Septic repair
Backups, odors and broken parts usually have a fixable cause. Here's what septic repair involves.
Not every septic problem means a new system. Many backups come from a clogged line between the house and tank, a broken baffle, a clogged effluent filter or a tank that's overdue for pumping. A septic company can find the cause and tell you what it takes to fix it.
Common repairs
- Clearing or replacing the line from the house to the tank
- Replacing broken inlet or outlet baffles
- Cleaning or adding an effluent filter
- Replacing cracked lids or adding risers
- Repairing a cracked or leaking tank, or replacing it
- Fixing distribution boxes and drainfield lines
Do repairs need a permit?
Many septic repairs, especially to tanks and drainfields, need a permit from the local health department. In Brunswick County, that's Brunswick County Health Services' Environmental Health section. North Carolina also requires anyone who repairs a permitted system to be certified. Your septic company should know when a permit is needed and handle it.
Sewage in the house?
Stop using water until the system is checked, avoid contact with the sewage, and call a septic company. If sewage is coming up in the yard, keep children and pets away from it.
The septic company prices the job after learning about your system and, for repairs, seeing it. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Why does my septic system back up after heavy rain?
Saturated ground and a high water table can slow or stop the drainfield from accepting water. It can also mean the drainfield is already struggling. Have it checked.
Can a septic repair be done without a permit?
Some minor repairs may not need one, but repairs to tanks and drainfields generally do. Ask the company or Brunswick County Environmental Health.
Related services
More background: Brunswick County septic guide.
Slow drains, soggy yard or a septic alarm going off?
Call now and a local septic company will help you sort it out.