A septic tank is a buried, watertight container, usually made of concrete, polyethylene, or fiberglass, that provides primary on-site wastewater treatment for homes and buildings not connected to a public sewer system. The primary purpose of a septic tank is to safely treat and dispose of wastewater, acting as a highly efficient mini-wastewater plant for a home not connected to a public sewer system.
Septic tanks are a critical part of homes that are not connected to a main or local sewer system. However, cleaning these septic tanks is also essential for optimal performance. Have you been searching for ways to clean your septic tank? Then you are just in the right place. In this septic tank cleanout guide, we will provide a step-by-step process to clean your septic tank efficiently.
Step 1: Locating and Uncovering the Tank
The process of septic tank cleaning begins with locating and uncovering the tank. The professional technician first locates the septic tank, often using property maps, blueprints, or the main sewer line, and then begins with a septic clean out from the main sewer line leaving the home.
However, if the tanks lack modern ground-level risers, you will have to dig up a section of lawn to access the lids. Later, after removing the lid, carefully open both the inlet and outlet access lids.
Step 2: Assessing the Tank Health
Once you have analyzed and unsealed the tank, the next step is to assess the tank’s condition. This step is crucial because it will help you determine the depth of cleaning required for your specific tasks. However, it is recommended that you not start pumping the tank until the tank’s condition has been thoroughly inspected.
Check whether the liquid level is below the outlet pipe. If so, the tank may have a crack or leak. If the water level is too high, it may indicate that the drain is not functioning properly or that there is a downstream blockage. For a thorough assessment, you can use specialized measuring sticks to measure the thickness of the tip scum layer and the bottom sludge layer.
Step 3: Septic Tank Pumping
The septic tank pumping process begins after a thorough assessment of the tank’s condition. To vacuum the water, you need to run a large, heavy-duty suction hose from a specialized vacuum truck down into the tank. Additionally, to pump liquid and sludge, you will need to start at the inlet side.
However, the top scum layer can become incredibly thick and hard, so you need to use tools or back-spray liquid into the tank to break up and mix the solid sludge and hardened scum with the water. This enables the vacuum to suck out all the heavy solids uniformly.
Step 4: Pulling and Cleaning the Effluent Filter
After pumping the tank, remove the debris and clean the effluent filter. Most new septic tank systems include an effluent filter in place of the outlet baffle to trap fine solids. You must pump the tank down before removing this filter.
If you remove it while the tank is full, unfiltered solids can escape into your drain field and damage it. Finally, remove the filter, spray it with a standard water hose until it’s clear, and then reinstall it in the outlet baffle.
Step 5: Rinsing and Final Visual Inspection
Once the vast majority of the waste has been removed, rinse the interior walls and the bottom of the concrete or polyethylene tank with a water hose to remove any stubborn grime.
Additionally, after completely emptying the tank, make a final check for cracks in the walls, confirm that the baffle pipes are still intact, and look for signs of collapse. Finally, close the lid and dispose of the waste properly.
