly trained or certified septic service companies.

Failure to properly protect media or filters from damage during septic tank pumping or cleaning can cause costly damage to the system and may prevent its proper operation.

See BAT MEDIA SEPTIC PLANTS and the owners' manual provided by Jet Inc. for that system design.

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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