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• 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, inspecting the tank after pumping
• Closing the septic tank, recording the septic tank location, advising homeowners

Septic Care and Maintenance Advice for Homeowners: safety, condition of the system, use of chemicals, additives, septic filters. 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. The steps in servicing a septic tank are listed below, accompanied by photographs that show each of the critical steps in pumping, cleaning, and inspecting a septic tank. Readers should see Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for a table explaining when to schedule a septic cleanout. 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 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

A Photographic Guide to Pumping a Septic Tank

Advising Owners About Septic Tank Conditions and Safety Hazards

Tank and Field Conditions: Inform the owner of the condition of the septic tank and of any indications of leach field failure such as back flow into the tank during pump-down or damaged baffles. Inform the owner of the approximate level of sludge and scum found in the tank. This information assists in determining the actual tank pumping frequency needed for the property. Inform the owner if obvious clearance violations were observed between the tank and other site features such as a nearby well - health hazards may be present. The photo shows the septic service operator recording the results of the septic cleanout on the client's bill. In addition to telling the client orally of any unsafe or other important conditions observed, the operator must provide exactly the same information in writing. Writing this data clearly on the invoice is often sufficient. (See "Clearances & Distances" link at "More Reading" below.)

Safety: If immediately dangerous conditions exist, such as a missing or unsafe septic tank cover or a collapsing or risk-of-collapsing septic tank, seepage pit, drywell, or cesspool are observed, the operator should:

• Rope off and secure the area so that adults or children do not walk over or near the unsafe area.
• Inform the property owners and any property tenants or occupants immediately, orally and in writing of a very dangerous condition involving a possibly fatal hazard, and explain that immediate actions are needed.
• Inform the pumping company of unsafe conditions and confirm that the owner and any other appropriate people such as tenants in the building have been informed.
• Close off or cover over unsafe openings even if simply by using expedient materials such as nearby construction materials.

Advising Owners About Septic Tank Additives and Septic Care

Non-Biogradable Debris: if during pump down a significant amount of non-biodegradable debris such as baby diapers, condoms, tampons, cigarettes were noted the pumper should recommend that the owner read the "Don't Flush" article linked-to below.

Septic Helper Chemicals: Septic tank additives such as yeast, enzymes, bacteria, or "septic helper" are unnecessary, in some cases can damage the system, and in some jurisdictions are illegal and are considered environmental contaminants. (See "Additives & Chemicals" link at "More Reading" below.)

Septic Filters: can extend drainfield life and may be a useful system improvement that can be added while the septic tank is exposed and before it is returned to active use. (See "Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater" link at "More Reading" at "More Reading" and at the links just below.)

• Additives & Chemicals for septic system maintenance. Are septic products needed? Are septic treatments legal?
• Books on Septic Systems to Buy Online, our list of recommended books on septic system maintenance, design, and alternative designs available at Amazon.com - septic system education materials
• Design Guide for Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• 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 offers important septic maintenance advice
• Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
• Garbage Grinders and garbage disposal units - effects on septic systems and on the need for septic tank cleaning
• Grazing, Animals Over Septic Fields, is it a problem?
• Life Expectancy of Septic Systems and septic system components and the relationship of field life to septic maintenance
• Maintenance: Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, septic maintenance suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• Maintenance & Repair of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" article
• 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?
• Planting Gardens Near Septics, vegetables, fruits, other types of gardens
• Planting Grasses or Flowers Over Septic Systems what's OK
• Planting Ground Cover, Ivy Over Septic Systems what's OK
• Planting Trees or Shrubs Over or Near Septic Systems what's OK
• Root Killers Over Septic Fields, is there a concern?
• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for septic tanks: when, how, what to watch for when pumping or cleaning septic tanks - the key septic maintenance schedule
• Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, septic maintenance suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• Water Softeners maintenance, adjustment, and water softener effect on drinking water; potential effects of salts on septic systems

The Septic Systems Online Book - Where Are We?

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.

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material.

• Daniel Friedman - principal author
• 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

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.

More expert information on this topic

More Information on Septic System Diagnosis, Maintenance, & Repair

• 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
• 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 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 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 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

Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to 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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