How to Empty a Septic Tank

Where used or required, a septic tank system is a vital part of a household. The tank is where waste goes when it leaves the house. Keeping the septic tank maintained and emptied as necessary will keep it from overflowing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Testing stick

1. Find out what size your tank is. The average one is nine feet long, four to five feet wide and five feet tall. However, they can be bigger or smaller. The size of the tank and number of people in the household determines how often your septic tank must be emptied.

2. Check the amount of sludge in your septic tank with a stick. Make sure the stick is a few feet longer than your tank so you don't breathe in the toxic fumes. Don't get too close to the hole or touch the nasty stuff that will adhere to the testing stick. Make sure the stick is perfectly straight to get a good reading.

3. Mark your testing stick with permanent marker in feet and inches.

4. Put the stick straight down into the tank and then bring it back out. The sludge on the bottom of the tank will stick on the end of the stick and the liquid that floats above that will wet the higher portion of the stick.

5. Call a septic tank cleaning company when the stained area on the stick is longer than the wet area.

Tips & Warnings

• Only a professional can empty your septic tank due to the toxicity of the sludge and fumes inside.
• Even with regular cleaning of your septic tank, it will have to be replaced. This is usually every 20 to 30 years but they can fail prior to that time.

Resources

• Estimates of when to empty your tank