The answer is..."It depends!"

Having your septic tank pumped is like going to the dentist, you might just go in for a cleaning but there may be other issues. You might have a clog between the tank and your house that needs to be unclogged. You might need for us to locate and even dig up the lids to your tank. You might want risers to be installed for easier access. We won't know until we come check it out and each additional service has a cost due to the time, effort, and cost of the tools involved.

When it comes just to pumping it depends on the size of your tank, how far away your location is, and if it is an emergency call.

For a more accurate quote call our office and we can chat. If while at your place we discover more issues, we will talk with you to get your approval before doing the additional work that might be needed.

There are some great videos on Youtube. Just do a search for "Locate Septic Tank Lid" and see what they have to say. Videos like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAituiXEHTI&t=2s

The main things we look for are a vent on the roof (usually white and often 3 inch), the tank should be on the other side of the house from a well, a cleanout pipe near the footing of the house, a sunken in area where the tank has settled, and a dead spot in the grass (grass often has a hard time growing on top of a septic tank). It's also possible that if you have a major backup that the ground could be wet from it seeping out through the lid.

Make sure that if you dig it up yourself that you uncover the ENTIRE lid or lids.

Also...the newer your home is the more likely it is that you can contact the health department or possibly the county assessor and get the plans that have the layout of your tank that they may have on file.

A word of warning. THIS CAN BE VERY HARD TO DO WITHOUT A PROBE AND CAN BE VERY HARD TO DO WITH A PROBE! If you go through the trouble of buying a probe and your yard is riddled with big rocks...you may have a heck of a time. In the end...if you need for us to do it...yes we charge for it...but we also have specialized tools that cost thousands of dollars that can tell us exactly where it is and save you from filling your yard with potholes!

Most septic tanks should be pumped every 3 to 5 years, depending on household size, water usage, and tank capacity. THIS IS JUST A RULE OF THUMB!!

A home with a 750 gallon tank and family of 6 living there might need to be pumped as much as once a year! A home with a 2500 gallon tank lived in just by grandma whose kids all moved away might go 30 years between pumping!! A large family who thinks that they can be on the same schedule as grandma is destined to have problems.

Regular pumping prevents backups and extends the life of your system. Graphs like this can give you a better idea of how long you can go in-between pumping.

Signs that your septic tank may need pumping include:

• Slow drains or gurgling sounds in plumbing

• Sewage backups in toilets or sinks

• Foul odors near the drain field or tank

• Standing water in the yard near the septic system

You do not need to be there for a standard pumping...but hopefully there is a way to contact you if we have any questions or have anything to report. It is ideal to have someone home who can flush toilets to confirm everything is flowing right before we leave...but not mandatory.

We accept cash, checks, and credit cards. Payment is due at time of service. If you are not present to pay we will send you the invoice.

The national average cost of city sewer per month according to "US Municipal Water and Sewer:Annual Utility Rate Index, 2023" is $71.16 a month. That's $853.92 a year.

If you have to have your septic tank pumped out every 3 years and it costs the minimum charge of $375...that means you are paying $10.42 a month for your septic pumping.

It feels like a lot of money to have septic pumping...BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING AT ONCE.

That said...there are other expenses associated with septic that aren't had with city sewer. Eventually you septic sytem will fail. You can greatly increase how long your system lasts by taking care of it! Schedule regular pumpings, change filters if you have them, don't flush down weird stuff and it'll greatly increase how long your system is working.

You may picture the septic company that takes your payment as going home and lying on piles of cash! Some things you might not have considered.

1. The trucks that pumpers drive can cost upwards of $300,000. It's highly likely that the technician who comes to your place may be paying more on their monthly truck payment than on their mortgage. When the trucks break down, to fix them is outragous. Just getting a new set of tires might be $10k. It's not a question of IF they will break down but WHEN. This means that a good chunk of the money brought in goes into the "Fortune to be paid on fixing the truck fund." These trucks also get horrible fuel mileage which needs to get tacked on to the overall cost. Each home we stop at causes wear and tear that will ultimately be an expense.

2. Shop time. To be ready come to your place we had to go through an inspection of our truck both at the beginning of the day and the end of the day the night before. This means every day we're oiling, greasing, topping off levels, cleaning pumps, etc. These inspections are required by the department of transportation but we have an additional list of to-do's because of the vacuum system. If we find something wrong, it means we can't get on the road until we fix it and this could be hours of work outside of "pumping time."

3. All of the septage that we pump out of your tank needs to be dumped somewhere. We have to pay to dump. These fees can be up to half of the amount collected in addition to the fuel it takes to drive to the wastewater plant.

4. The technician has gone through formal training. Each technician had to go through truck driving school to get a CDL license. Each technician has received formal training on septic systems. Each technician has gone through a certification to run a vacuum truck. Part of what you are paying for is a professional to show up who knows what in the heck they're doing!

5. Insurances, payroll, saving up for other equipment and tools, taxes, etc.

6. Other Misc overhead...advertising...DMV fees...etc. You get the idea.

7. And last but not least...IT'S SUPER GROSS!!! For a great many of our clients...there is no amount of money that would make them willing to do what we do on a daily basis. Literally...due to the nature of what we come into contact with, we are worthy of "Hazard pay" or at least "That gross job nobody wants to do pay."

Hope that helps with persective.

You should avoid flushing non-biodegradable items such as wipes, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, and dental floss. Additionally, avoid pouring grease, oils, and harsh chemicals down the sink as they can clog and damage your septic system. Also...food scraps are best given to chickens or compost...not down the garbage disposal.

WIPES THAT CLAIM TO DESINTIGRATE that actually don't are one of the biggest reasons for clogs nowadays. They're one of the main reasons for emergency calls.

Septic tank pumping is the process of removing the sludge, scum, and liquid from the septic tank to prevent overflow and system failure. It is necessary to maintain the efficiency of the septic system and prevent backups and contamination.

"But...but...but...my uncle said you never have to pump out a septic tank!!"

Will you do me a favor and ask that Uncle the following...

"If I have a bucket and start to put rocks in it...will it never fill to overflowing?"

The answer is obviously no. Unless your Uncle thinks that a septic tank is some sort of portal to another universe...it will eventually fill up! It is a "TANK" of a finite size. If you never pump it out eventually it will fill up the leach field lines and you'll be knocking on your Uncles door asking for money to replace your system. It's costly.

If your septic system fails, contact a professional septic service immediately. They can diagnose the problem and recommend the best course of action, which may include repairs, pumping, or replacement of the system.

If your septic system is clogged and you are waiting for service, take the following steps:

1. Stop using water as much as possible to prevent further backups.

2. Avoid flushing toilets, running dishwashers, or doing laundry.

3. Inform all household members about the issue to prevent accidental water usage.

4. If safe, try to locate the blockage and see if it can be temporarily relieved. Be careful because the system could be under pressure and splash poop in your face! No joke.

5. Contact us immediately for assistance.

To maintain your septic system between pumpings, avoid flushing non-biodegradable items, use water efficiently, avoid using harsh chemicals, and schedule regular inspections. Proper maintenance helps keep your system functioning properly.

You want so bad to put a dead possum in your tank...don't you. Lol.

There are SOOO many wives tales around septic maintenance.

We are of the opinion that generally speaking the only 3 things that should be going into your system are the 3 "P's"...poop...pee...and paper. Putting in additives is not a substitute for pumping your system out. There is no magic pill.

If you REALLY want to prolong the time between pumps you should get a bidet.

If a do it yourselfer wanted to know exactly how full their tank is at any given time they could purchase what is called a "Sludge judge" which is a pole you stick into the tank to the bottom and it will give you a measurement of how deep the sludge is. It comes with a guide to know when it's time to pump.

Heavy rainfall can saturate the ground, making it difficult for the drain field to properly absorb and filter wastewater. This can lead to backups and slow drainage. If you notice these issues after heavy rain, it's important to reduce water usage and contact a professional to assess your system.