Septic Repair Call Checklist and Symptom Log

Taking a few minutes to gather this information before calling for septic service helps the intake process move faster and reduces the risk of missing details once the call begins. Work through each section on your phone or print this page to have it ready.

Published by Tallahassee Septic Repair Research · July 23, 2026. This checklist is a homeowner preparation guide. It does not constitute a diagnosis, engineering assessment, or service recommendation.

1. What you observed

Write down exactly what you noticed and when. Providers often ask about sequence and timing before anything else.

• First sign: What was the first thing you noticed, and on what date?
• Change over time: Has the problem gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed the same since you first noticed it?
• Affected fixtures: Which drains, toilets, or fixtures are involved? Are they all on the same side of the house, or spread throughout?
• Odors: Any sewage odor indoors or outdoors? If outdoors, note the approximate location relative to the house.
• Wet or soft ground: Any unusually wet, soft, or spongy ground near the tank or drain field area? Any bright-green grass patches?
• Recent heavy rain: Did symptoms appear or worsen shortly after a rain event?
• Other changes: Any recent household changes — new appliances, more people in the home, construction near the tank or drain field?

2. System and property information

Record what you know. Approximate answers are useful; a blank is better than a guess you aren’t sure about.

• Property address: Full address, including city and ZIP.
• System age: Approximate installation year, if known. Check your closing documents or prior inspection reports.
• System type: Conventional gravity, aerobic treatment unit (ATU), mound system, drip system, or other — if known.
• Tank material: Concrete, plastic, or fiberglass — if known.
• Bedrooms served: Number of bedrooms in the home.
• Current occupancy: How many people use the system regularly?
• Wakulla Springs PFA: Whether the property is inside the Upper Wakulla River and Wakulla Spring Priority Focus Area. Use FDEP’s address-searchable map to check. This affects whether a permitted repair or replacement must meet a 65-percent nitrogen reduction standard.

3. Service and permit history

Prior service records help the provider understand the system’s maintenance history and whether any past permits are still open.

• Most recent pump-out: Approximate date and the company that did it, if you have the paperwork.
• Most recent inspection: Approximate date and inspector, if known. Did the inspection identify any items to watch or address?
• Prior repairs: Any previous repairs to the tank, drain field, pump, or distribution box — what was done and when?
• Open permits: Any awareness of an open or pending FDEP permit for this system?
• Original installation records: Whether you have the original permit, site plan, or as-built drawing.

4. Access information

Access conditions affect whether a service truck can reach the system and how long the job is likely to take.

• Tank lid location: Approximate distance and direction from the house, or any landmarks. Note if you have a sketch or drawing.
• Lid accessibility: Is the lid at grade and accessible, or buried under soil or landscaping?
• Riser present: Is there a riser (a vertical extension that brings the lid to ground level)?
• Vehicle access: Can a pump truck reach the tank — is there a clear path with adequate clearance from fencing, trees, or structures?
• Drain field location: Whether the drain field location is known, and whether that area is accessible.
• Gate codes or access requirements: Any codes, keys, or appointments needed to access the property.

5. Questions to have ready

These are the questions most homeowners wish they had asked on the first call. You don’t need to know the answers in advance — having the questions ready helps you get useful information from the provider.

• What is the most likely cause of what I’m describing?
• Will you be able to diagnose the problem from a pump-out and inspection, or will additional steps be needed?
• What will determine whether this is a repair or a replacement recommendation?
• Does this property’s location affect what type of system can be used if replacement is needed?
• What permits would be required for the likely scope of work?
• If excavation is needed, what will that process look like and what does it affect?
• What should I do — and what should I avoid doing — between now and the appointment?
• Is there a Leon County incentive program I should look into before work is done?

Safety reminders

Related resources

• Florida Nitrogen-Reducing Septic Requirements by Basin — whether a permitted repair or replacement at your address must meet the 65-percent nitrogen reduction standard.
• All official resources — FDEP permit forms, rule citations, contractor lookups, and EPA guidance.