Most people rarely think about their septic system unless it is having a problem, which is understandable. A septic system works quietly underground and you get on with your day when it’s performing its function properly. However, if a service visit is planned, be it for a regular emptying, a deep clean or an inspection, a little preparation on your part makes the whole process smoother and faster.
This isn’t complicated. It doesn’t need any special tools and knowledge of the system. It’s primarily concerned with knowing where things are, ensuring that the crew has access to what they need and preparing the household for a few hours on the property. Here are some things to prepare for before OK Eco Pump arrives.
Know Where Your Tank and Access Points Are
This is the one most useful thing you can do before a service visit and it is the one that causes the most delays when it isn’t done.
The vacuum tanker must be positioned near enough to your tank to reach it with the hose. Prior to the appointment, take the time to determine where the tank is on the property so that you don’t misplace it. If you don’t know, old property records, your local council or a previous service report will help. On some properties a site plan is provided with the house which indicates where the tank is located.
The same goes for access points. Most tanks have one or two lids located at ground level which have to be accessible upon the crew’s arrival. Remove lids from under lawn or garden beds or soil in advance. Remove any deck, pavers or other object that is over the access opening. When a lid is covered by six inches or more of compacted earth, it takes longer to reach it and sometimes it costs more than it should.
If you really don’t know where your tank or access lids are, please inform OK Eco Pump at the time of booking. The team may be able to assist in identifying the system, but this is easier if some work is done beforehand.
Clear the Access Route for the Vehicle
OK Eco Pump employs powerful vacuum tankers which require a solid roadway to access the tank. Before the visit, make a walk from the street or driveway to where the tank is located, and see if there are anything that could obstruct the process.
The items to be addressed and moved:
- Cars on the access road or in front of the gate
- Clear path blocked by garden equipment, trailers or stored items.
- Low-hanging branches which could strike a tall vehicle
- A soft or waterlogged ground that might cause a heavy vehicle to sink.
If the access involves a gate, make sure it’s unlocked and can open wide enough. If the vehicle isn’t able to access the tank, the task either cannot be completed or becomes much more complex. A few minutes of clearing the route the day before spares everyone time the day.
Avoid Heavy Water Use in the 24 Hours Before the Visit
Running the tank with a large amount of water just before a service visit causes the tank to be filled with fresh water and the job to be more difficult and less complete.
If possible, limit water consumption in the 24 hours prior to your appointment. Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine. If possible, take shorter showers instead of baths. This helps to keep the tank to a reasonable level for the crew to perform a complete job rather than working around a tank that has been filled overnight.
This applies more to an emptying or deep cleaning visit than an inspection visit, but if anything, it’s a good practice to follow regardless of the reason for the visit.
Keep Children and Pets Away From the Work Area
Septic work takes place when the lid is opened on the septic tank, heavy equipment is used, hoses are under pressure, and a person(s) is on a designated area of the property for the duration of the work. It’s not a safe place for kids or pets to be walking around.
Make a plan ahead of time to keep them away from the work area. This can include keeping the dog inside or in another section of the garden. If the crew is there, it’s important to discuss with the children which areas of the property are off limits. Genuinely, an open septic tank is dangerous for anyone who does not know to keep away from it.
Have Your Service History Ready If You Have It
If you have had previous service visits, it will be good to have a record of them when the crew arrives. The previous service report will inform the technician the amount of sludge present the last time, when the tank was last cleaned, and if there were any problems noted that may require follow-up.
It’s not necessary to have an entire archive spanning decades. Even a recent report from the last visit gives useful context. If you’ve had repairs done, details of what was repaired and when are helpful too.
If you don’t have any records because you’ve recently moved to the property or the system has never been serviced as far as you know, that’s worth mentioning when you book. It means the technician comes prepared to do a more thorough assessment alongside the service work.
Note Any Changes or Issues You’ve Noticed
You spend more time on your property than anyone else, and that’s when you may notice that something is amiss with the system. Take a few minutes before the visit to consider if anything has changed around or been unusual recently.
Slow drains in house, especially if several fixtures are involved. New gurgling noises from pipes. A constant odor around the tank or drain field. Wet or spongy ground over the drain field area, especially after dry weather. Any of these can be early signals of a developing problem, and the more specifically you can describe what you’ve noticed and when it started, the more useful that information is to the technician doing the assessment.
OK Eco Pump conducts a post-service inspection and provides a clear written report after every visit, so if anything is flagged during the job you’ll have it documented. But anything you’ve observed beforehand gives the technician a head start on what to look for.
On the Day
There is no need for supervision or to stand nearby during the visit. The team works independently and will come to you if anything needs your input. But being reachable by phone is useful in case a question comes up or something is found that needs a decision before proceeding.
If you have access codes for a gate, unusual quirks about the property layout, or anything else the technician should know, mention it when they arrive rather than assuming it’s obvious from the outside.
Reach out to OK Eco Pump at (250) 826-2325 or email tom@okecopump.com to schedule your next service visit across Kelowna and the surrounding Okanagan area.