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 Mobile ViewSEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC SYSTEM BASICS Septic Guide for Home Buyers or Owners Septic or Sewer Connection? Septic System Design Septic System Designs Master List Septic Inspection Testing Septic Maintenance Repair Septic Component & Product Suppliers Septic Videos ADDITIVES / TREATMENTS for SEPTIC SYSTEMS AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BOOKS, RECOMMENDED SEPTIC BOOKSTORE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR D BOX TROUBLESHOOTING DEFINITIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM TERMS DIFFICULT SEPTIC SITES DISTRIBUTION-BOX INSPECTION, SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS LEACHFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? 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SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE SEPTIC DRAWINGS SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC HOLDING TANKS SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL - Online SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC HOLDING TANKS SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION LEVELS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC SYSTEM TYPES, MASTER LIST SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES SEPTIC TANK COVERS SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK LEAKS SEPTIC TANK LEVELS of SEWAGE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE Safety Warnings CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS WHEN to CLEAN THE SEPTIC TANK WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK Find the Septic Tank - a Photo Guide How to Open Septic Tanks Open the Septic Tank SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE Inspect Before Pumping SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME Pumper Truck Operation Pumping the Septic Tank Inspect During Pumping Washing Septic Tank Sides/Bottom Inspect After Pumping Close the Septic Tank Record Septic Tank Location Safety Warnings to Owners SEPTIC PUMPING CONCLUSIONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION LEVELS TANK PUMPING FREQUENCY TABLE SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC PUMPING CONCLUSIONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TANK SAFETY SEPTIC TANK SIZE SEPTIC TANK TEES SEPTIC TESTS: DYE & LOADING TESTS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS SEPTIC VIDEOS SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SOAKAWAY BED FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS, SEPTIC VIDEO GUIDES: Septic Videos WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS WASTEWATER TREATMENT BASICS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
When is it a bad idea to pump out the septic tank? Under some conditions pumping the tank may be unsafe, or it can lead to damage to the septic system. Examples discussed here include pumping after a septic system has been flooded and pumping some systems which can lead to dangerous or even a fatal collapse. We also discuss the potential for a fraud lawsuit if a septic tank is pumped right before a septic system inspection & test has been scheduled. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. When is Pumping a Septic Tank Not Recommended
When the Septic System is Flooded by a Storm or Area Flooding, Don't Pump It OutIf you property has been flooded by rising water such as from a storm, hurricane, or a river overflow, pumping out a septic tank when ground waters are still flooding the area of the septic tank can lead to some unexpected problems:
More about how to inspect, pump, and repair your septic system after flooding is at SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE what to do after a septic system has been exposed to flooding. If a Septic Tank or Cesspool is Old, of Unknown or Fragile Construction Don't Pump Without Inspecting
The septic "tank" at left was totally filled with solids, not functional, and the subject of a lawsuit for improper septic system inspection and testing. It was also home made of concrete block, and collapsing. I assisted in a tragic case on Long Island, NY in which a cesspool was pumped leading to a collapse the next day when the owner walked over the cesspool and it caved in on him. If you don't know what the septic system is made of, be sure that the septic cleaning contractor proceeds with appropriate care. In an "unknown construction" condition, you might not even know if what's installed is a conventional septic tank and drainfield or a simple cesspool. In such cases the septic contractor should be expected to proceed with caution, perhaps pumping from high in the "tank" only a portion of its contents, just sufficient to inspect (flashlight and mirror on a pole) the tank interior to see how it was constructed and what is its condition. Before completing any septic pumpout or other septic repair work, be sure you have safe covers over the system(s) and any access openings. More about septic system hazards and safe procedures is at Septic System Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners. If the septic system sludge level is very low and the floating scum layer thickness is minimalIf the septic system sludge level is very low, perhaps just an inch or two in a 5 foot deep septic tank, and the floating scum layer thickness is also minimal, perhaps just an inch or two, the only reason I can think of that you'd pump the tank anyway would be a need to inspect or repair it. It's quite possible to estimate the thickness of the sludge layer and scum layer using probes especially constructed for that purpose. Measuring the septic tank scum and sludge thickness is not a normal homeowner job, and it can be unsafe (falling into tank, methane exposure, etc.) You should leave this job to a professional. How to measure septic tank sludge thickness and floating scum layer thickness are explained and illustrated at MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE - show this information to your septic contractor if s/he says "it can't be done". For an explanation of the meaning of sewage levels in the septic tank and how that information informs septic tank pumping frequency, see SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS. If you're stuck, the septic contractor has already come to and insists on pumping the septic tank, or is going to charge you the tank pumping fee just to do a "look-see" then go ahead and let the contractor pump out the tank and inspect it for damage. But be certain to ask about and notice yourself just how much sludge there was on the tank bottom, and just how thick the floating scum layer was at the septic tank top. If these thicknesses were minimal, as I described above, then if the level of occupancy of the building is unchanged in the future, you can probably go a bit longer before the next septic tank pumpout is required. See our table at Septic Tank Pumping and adjust that data to suit what you've just observed. In other words, if you had five building occupants and a 1000-gallon septic tank, the table told you to pump it after two years. If you did so but there was almost no sludge or scum, you can probably go out three years, and maybe longer depending on what you see after three years. Do Not Pump the Septic Tank Right Before a Septic Inspection and Test
Often a building owner will, as a "favor" to the buyer, have the septic tank pumped. This is a generous and nice thing to do if the owner agrees to take this step after any onsite septic system testing and inspection have been completed. But otherwise it may be a dirty trick. The step taken by a building seller of pumping a septic tank right before a septic system inspection and test to be performed before purchase of a home may sound like a nice favor but in fact there is a serious risk that the septic tank cleanout will hide a problem:
If a building is not in active use, pumping the tank before a septic inspection and loading and dye test will prevent a valid test as the septic tank will remain empty. Pumping the septic tank at a building occupied by 3 or 4 people should not be done within two weeks of a septic inspection and test. This (conservative) advice helps assure that the septic tank is full before the loading and dye test are begun. If there is a readily accessible and safe septic tank access port to permit a view of the septic tank interior (one that is not buried and not too heavy for the inspector to remove) then opening this cover can permit the inspector to confirm that the septic tank is at a normal level and thus that the test to be performed is reasonable. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about when a septic tank should not be pumped Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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