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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
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WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK
TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE
Safety Warnings
When to Pump
Reasons to Pump Septic Tanks
Find the Septic Tank
How to Open Septic Tanks
Open the Septic Tank
Inspect Before Pumping
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
Advising Owners
TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
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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 the septic tank - why now?
- Other Reasons to Pump the Septic Tank besides just passage of time
- How to find the septic tank
- How to open the septic tank cover; removing the septic tank cover
- How to Inspect before pumping the septic tank;
- How the pumper truck or vacuum truck is operated
- Actually pumping out the septic tank; septic tank inspections while pumping
- Washing the septic tank after pumping, inspecting the tank after pumping
- Closing the septic tank
- How to record the septic tank location, advising homeowners
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest.
We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices,
false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at
inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.
This document explains reasons for pumping the septic tank at times other than those provided by septic tank pumping tables.
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 article is a supplement to 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.
Other reasons to pump out or clean septic tanks
At When to Pump and in the table shown at Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide we've discussed the basic guidelines and tables used to determine when a septic tank should be pumped. But There are other reasons besides time or sludge/scum layer thickness that lead people to pump septic tanks out. Here's a list of other reasons to pump the septic tank along with links to more details:
- Before the party: you can reduce the chances of a septic system backup as well as avoiding overloading the drainfield if you have the septic tank pumped right before any anticipated heavy usage such as having many visitors or having a large party with many guests in your home. We discuss this suggestion in detail at Septic Backup Prevention.
- Septic Pumping in Response to Sewage backups: pumping a septic tank because drains are backing up in the building is a "band aid" that
gives very short relief since the tank will fill again quickly, perhaps in just a day or so of use.
The reason for the septic backup needs to be determined. If the septic system is backing up because the tank is totally blocked
by solid waste the tank needs to be pumped but the owner needs to be warned that the drain field has been damaged and
has less remaining life.
If the septic system is backing up because the drain field itself is failing and refuses to accept
effluent, the drain field needs to be replaced. See Sewage Backup Diagnosis & Hazards in Buildings
- If the septic system drains are clogged the clog needs to be found and cleared.
(See Clogged Drain Diagnosis)
- Houses being sold: often an owner or realtor will arrange for a septic tank to be pumped just before a home inspection
or before a septic system inspection or septic loading and dye test. Such a "favor" performed for the buyer is in fact
preventing a valid septic inspection and test since an empty tank means the drain field can't be tested.
This is a fraudulent act and should not be tolerated.
(See When Not to Pump a Septic Tank)
- Septic tanks exposed to flood conditions need to be pumped and inspected as the tank may have been
filled with backing up silt or mud.
(See Flood Response)
- Filled cesspools are often "repaired" by pumping and perhaps by other means such as agitating the
cesspool bottom or sides. If a cesspool is found filled to within 6-12" of the top of the unit it is at end of
life and needs replacement. Pumping some cesspools risks dangerous cave-ins or collapse.
(See Cesspool Safety Warnings)
- Evidence of Septic Failure such as effluent on the property surface in the drain field area or odors
leads some people to pump the septic tank. As cited in our first example above, "Sewage backups", this is a futile
effort and other diagnosis and repair are needed.
See
- Sewage odors sometimes lead people to pump septic tanks. Pumping is not likely to correct a sewer gas
problem though tank inspection may provide some information about system condition.
(See Diagnosing & Curing Sewer Gas Smells and Septic Tank Odors.)
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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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