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If your septic tank has multiple access lids, choose the one that’s closest to your home since it’s most likely to have the inlet pipe. Lift or pry the lid off of the tank and set it aside while you’re working. Look inside of the tank for the end of a white or green pipe sticking out of the side that’s nearest to your home. If you aren’t sure where the access lids are for your tank, check your home’s as-built drawings or contact a professional service. A mechanical auger has a long metal cable you put into your pipes that has a rotating bit to cut through the blockage. Start from the end of the clogged pipe or at an access point for the pipe, such as a cleanout port. Place the cutting blade of the auger inside the pipe that’s clogged, and push the line in about 1–2 feet (30–61 cm).  You can buy a mechanical auger online or from your local hardware store. Check if a local hardware store offers equipment rentals to see if you can get an auger for a day without having to pay the full price. Since mechanical augers have rotating and moving parts, protect your eyes so you don’t injure yourself if you lose control of the machine. Put on thick work gloves to avoid spreading bacteria or getting hurt while you handle the line. Plug the auger into the nearest electrical outlet and turn the switch to the On or Forward position.  You may need an extension cord to plug in the mechanical auger. Don’t run the auger without gloves or safety glasses since you could severely injure yourself. Never start the auger if you have the cutting end outside of the pipe since it will spin violently. Hold the auger’s line with both hands and guide it into the pipe until you hit resistance. If the resistance feels solid, try turning the line in your hands to see if it moves further inside since it may have hit a bend in the pipe. Otherwise, push and pull the auger in short, back and forth strokes to force the blockage apart. Keep forcing the auger into the clogged section of pipe until it moves through it easily.  If you remove the clog, water will start flowing through the pipe again while you have the auger inside it. Mechanical augers come in different lengths, so if you aren’t able to reach the clog with the one you’re using, try renting the next longest size. Flip the power switch on the auger to the Off or Reverse setting so you can remove it without difficulty. Guide the auger’s line back into the container with both hands, and pull it slowly back through the pipe. Carefully pull the end of the auger out of the pipe and clean off any debris or waste that’s stuck on the end with a hose or paper towel.  Don’t take the auger out of the pipe while it’s still running since it could hurt you. Avoid touching the auger’s line with bare hands since it was just in a pipe that contains waste and harmful bacteria. Pour 1 part chlorine bleach and 5 parts clean water into a bucket and stir the solution together. Wipe the end of the auger with a cleaning rag to kill any bacteria left on the surface so you don't contaminate anything else. Pour the solution into your septic tank when you're finished. Don't dump the cleaning solution in another drain since it has harmful pathogens from your septic tank. Grab the lid by the handles or sides and lift it off of the ground. Carefully lower the lid back on top of the hole leading into your septic tank so it's completely covered. Make sure the lid doesn't slide or shift, or else it could come off of the septic tank easily.
Remove the septic tank access lid closest to your home to reach the inlet pipe. Feed the cutting blade of a mechanical auger into the end of the clogged pipe. Put on safety glasses and work gloves before you turn on the auger. Continue feeding the auger deeper into the pipe so it breaks apart the clog. Turn the auger off before pulling it out of the pipe. Clean the tools with a solution of 5 parts water and 1 part bleach. Put the lid back on your septic tank.