Septic Tank Pumping Cost

It is a smart move to check out the market prices for a cleaning job like septic pumping, before you actually contact any contractors. That way, you can be assured that the septic tank pumping cost offered to you is reasonable.

For houses, which cannot be connected with a municipal sewage treatment plant, having a septic system as a drainage mechanism is inevitable. They are a type of 'On Site Sewage Facility (OSSF)'. The septic draining system is divided into two main parts. These systems need to be pumped out and cleaned periodically. The recommended period is once in one to three years, depending on the size of the tank and the volume of waste dumped into it.

The septic plant consist of two parts. One is the septic tank and other is the leach field which is a soil based absorbing system. The waste dumped in collects at the bottom where it is decomposed by bacterial degradation action. There are some solid waste products dumped into septic tanks, which do not sink and get decomposed. Such solid waste can go on accumulating and flowing into the leach field and clogging it. This can cost you a lot of money in repairs and cleaning. That is why bearing the replacement cost is a preferable option.

Factors Affecting Cost

Let us have a look at the factors affecting the average septic pumping cost. That will give you an idea about the cost breakdown for the whole job. Septic tank pumping is a time-consuming and labor intensive job. A typical pumping procedure may last for about four to five hours. The entire procedure consists of first locating the tank buried underground. This is done using metal detectors. Once the position is located, an extensive digging job follows, to reach the manhole that provides direct access to the septic tank.

Next, pumping and cleaning job is performed. Once the tank is clean, an inspection is made for tank leaks. Following that check up, the tank is refilled with certain chemicals, before regrading and refilling the site. Most companies will have a separate cost for each part of the job depending on its complexity. If the hole's deep and needs extra efforts to locate, you will be charged more. The labor involved in digging is another addition to the cost. Depending on the size, the cost for pumping, cleaning and refilling will vary. A lot depends on the location too, as prices vary throughout the country.

Average Cost

The pumping cost can vary from US$ 75 - US$ 200 for standard size tanks. The price may even go up to or more than US$ 300 depending on the location of your house. Large tanks with capacities ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 gallons cost more. For such tanks the pumping job may cost US$ 200 to US$ 350 maximum.

If you are planning to get a filter installed to prevent damage to the leach field, it may cost you about $200 to $300 in addition to the total cost. A complete resurrection job for a failing septic tank can cost as much as US$ 1,000 to US$ 2,000 or even more than that.

Price charged by local contractor may vary around the range that I have provided here. Get in touch with local government officials of the sanitation department or septic tank pumping contractors to get a more accurate estimate.