The average to repair or replace your septic tank and drainfield cost is $1,547. Repairing or replacing your septic tank and drainfield cost ranged from $602 to $2,492 for the US in 2019, according to Homeadvisor.com.
When sewage backs up into your house, or unpleasant odors overpower your backyard, you know something has gone wrong with your septic system. Depending on what is causing the problem, you’ll face some pretty big decisions about whether you should repair or replace the system.
If it’s merely a broken pipe, repairing the pipe might cost a few hundred dollars. But if the drainfield is required to be replaced, it could cost you from $1,500 to $10,000. In a worst-case scenario: You’ll need an alternative treatment system, for $15,000 or more.
Here’s How To Deal With Problems When They Arise
When you find sewage in your house: Lift the lid of the septic tank and examine the water level—or contact a septic tank pumping company that can do this for you. If the water in the tank is lower than the outlet, the pipe between your house and tank might be clogged. Immediately call a plumber.
If the water level is higher than the outlet, the problem is the tank itself or beyond it. Have your tank pumped (around $200 to $400), which will give you a little time to figure out what your next move is allowing the pumper to see whether there’s an apparent problem, like a clogged screen near the outlet.
If the drainfield is waterlogged because of flooding, wait to pump; emptying the tank may cause the septic tank to float, causing the pipes to break. Take preventative measures as you clean up the mess in your house, so you don’t get yourself sick.
If the drainfield has an odor or is saturated: Keep people and pets away from any standing water or waterlogged soil, which can be a biohazard. If you have young children or pets, you may need a fence temporarily. Get your septic tank pumped and cut back on water use. These steps should help reduce the odor.
Drainfield Failures
However, there aren’t any long-term solutions. When a drainfield fails, it’s often because the septic tank wasn’t thoroughly maintained. Sludge and scum layers can build up so thick that there’s no space left for wastewater to pool while materials separate.
This allows solids and greases to get into the drainfield and clog it, resulting in putrid water bubbling up to the surface. By the time you see or smell it, the damage has been done—and the drainfield requires replacing.
The only option if you have a plugged drainfield is to abandon it and build a new one. The good news is that once you have replaced your drainfield, you will never have to deal with this problem again. Eventually, the bacteria at the old site will die from lack of food and will eventually decompose. When the second field plugs one day, you can go back to using the first one.
When to Repair the Problem
Some problems can be solved relatively easy. If there’s standing water or a sewage smell between the septic tank and the drainfield, it could be nothing more than a broken pipe, around a $600 repair. If you have a state-of-the-art treatment system, the septic company may need to regulate or replace a part.
If you have an aerobic treatment unit—one that aerates the tank that helps break down the waste faster—and were away for a long period of time, the useful bacteria may have died off. You might just need to use your system moderately for a few weeks while the bacteria rebounds.
When to Replace System Components
There is typically no repair for a drainfield that has failed. You will most likely have to replace some or all of your septic system.
There are many ways to consolidate treatment and drainfield options, and your decisions can have a huge impact on costs as well as on how much landscaping you will need to redo. Even if the drainfield totally failed, you may find out that the septic tank itself is fine. Repurposing the tank can save you $1,000 or more—and keeps part of your yard intact. But if relocating the tank would solve a landscaping problem or make future pumpings easier, now is the perfect time to do it.
Getting it Fixed
Call a couple of septic pumping companies and schedule inspections. Or, if you have an advanced treatment system with a yearly maintenance contract, call the company that’s overlooking your system already.
A-American Septic Service Offers Septic Tank Repair & Replacement in Phoenix
A-american Septic Service offers septic tank repair and septic tank replacement in Phoenix, Arizona. Selecting the right septic system for your home is a number one priority. Depending on your landscape and surrounding areas, septic system types will differ greatly from one another. Contact A-American Septic Service or call 602-254-5448 today to discuss which type of septic system will work best for you.
