Costly rentals or equipment—you might want to leave this one to a pro.
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Protective gear
Soil probe
Shovel
Water hose
Septic pump
Rake
Tanker truck
SUPPLIES
Risers (optional)
If you have a septic system, all of the solid waste and liquid wastewater from after you take a shower, wash your hands, or flush the toilet will go through your home’s plumbing until they reach the septic tank. Solid waste will sink to the bottom of the tank, while liquid wastewater will continue through the septic system for further treatment and dispersal into the soil. Over time, the septic tank needs to be cleaned to remove the buildup of solid waste, or sludge.
While you shouldn’t handle sludge removal on your own unless you have the license and permits to do so, here’s how to clean a septic tank from a professional perspective.
Angi Tip
Pumping your septic tank every three to five years is one of the most important septic maintenance tasks. When you combine that with flushing only approved items (toilet paper and waste) and avoiding driving over your drain field, you have a recipe for a long-lasting septic system.
To start, the professional will locate the septic tank. If you’re curious about the location, you can check your local records, typically available through the health department or country registrar. A professional can locate the septic tank by checking near the vent pipes on the roof of the house, which are usually placed near the septic tank, or by following the sewer main line from the house to the septic tank.
Because the septic tank is buried, usually about four inches to four feet underground, a pro will then use a probe to check the soil for the septic tank.
With the tank located, it’s time to grab some shovels and clear out the soil that is covering the tank. The pros need to excavate enough land that they can open up the lid to the septic tank, which usually is about two feet wide. The pro will uncover the inlet side to remove sludge, and they can uncover the outlet side to clean the filter there.
Determine the Sludge Depth
Although the pros can estimate when to pump a septic tank based on the date of the previous service, it’s best to check the actual sludge depth to tell if the septic tank is full of solid waste. Generally, experts recommend that the sludge should take up no more than a third of the tank, or it should be at least six inches from the bottom of the outlet pipe.
To check the sludge depth, pros use a special piece of equipment, often known by the name brand Sludge Judge, that they push down into the septic tank. The equipment collects a sample and uses a ball valve to close and seal in solid waste as the device is pulled up from the liquid. The side of the device has measurements to aid the pro in determining the sludge depth.
Clean the Baffle Filter
Photo: DEBOVE SOPHIE / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
On the outlet side of the tank, there may be a baffle filter that will also need to be cleaned and inspected. With their protective gear on, the septic tank specialists use their hands or a rake to pull out the filter. From there, they’ll spray down the filter, making sure to hold it over the inlet side of the septic tank so that dirty runoff water can be filtered and cleaned through the septic system. After cleaning, they will replace the baffle filter.
Now, it’s time to clean the septic tank itself. Professionals use a septic pump, which has a hose that can go down into the inlet side of the tank. The solids go up through the hose and into a storage container on a tanker truck.
This is one of many reasons why this job is best left to septic system experts. Even renting the equipment for this project gets expensive. Not only that, but some states, counties, and municipalities have strict limitations and rules regarding pumping a septic tank because handling and disposing of sewage is a health and safety issue.
Remove Clogs With a Rake
If you have been flushing anything other than waste and toilet paper (like wet wipes or feminine hygiene products) or pouring greasy foods down the kitchen sink, your septic tank may have a clog that even the septic pump hose will struggle to remove. If that’s the case, the pros will need to use a three-prong rake to break up the clog before they can vacuum out the remaining waste.
After cleaning out the sludge, the pros will place the lids back on the inlet and outlet openings and recover the septic with soil. If your septic tank is buried more than a foot deep, the septic tank professional may suggest installing risers, which will make it easier to find and access the septic tank in the future. A septic tank riser is a type of wide pipe, usually made of plastic, concrete, or fiberglass, that fits around the lid of the septic tank, extending from the lid to the grass level of your lawn. That way, pros can open the riser and directly access the septic tank lid.
Homeowners generally won’t need to access the septic tank themselves, and it’s best that they don’t. The septic tank can expose you to raw sewage, untreated wastewater, and sewer gasses, and this exposure can cause illnesses or even be fatal. But marking the location will make your next septic pumping service move even more efficiently.
Properly Dispose of Waste
Finally, the pros will drive the sludge away, taking it to a treatment facility for proper disposal. Disposal of sludge from a septic tank must follow local and state laws and regulations, which is why it’s important for a licensed professional to clean your septic tank—it’s not a DIY job.
Once your septic tank is clean and recovered, you may consider trying some septic tank landscaping ideas to give this part of your yard some more color and visual interest. Just avoid planting anything with deep root systems, as the roots could grow into the septic system pipes and cause damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some signs that your septic tank is full include sewage odors around the tank or in your home, sewage backup in your home’s drains, or flooding around the septic tank or leach field.
If it seems like your septic tank is filling up with sludge too quickly, you may have the wrong size or type of septic system. Consult with a septic company to determine which septic system and what size tank will work best for your property.
The best way to keep a septic tank clean is to hire a local septic tank cleaner to inspect and pump the septic tank every three to five years. Be sure to only flush human waste and toilet paper down the toilet, and don’t pour grease, oil, fats, coffee grounds, or food scraps into your drains.
Septic tanks naturally have bacteria that break down some of the solid waste in the septic tank. However, sludge buildup is just part of owning a septic system. While liquid wastewater can be filtered and treated through the system, a septic tank company has to pump the septic tank out at least every few years.
Paige Bennett is a professional editor and writer with experience covering design, DIY projects, food, health, and travel, and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University.
Paige Bennett is a professional editor and writer with experience covering design, DIY projects, food, health, and travel, and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University.
The homeowners guide to Septic Systems
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