Nobody likes to deal with the awful smell of sewage in the house, not to mention dirty, stinky water in the front yard. If you’re experiencing these issues, it most likely means your septic tank is full or damaged, or there’s a drain field issue. Odors and water pooling are common symptoms, but there are other symptoms that can include slow house drains, gurgling pipes and a very green patch of grass in the drain field area.

This May Also Interest You: Do I Need to Pump Out My Septic Tank Before Hosting Guests?

Ideally, you can avoid these issues by regularly pumping your septic tank. Here’s a look at how much that costs.

Why Should You Pump Your Septic Tank?

Homeowners are responsible for maintaining their septic tanks and drain fields. So, you may be wondering just how much does septic tank pumping cost?

The septic tank pumping cost is dependent on a number of factors. The Environmental Protection Agency requires a septic tank to be pumped when the top scum layer reaches within 6 inches (15 centimeters) of the outlet pipe. Unfortunately, you may not discover your septic tank is full until there is a problem, like foul odors coming out of your drains or — even worse — a septic system backup.

In order to understand the costs, it’s important to know what may be involved in septic tank pumping. All the wastewater from the home travels through a pipe to the septic tank. The septic tank is designed to hold the wastewater long enough for the solid materials (sludge) to settle to the bottom and for grease and oil (scum) to float to the water’s surface.

The tank construction keeps the sludge and scum from exiting the septic tank, and only wastewater is dispersed into the drain field. Newer tanks make accessing the septic tank easy because they have risers that reach ground level and are capped with lids. The openings for older tanks are on the septic tank and underground.

Typical Problems Leading to Septic Tank Pumping

Between each septic tank pumping, a septic tank usually works efficiently. However, problems can develop for a variety of reasons.

Some typical septic tank problems include:

• The floating scum and sludge fill the septic tank.
• The pipes between the inside fixtures leading to the septic tank are clogged or blocked.
• The scum and sludge levels are so high that they leave the septic tank and enter the drain field, plugging up the drain field because water cannot leech into the ground.
• The ground is saturated with heavy rainfall or a high water table.
• The drainpipe cracks due to roots or something else, so too much water is released into the field area.
• The drainpipe is crushed, so water rises too high in the septic tank and pushes sewage into the drains in the home.

Clearly, there may be more of a problem than just a full septic tank when you smell that foul odor in your home. When a technician does a septic system pumping, they are also an expert at spotting drain field problems or even sewage in a reverse flow from where it should be entering the tank.

More Related Articles:

• How Often Should I Pump My Septic Tank?
• What’s the Difference Between Septic and Sewer?
• How Do You Find Your Septic Tank?
• Top 3 Signs You Have Septic or Sewer Issues
• Never Flush These 11 Things Down Your Toilet

How Much Does a Septic Tank Pump-Out Cost?

The factors influencing the cost of the septic tank pump out include the following:

• Size of the septic tank
• How full the tank is at the time of septic pumping
• Prep work the homeowner does before the septic pumping service arrives
• Condition of the pipes in the drain field
• Age of the septic tank (older ones don’t have risers)
• Geographic location (contractor prices vary by geography)
• Contractor selected

The septic tank pumping cost can be minimal compared to what it could cost if there is a drain field problem or a septic tank needs repair.

According to This Old House, the typical cost for a septic tank pump-out is between $225 and $600 (CAD 307 and CAD 819). The price varies based on the size of the tank.

• Up to 750-gallon tank: $175 to $300 (CAD 239 to CAD 410)
• 1,000-gallon tank: $225 to $400 (CAD 307 to CAD 546)
• 1,500-gallon tank: $345 to $600 (CAD 471 to CAD 819)
• Tanks over 1,500 gallons: $400 to $700 (CAD 546 to CAD 956)

Typically, a homeowner will pay around $400 (CAD 546) for a septic system pumping and cleaning, according to data from Basement Guides. You can save money by preparing the area for the septic tank technician. Ensure the tank access port is cleared for the technician.

What Else Does a Septic Tank Pumping Service Do?

A typical septic tank pump-out can take up to five hours. Each company determines its own pricing structure. Some companies charge by the hour, but others charge a flat fee along with additional fees for extra services beyond the tank pump.

In some cases, the septic pumping service will need to replace the filter. HomeGuide says this can add another $200 to $300 (CAD 273 to CAD 410) on top of the septic tank pumping cost. If the drain field needs work, it will probably cost a lot more. Replacing or fixing a drain field so the septic system works properly can easily run into the thousands.

It’s always important to remember the money spent on septic system pumping is typically for a three-year period. The EPA recommends pumping a septic tank every three to five years to keep the septic system in good condition. By spending up to $700 (CAD 956) every three to five years, you are more likely to avoid costly septic tank and drain field problems.

Take the Guesswork Out of Septic Tank Pumping Costs

If this sounds a bit complicated, don’t worry. If you maintain your septic tank, it is unlikely to have problems for decades. The general life expectancy of a well-maintained septic tank is up to 30 years.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.