Preferred Septic & Disposal, Inc.

The following are meant as general guidelines only. If you

have questions, please call the professional septic tank

 inspectors at Preferred Septic.

1. Locate your septic tank and remove both manhole covers. If you do not know the location of your septic tank, check with the County Health Dept. records or look under your house for the 3" or 4" sewer line.
   
   Note where it passes into the soil and under the foundation. Dig down outside the foundation at the same location and follow the pipe to the tank or, noting the direction the pipe goes, use a metal probe (such as rebar) and probe the ground until found. The septic tank should be within 10-20 feet of the house, but might be further away. Generally, septic tanks are located 12-24 feet below the ground, but may be deeper. Remove glasses and other items from your shirt pockets before bending over the manholes.
2. Note the tees or baffles at each end of the tank.
3. Start at the end nearest the house (where the sewage comes into the tank). The brownish frothy looking matt is the scum layer. If the scum layer is level with the top of either tee (or baffle), or within 4" of the top of the tank, your tank needs pumping.
4. Take a long stick or board (T or 8') and separate the scum matt layer. If it is 10-12" thick, pump your tank regardless of the amount of sludge in your tank.
5. Next, push the board down into the tank. When you feel slight resistance, you have reached the sludge layer. Make a mark on the board level with the top of the tank. Push the board down until your reach the bottom of the tank. Mark the board as before. If you have at least 18" of sludge in the bottom of your tank, or if the sludge is within 6" of the bottom of the outlet Tee (or baffle), then it should be pumped.
6. Check the second compartment (where the sewage goes out of the tank). This compartment should have less scum matt and sludge accumulation than the first compartment. If the accumulation is close to that in the first compartment, pump your tank more often. Pump both compartments when your tank is pumped.
7. Observe the level of liquid in the tank. If the level is higher than the outlet pipe, you may have a broken /clogged pipe, or failing leachfield. If the level is lower than outlet pipe, you may have a leak in your septic tank.
8. Rinse the board over the manholes and dispose of the board in a manner so that it will not expose others to disease.
9. Replace manhole covers.
10. Make a drawing of the septic tank location with measurements from fixed points to each manhole cover. Keep it with your household papers.
11. Consider installing risers over manhole covers to facilitate pumping. Build them yourself or contact a septic system contractor for pre-built type.
12. Cover the manholes.

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