Stop first if
- Anyone is in, or about to enter, a tank or pump basin.Stop all work. Nobody goes in. Call emergency services from the surface and do not follow them in.
- Sewage or water reaches outlets, cords or live electrical parts.Keep clear. Shut off power only from a remote point, and only if it can be done without risk. Call a licensed electrician.
- A person falls through a lid or into a pit.Call emergency services. Do not go in after them.
01
Ask on the call
6Homeowner? These are the questions a good technician will ask you. Having the answers ready makes the first visit count.
- Are the lowest fixtures, like a floor drain, tub or laundry standpipe, backing up?
- Is it one fixture or the whole house?
- When was the tank last pumped?
- Is there a pump or alarm on this system, and is it sounding?
- Has there been heavy water use today?
- Do you know where the tank lids are?
02
Bring
5- Gloves and eye protection
- Scum and sludge measuring pole
- Mirror and strong flashlight
- Plastic sheet or bin for wet parts
- Temporary barrier for open risers
03
Check on site
6- Look at the lowest fixtures first. No backup there points toward house plumbing.
- Pull the permit or as-built for tank type and any pump chamber.
- From the surface, before pumping, record liquid level against the outlet.
- With every fixture off, watch the inlet for a steady trickle.
- Check the effluent screen and outlet, taking care that solids do not slough off.
- If the outlet is clear and the level stays high, read the field's ports next.
04
Keep on the record
4- Liquid level against the outlet before pumping
- Inlet flow with fixtures off
- Photos of outlet device, screen and any stains
- Last pumping date and volume
General guidance for a qualified person, not a finding about any home. The person on site decides.