What a septic work order is for
A septic truck is heavy, and the worst mistake is driving it over the drain field. A work order with the tank location, lid depth, truck route and the field to avoid, plus what to record, protects the customer's system and gets the job done in one visit.
What to put on a septic work order
- Tank location and lid depth.
- Truck access and route.
- Drain field location to avoid.
- Hose length needed.
- Condition notes to record.
- Sign-off.
A worked example
A pumping stop. Prices are hidden.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locate lids, dig if needed | 2 | each | Your price |
| Pump tank, both compartments | 1,000 | gal | Your price |
| Inspect baffles and filter | 1 | each | Your price |
| Backfill and rake | 1 | each | Your price |
Put the drain field location in site notes. Keeping the truck off it is the whole point of the note.
Line items septic companies use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Septic tank pumping | gal | By tank size; say the size pumped. |
| Locate and dig up lids | each | When lids are buried. |
| Riser and lid install | each | Brings lids to the surface for easy access. |
| Septic inspection | each | For a sale or maintenance; name what it covers. |
| Camera inspection of lines | each | House to tank, tank to field. |
| Baffle repair or replacement | each | Inlet or outlet. |
| Effluent filter cleaning | each | Where the system has one. |
| Line jetting | ft | Clears roots and buildup. |
| Pump or alarm replacement | each | For pump systems. |
| Drain field evaluation | each | Probing and inspection of the field. |
| Drain field repair or replacement | each | Design and permits often required. |
| Permit and health department fees | each | Repairs and replacements often need county approval. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for septic
- Labor rate calculator
- Pipe volume calculator
- Maintenance plan pricing calculator
- Satellite measuring tool
The same work order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.