How To Open A Septic Tank Lid

How to Open a Septic Tank: Step past Pace Guide

• POST a QUESTION or Comment almost safe and proper opening of a septic tank for inspection or cleaning.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. Nosotros have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

How to open the septic tank.

Septic tank cleanout or encompass location, admission, opening procedures. Nosotros describe some things to check before opening the septic tank, such equally subsidence, evidence of recent work, or unsafe septic tank covers.

Then we illustrate how the septic tank cover or access port cover is removed. We explain why the best way to clean a septic tank is to pump out through a key manhole-sized encompass, not an 8" cleanout port and not through the inlet or outlet baffle.

We also provide an ARTICLE Alphabetize for this topic, or y'all can try the page summit or lesser SEARCH BOX every bit a quick fashion to find information y'all need.

Procedures for Prophylactic Opening of a Septic Tank, Cesspool, or Drywall for Inspection or Cleaning

Inspection Points Before Removing a Septic Tank Comprehend

A Photographic Guide to Pumping a Septic Tank

Article contents:

• How to remove a septic tank cover
• Which septic tank opening should be used for pumping out the septic tank? Why?

This septic tank pumpout article series provides a step past step, photograph-illustrated guide to opening, pumping, and inspecting septic tanks, how a conventional septic tank is located, opened, pumped out, cleaned, and inspected.

This guideline is intended for septic pumping tank truck operators and equally general information for homeowners or septic service companies concerned with septic arrangement care.

• Subsidence (depressions or low areas in the soil) at the septic tank location - may risk unsafe, potentially fatal plummet
• Evidence of recent piece of work which may need to be investigated to sympathize the condition of the septic system
• Show of backup or effluent breakout at the surface in the septic tank area

• Septic Tank Cover Safety: here a round tank encompass was institute over a collapsing home-made collection of physical blocks which had been stacked by the owner to course a septic tank access well.

  At that place was a dangerous collapse chance forming a fatal hazard because the masonry blocks were beveled and loose, and because the tank opening into was larger than the encompass.

  We covered the area with plywood, roped it off, and told the occupants and possessor of this condition immediately orally and also in writing.

Procedure for Opening the Septic Tank Pumping Access Port

The septic tank should be cleaned from a cleanout port - usually located in the middle of the tank.

Pumping the septic tank through a small access opening such as over the intake or outlet baffle does not provide plenty space to adequately reach and remove sludge from the septic tank bottom, and it risks future clogging of the tank inlet or outlet by incompletely-removed floating scum.

In this instance nosotros knew from prior work, the measurements to the exact location of the septic tank cleanout cover.

The photo shows the septic tank cleanout port which we found and excavated to prepare for opening the septic tank. The comprehend is almost to be removed using a wrecking bar.

Note that we excavated far enough dorsum from the tank opening itself that when we remove the cover we won't accept a lot of dirt falling into the septic tank.

Reader Comments & Q&A

@Ron,

A properly synthetic physical septic tank lid includes both access openings and bandage in iron loops to which a hoist can be connected. However if your septic tank cover does non include those points of buy for lifting you volition demand a flat bar and a larger wrecking bar to pry up the excavated lid from the septic Tank sufficient that you tin put a chain around the lid probably 2 Chainz, to lift the lid with a hoist and tripod machinery or you will use an on-site motorized hoist

The all-time to tool cement 57 one/ii x 27/four pulling up septic tank tiptop

@Phil, what you depict is certainly technically possible but information technology might exist less expensive and more sensible to Only supersede the entire lid of the septic tank with one that has the correct openings for Admission covers. That'due south because just sewing a circular hole doesn't guarantee me that I'm making a hole through which the lid cannot exist dropped. Typically those are either holes with sloped sides or holes with a lip or Edge

My physical septic tank does not accept manholes or openings for pumping out and was installed dorsum in 1979 when the house was congenital. The tank measures 6' x 12' and I'g not sure of the depth. Is it possible to cutting 2 20"/24" bore manholes with a physical saw and then install risers with a lid?

Darn-it.
Can you lot post a photo of the tank top?

Is it concrete? Normally the physical top is tapered; it may be just stuck with effloresent salts and crud.

If while using a chain hoist or a section of horizontal lumber propped over the tank lid, supported i end by a post and the other past a hydraulic jack, neverthelss the lid remains stuck and y'all're breaking a proficient 4x4 thenb I doubtable but pulling isn't going to work.

It's even possible that someone, trying to seal the tank lid against ground water leakage, oozed some silicone or possibly butyl sealant effectually the lid edges when it was terminal installed: that'd stop leaks but makes a heck of a job for the side by side person needing to open up the tank.

Withal you tin can ordinarily loosen the stuck septic tank peak past some thoughful hammering with a SMALL sledge, with Intendance and so as not to suspension open the top of the tank.

Effort tapping effectually the edges of the cover a few times. Clothing goggles and then you don't go infected droppings in your eyes. For me this has worked pretty much e'er.

On a rare occasion I've seen septic pumpers have to intermission off a section of the lid and pry information technology out with a wrecking bar and more-rarely I've seen some heavy handed blokes break the lid and of course drop it into the tank, requiring a new tank chapeau.

If your septic tank lid isn't close to basis surface, I'd consider installing a septic tank riser, sealed to the tank top, and a new secure cover atop the riser.

Watch out: falling into a septic tank is ordinarily quickly fatal.

Never piece of work solitary.

I accept tried to get the height off of my septic tank to become pumped. I accept prepare 2 oak 4x4 over the top of the lifting ring. Chained them to the top and used a 2 ton hydraulic jack to pull directly upwardly. All I accept done 3 times is break those 4x4. Kid has not moved.
Any suggestions? The is Doug

A septic tank pumping company can remove plastic numberless along with small rocks besides every bit of course the solids scum and sludge in your tank.

someone threw plastic grocery bags in the septic tank. how practice i go them out

Gerard

A plastic bag as a sewer line cap doesn't sound correct to me - not durable, incorrect material if a cap is needed, and if it'southward a vent not an admission pipe and so the vent needs to be open to the atmosphere and screened confronting animal entry.

After having the septic tank pumped out, does it make sense to put a plastic bag over the pinnacle opening of the tank? What purpose does information technology serve?

Gerard

A plastic purse equally a sewer line cap doesn't sound correct to me - not durable, wrong textile if a cap is needed, and if it'southward a vent not an access pipage then the vent needs to exist open up to the temper and screened against animal entry.

After having the septic tank pumped out, does it make sense to put a plastic purse over the meridian opening of the tank? What purpose does it serve?

John,

This sounds a fleck strange to me. A normal septic tank has clean out access covers at the correct location. And then I really don't understand what kind of tank you have. information technology may be that something as unproblematic as heavy flat piece of physical or stone will suffice or not.

Watch out: We don't want surface water leaking into the tank, and we don't want an unsafe embrace that could permit injury or death if someone falls into the tank. bluntly I would have expected the contractor who made the hole to exist responsible for leaving the arrangement proper and safe.

In gild to pump out the tank they made a hole in it .how do I set it

Maree,

Yous can observe online septic tank vendors, but most applied is to observe a nearby septic tank supplier where you live.

Where would I purchase septic tank covers?

Tom,

In my stance what you lot want to do is perfectly reasonable.

I had brand new house built a few years ago. I had my tanks cleaned last week everything was fine, Simply he had to dig below ground about 12 inches for 2 lids . I have three plastic polylok lids the ane for the pump is above ground . I am not certain why only that ane was slightly above ground level

. I would like to get risers to brand all 3 at most 6 inches beneath basis level . It will make easier to dig the two tank lids . but a piddling harder to get at pump if necessary.

What are pro and cons. will the grass at only 6 inches dirt . Whatsoever other suggestions. or past some law does the pump encompass have to be above ground. Sad for long postal service. Thank you for your assistance.

Sorry "Truthful Commodities" is not a term I know nor associate with septic tank lids.

What tool do I need to open septic with true bolt?

Not necessarily, Mary equally the pumper may be able to access all of the tank lesser from one opening; it depends on tank size and shape; but you lot might want both openings opened to check the condition of the tank baffles if your pumper can't exercise that from i end.

My septic tank has two openings. Do both have to be opened for a pump out?

Question: cannot discover the manhole cover of the septic tank

(Aug 8, 2014) vicki levin said:
We've establish the cesspool concrete hat (about 12 foot diameter) but after digging a 2 foot circumference, we cannot discover the manhole comprehend in social club to have an inspection. Help? My guy is getting frustrated with excavation!

Reply:

IF it's actually a cesspool, non a septic tank, and it's round, ordinarily the admission chapeau would be in the center.

Question: how practise i remove septic tank hat that is stuck

(Oct 5, 2014) Anonymous said:
how do i remove septic tank lid that is stuck downward 1 inch below surface of tank.

Reply:

Anon:

Sentry OUT: if indeed the septic tank embrace, lid or access opening has partly caved into or sunken into the tank and so the situation is very dangerous - an unsafe cover means someone could fall into the tank - which is usually quickly fatal.

Continue people abroad from the septic tank area until you've had the tank inspected and opened for further inspection by an expert.

Actually if the hooks or handles intended to permit septic tank hat removal have broken abroad or were omitted, removing the lid may require using a pry bar or wrecking bar, fifty-fifty a modest portable winch (not ususally) or other equipment depending on the tank fabric and condition.

...

Continue reading at Inspect the SEPTIC TANK Before PUMPING or select a topic from the closely-related articles beneath, or run into the complete Commodity Index.

Or encounter these

Septic Pumping Procedure & Pumper Truck Functioning Articles

• SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION Procedure
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING MISTAKES
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE
  • CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS
  • WHEN to Make clean THE SEPTIC TANK
  • WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK
  • Discover the SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO
  • HOW TO Open up a SEPTIC TANK
  • INSPECT the SEPTIC TANK BEFORE PUMPING
  • SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
  • SEPTIC TANK LEVELS of SEWAGE
  • PUMPER TRUCK Operation Procedure
  • PUMPING the SEPTIC TANK
  • Record SEPTIC TANK LOCATION
  • SEPTIC PUMPING CONCLUSIONS
• SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE
• SEPTIC TANK Condom

Suggested commendation for this spider web page

HOW TO OPEN a SEPTIC TANK at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & ecology inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

Alphabetize to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE Index to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Or apply the SEARCH BOX found below to Inquire a Question or Search InspectApedia

...

Inquire a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box simply beneath, or if you adopt, post a question or comment in the Comments box beneath and we volition respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Note: appearance of your Comment beneath may be delayed: if your comment contains an prototype, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might exist a web link, your posting volition appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Technical Reviewers & References

Click to Testify or Hibernate Citations & References

Source: https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Opening_Procedure.php

Share this post