Septic System Replacement and Repair

Signs Your Septic System Is Failing

• Slow drains throughout the house, not just at one fixture
• Toilets that gurgle or back up
• Sewage odor in the yard or near the tank
• Soggy ground, standing water or unusually green grass over the drainfield
• An aerobic alarm that returns after service
• A failed septic inspection during a home sale

Some of these symptoms point to a clogged line or a failed pump, which a maintenance provider or plumber can often correct. When the tank is cracked, the field is saturated or the system was never sized for the house, replacement is the right solution.

How a Replacement Works

Replacing a septic system requires a permit, just like a new installation. Most replacements follow these steps:

1. Assessment. We inspect the existing system and identify what failed. If a repair will solve the problem, we will tell you.
2. Site Evaluation and Design. An engineer we work closely with evaluates the lot and designs the new system under current rules. We put you in contact and help coordinate. Older systems were often built to standards that no longer apply, so the replacement may be a different type.
3. Permit. The design goes to the county for approval.
4. Removing the Old System. The old tank is pumped and then removed or properly abandoned in place.
5. Installing the New System. We install the new tanks and field, pass inspection, then backfill and grade.

Septic Repairs We Handle

Not every problem requires a new system. We also repair components that require excavation, including broken or root-damaged lines between the house and tank, cracked lids and risers, damaged tanks and failed sections of drainfield. If the issue is a pump replacement or routine aerobic service, a licensed maintenance provider is usually the quicker option, and we will let you know.

Buying or Selling a Home with a Septic System?

Septic issues are a common finding in home inspections around the lake. If one appears in yours, send us the inspection report. We will review what the repair or replacement involves and provide an estimate, so negotiations are based on accurate numbers.