Have you ever stuck your head inside a septic tank? Many customers won’t even come outside to watch the cleaning process because their psyche can’t fathom the whole idea of seeing poop. These folks peek through their curtains and slip a check under the door. Others make it a family affair. Grandma and all the kids pull up lawn chairs and drink ice tea and eargly observe the entire event - mouths open as if in awe.
I was out of the comfort of my office last week and visiting with a customer about her garden when she happened to glance over where “the event” was taking place to witness three grown men lying on their bellies and sticking their heads into the septic tank. Aghast she asked “What are they looking for”?
This reminded me that as a homeowner you should make a point to be home and be participitive when you’re having your septic system cleaned and inspected (or any other service performed). Many homeowners do not have their tank cleaned very often and a thorough inspection is called for. A reputable septic pumper will perform an inspection as a part of the service.
What are we looking for?
‒ Crust layer - this tells us oh so much about you and your household habits. Rumor has it this once caused a poor guy a divorce. The scum layer is whatever floats and has not broken down such as hair, grease, raw carrots, plastics and other “floaties”. Neglected systems can have a crust layer several feet thick and will require the septic pumper to physically attack it with a paddle or other device in order to break it up before any pumping can begin. (At this point you’ve become his favorite customer for the day). As a reminder, only toilet paper should go down the drain, that’s it.
‒ Water level - if the water level is high there can be other things happening with your system such as a plugged line or a saturated drain field, etc.
‒ Age and condition of the system - any cracks?
‒ Inlet and outlet baffles - are they in place? Both are important but if your outlet baffle has fallen or broken off over the years that means there is nothing there to prevent solids from flowing out to your drain field - not a good thing!
‒ Water running back into the tank while we are pumping the level down. If water is coming back from the outlet side of the tank then we know we’ve got more issues to address. Usually not a good sign but often easily solved, other times, financially devastating.
What should you be looking for as you peer over the Sweet Pea technicians shoulder? Make sure the tank is empty. The entire point of having your tank cleaned is to remove the sludge (mush, poop, ick, stuff) located on the bottom of the tank. We try to pump the tank dry and rinse down the walls in order to get a good look at your system.
Of course whomever implemented the trend to install 8" risers was not thinking of the septic man or the homeowner at the time. Keep in mind when we are asked to pump through an 8" riser (or smaller) we’re literally working in the dark. I would encourage anyone installing risers on their inlet side for future septic maintenance to look for the round concrete rings approximately 24" in diameter. These allow us to work our large vacuum hoses, to reach the corners of the tank and to see what we’re doing.
What happens when its all over? Well first, pay the poor guy because after all, he really deserves it. Next, do you need to add any “starter” products? No. Just do your business as usual - your body carries all the “good” bacterial agents your septic system needs to get going again.
Remember, be home, be available, get involved, ask questions, understand your particular system and go ahead... stick your head in and have a look around!
If you would like us to address any specific questions or issues that we have not covered, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail. As you may well know by now, we’ll tackle almost any discussion.
Happy flushing and remember...
“It’s Not Glamourous But Someone Has To Do It”.