Septic tank pumping in Knoxville: what to expect and how to choose a provider

A plain-English guide for homeowners in Knoxville and the rest of Knox County with a septic system. It covers how often tanks are usually pumped, what a service visit should include, and how to check a pumper's Tennessee and Knox County permits. Every fact below links to a public source.

How often a septic tank is pumped

• EPA says the average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years, and household tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. [EPA]
• Systems with electrical float switches, pumps or other mechanical parts should be inspected more often, generally once a year, according to EPA. [EPA]
• The main factors are household size, total wastewater, the amount of solids in the wastewater, and tank size. [EPA]

How a provider decides a tank needs pumping

EPA says a tank should be pumped if any of these is true: [EPA]

• the bottom of the scum layer is within six inches of the bottom of the outlet,
• the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet, or
• more than 25 percent of the liquid depth is sludge and scum.

What a service visit should include

• EPA says the service provider should inspect for leaks and examine the scum and sludge layers in the tank. [EPA]
• The provider should note repairs completed and the tank's condition in a service report. EPA suggests keeping maintenance records, including the sludge and scum levels found, so you know when to pump next. [EPA]

Finding your tank and its records

If you don't know where your tank is, or you're buying a home on septic, the Knox County Health Department's Groundwater Protection Division can provide available records on existing septic systems in Knox County through a file search request. [Knox County Health Dept.]

Permits a pumper needs in Knoxville

• State permit. Anyone pumping septage from septic tanks in Tennessee must hold a valid permit from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) under Rule 0400-48-01-.20. [TDEC]
• How to check it. TDEC's Installers & Pumpers DataViewer lets you search permit holders and narrow by county. [TDEC]
• Knox County permit. Knox is one of Tennessee's "contract counties", which may require an additional permit. [TDEC] The Knox County Health Department says an annual permit is required in Knox County for septic tank pumpers. [Knox County Health Dept.] No online lookup for the county permit was found, so ask the company for a copy.
• On the truck. State rules require pumping trucks to show the business name and address and the TDEC permit number on both sides, in letters at least two inches high. [Rule 0400-48-01-.20]
• Permits expire every year. TDEC pumper permits expire on December 31 and cannot be transferred to a new owner. [Rule 0400-48-01-.20]

Pumping is maintenance. Repairs and new systems are a different job: in Knox County, the Health Department's Groundwater Division issues septic permits for new builds, remodels and repairs. [Knox County Health Dept.]

Questions to ask before you hire

1. What is your TDEC septage removal permit number? (Then look it up on the TDEC DataViewer.)
2. Can you send a copy of your current Knox County pumper permit?
3. Will you measure the sludge and scum layers and give me a written service report?
4. Will you check the tank for leaks and look at the outlet while you're there?
5. Do you need to dig to reach the lid, and is that included in the estimate?
6. Is the written estimate itemized? What would change the final amount?
7. Where will the waste be taken for disposal?
8. If you find a problem, will you put it in writing before doing any repair?

FAQ

How do I know when my tank was last pumped?

Check your own service records first. EPA suggests keeping them for every visit. [EPA] For older records on a Knox County system, the Health Department takes file search requests. [Knox County Health Dept.]

My system has a pump and an alarm. Does that change anything?

EPA says systems with electrical float switches, pumps or mechanical parts should be inspected more often, generally once a year. [EPA]

How can I tell if a pumping company has a state permit?

Search the TDEC Installers & Pumpers DataViewer by county, and check that the permit number on the truck matches. [TDEC] [Rule 0400-48-01-.20]

Does this site pump septic tanks?

No. This is an independent information and referral site. It does not pump tanks, hold any septic permit, or do any septic work. See About this site.

Preview

Ask to be contacted by one independent provider

Request a callback (coming soon)

This site is in preview and does not take requests yet. There is no phone line, form or email sign-up, and nothing you do here is collected.

When requests open, each one will go to one independent provider based in Knox County or a neighboring county. That provider will be named on this page with its TDEC septage removal permit number before you send anything.

Sources

1. US EPA: How to Care for Your Septic System
2. TDEC: Statewide Active Septic System Installers and Pumpers (permit rule and DataViewer link)
3. TDEC Division of Water Resources: Installers & Pumpers DataViewer (search by county)
4. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-48-01-.20: Domestic septage removal (vehicle marking, permit expiry)
5. Knox County Health Department: Groundwater Protection (county pumper permit, septic records, repair permits)