When it comes to safety and the removal of a septic tank, there is one thing you need to know. Do not even try to take it out yourself. Indeed, you shouldn’t even open the cover, for the gases in your septic tank are so toxic they could kill you. Septic tank removal needs to be performed by professionals. Here’s how it is done safely.
The Septic Tank Needs To Be Pumped
Before the tank can be removed it needs to be completely drained, and only professionals can do this. Emptying the tank makes it easier to remove and reduces the risk of raw sewage contaminating the ground and the groundwater.
The Tank Needs To Be Inspected
Before any work can begin, the tank needs to be inspected. This helps to uncover any leaks and makes sure that the tank is empty so it can be safely rendered unusable, or decommissioned. If a septic tank isn’t decommissioned the right way, it can form a dangerous sinkhole. After the tank is inspected, you or your contractor will need to get permits to remove it, and the professionals will extract the tank according to the rules and regulations of your municipality.
The Safety Precautions of Removing Your Septic Tank
After the inspection is done and the permits obtained, the professionals will block off the area around the tank to make sure no one but their crew have access to it. If there’s any electricity going to the septic system, it’s cut off at the circuit box to guard against shocks.
Next, the professionals will dig around the tank until all of it’s exposed. They may need to use a backhoe or some other type of heavy machinery to do this. Then, the tank is pumped again, and whatever waste is left in it is taken away to be disposed of hygienically. It’s also disconnected from the drain that comes from the house and the pipes that go to the leach field. During this phase the professionals wear protective gear such as work gloves, work boots, coveralls, protective goggles, and respirator masks to protect them from dangerous fumes.
The tank is finally lifted out of the ground, put on a truck, and taken away. In some cases, the tank isn’t removed but crushed where it is or filled with gravel. This depends on what the tank is made of. Concrete tanks, for instance, are usually filled up instead of crushed.
After the tank is dealt with, the hole is backfilled with soil or gravel. Usually, the soil or gravel is fresh and not the soil or gravel that was removed from the excavation site. This lowers the risk of contamination and keeps the ground stable.
Rely on Knowledgeable Local Pros
Septic tank removal is a rather risky job that should be left to professionals. If you believe your septic tank in Fayetteville, NC should be removed, call our experts at Marshall Cummings Septic Tank Service today.
