How to close the septic tank - restoring a save access cover to septic tank cleanouts & inspection ports.

This septic tank pumpout 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.

How to Close the Septic Tank (safely & without leaks) after inspection or cleanout

When inspection of the septic tank is complete, the cover is replaced and the operator should make sure that the cover is sound and secure against falling-in.

The first photo above shows that this septic tank cover is in good condition and ready for re-use.

Septic Tank Cover Replacement Safety Warnings

But when replacing the septic tank cover, be sure that your tank cover is un-damaged, that it seals against any significant surface or ground water entering the septic tank, and most important, be sure that the septic tank cover is securely set in place so that it cannot be tipped, moved, or opened by a child. Loose septic tank covers risk a fatal septic-tank fall-in.

The second photo shows the operator replacing the septic tank cover. Notice that he has placed his feet carefully and securely so as to avoid slipping while replacing the cover.

A Photographic Guide to Pumping a Septic Tank

This article series 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 atReferences or Citations .

This is a chapter of SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE COURSE an online book on septic systems.

Before Covering the Septic Tank Access Cover, Record the Location (so that it can be found again)

When the septic tank has been located and its cleanout port found, if one does not already exist, make a drawing showing just where the tank is located to assist the owner/septic service company in the future.

The photo shows how we measured from a nearby garage wall to the septic tank cleanout cover.

We measured at a right angle to the garage wall the distance from the wall to the center of the cleanout cover.

We recorded that distance (in this case, 78 inches).

Then we measured from the garage rear corner to the point along the wall from which we measured out from wall to tank (in this case, 90 inches.) Since the garage is a fixed site feature, we can easily locate the septic tank cleanout cover again with just these two numbers.

We also buried a square of yellow plastic right at the tank cover so that when excavating it in the future we'll readily see that we've found the right location.

Finally, having recorded the septic tank cleanout cover location, we covered the septic tank cleanout access port with several inches of top soil and re-seeded with grass seed.

"SEPTIC TANK LOCATION- How to Find the Septic Tank" provides additional explanation and illustration of recording the location of septic system components.

Provide the results of what was learned during septic tank pumpout and issue any appropriate SAFETY WARNINGS to SEPTIC SYSTEM OWNERS

Question:

(July 13, 2015) Paul Perdek said:
I have a bungalow in Toms River NJ
The Septic System was abandoned in 1968. It was pumped out and filled with sand. Back then....there are no records with the Town or my parents.

Now we want to sell the lot. After 45 years, there is no environmental issue....we have been tapped into the City Sewer.

And the septic system was never used with any laudry machines.

Can you comment.

thanks

Reply:

Paul,

I'm unclear what comment you want for the situation you've described. You are describing an abandoned septic system for which we have no information whatsoever besides your one sentence. If the system was properly abandoned there may be no issue. If it was not, there could be fatal hazards present.

...

Continue reading  at RECORD SEPTIC TANK LOCATION 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

• SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING MISTAKES
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE
  • CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS
  • WHEN to CLEAN THE SEPTIC TANK
  • WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK
  • FIND the SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO
  • HOW TO OPEN a SEPTIC TANK
  • INSPECT the SEPTIC TANK BEFORE PUMPING
  • SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
  • SEPTIC TANK LEVELS of SEWAGE
  • PUMPER TRUCK OPERATION PROCEDURE
  • PUMPING the SEPTIC TANK
    • INSPECT the SEPTIC TANK DURING PUMPING
    • WASH SEPTIC TANK SIDES/BOTTOM
    • SEPTIC TANK CLEANING
    • INSPECT the SEPTIC TANK AFTER PUMPING
    • CLOSE the SEPTIC TANK
  • RECORD SEPTIC TANK LOCATION
  • SEPTIC PUMPING CONCLUSIONS
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE
• SEPTIC TANK SAFETY
• SEPTIC TANK LEVELS of SEWAGE

Suggested citation for this web page

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

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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