Septic system service: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering septic system service

Septic service is a condition-and-record job, and the customer needs to know what you found and what comes next. Open the tank, check the parts, and write it down.

What customers ask

  • When do I need to pump the tank?
  • Why is my drain field wet?
  • Why did the pump alarm go off?
  • Can you just pump it, or do you check the rest?
  • Do I need to be home for the service?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask the tank size, the last pump date, the household size, any alarm history, and whether the yard shows wet or green areas over the field.
  • Bring a pump-out hose, a probe, a baffle kit, an effluent filter, pump and float spares, and a sketch pad for the tank layout.
  • Find and open all the access lids, and show the customer the liquid level and the scum layer before you pump.
  • Check the baffles and the effluent filter, and say what you found and what was replaced.
  • Quote the pumping, the parts and the field check as separate lines, so the customer can see the work done.
  • Give a written service record with the readings, the parts, the condition of the field and the next service date.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of a tank with the baffle and scum layer visible, labeled
  • List the septic services you do, such as pumping, pump replacement and inspection
  • Note your certifications and the local rules you work under, as the customer may need the record
  • Show a sample service record with the sections you fill in

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a reminder schedule for the next pumping, based on the tank size and the household use
  • Recommend a field check after heavy rain when the yard has shown wet areas
  • Suggest a pump and alarm test at a set interval, since the alarm is the first warning

Licenses and permits

Septic system service is commonly done by licensed or certified septic contractors, and repair and replacement often need a permit. Confirm the requirements with your state or local licensing agency and the local health department before taking the work.

Questions

What do I say when a customer wants only pumping and no inspection?

Pump the tank, and explain that the inspection is what finds the failing parts before they cause a backup. Offer the check and note the customer's choice in the record.

How do I handle a tank that is full of solids near the outlet?

Pump it, check the outlet baffle and the filter, and show the customer the solids level. A full tank near the outlet is often a sign of a failed baffle or a blocked filter.

Should I recommend a septic additive?

Do not sell one as a fix. Explain what the tank needs, and say plainly if an additive is not a replacement for pumping and repair.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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