The Septic Pre-Hire Checklist
Ten questions to ask any septic company before you book — including us. The difference between a cheap pump-out and a proper one is entirely in the answers to these.
What is on it
- 01 Will you pump the tank completely — liquid, scum and settled sludge — or only draw down the liquid?
- 02 Will you measure and record sludge and scum depth before pumping?
- 03 Will you open both access points, or only the nearest one?
- 04 Will you inspect the inlet and outlet baffles while the tank is empty?
- 05 Will you locate, clean and inspect the effluent filter — and tell me if there is not one fitted?
- 06 What does the quote include, and what would make the price change once you are here?
- 07 Do you charge extra to hand-dig a buried lid, and how much?
- 08 Will I get a written record of what was found, or just an invoice?
- 09 What pumping interval do you recommend for my tank, and what is that based on?
- 10 Where is the septage disposed of?
Print it, keep it by the phone, and use it on every quote you get. If a company will not answer question one straight, you have learned what you needed to know.
Get the printable version
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We use this to send the checklist and to answer you if you ask something. Nothing else.
Or skip the checklist and just ask us the ten questions.
Call (615) 234-9048. We will answer all of them.