Septic Tank Repair, Replacement, and Inspection
Full Nelson repairs, replaces, and inspects residential septic tanks for homes not connected to a municipal sewer system. Our excavation crew handles the underground work involved in accessing, repairing, and replacing septic tanks and their inlet and outlet connections.
How Septic Systems Work
A septic system treats household wastewater on-site. All drains in the house connect to a main sewer line that carries waste to the septic tank, a buried watertight container typically made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Inside the tank, solids settle to the bottom as sludge, fats and grease float to the top as scum, and the liquid effluent in the middle flows out through the outlet baffle to the drain field (also called the lateral field or leach field).
The tank relies on natural bacterial action to partially break down the solids. Pumping removes the accumulated sludge and scum that bacteria cannot fully process. Without regular pumping, solids build up, reduce the tank’s effective volume, and eventually flow out to the drain field where they clog the soil and cause system failure.
Signs of Septic Tank Problems
Septic problems tend to worsen gradually, but the symptoms become hard to ignore.
- Slow drains throughout the house, especially at the lowest fixtures
- Gurgling sounds from drains or toilets
- Sewage odors inside the house, near the tank location, or over the drain field
- Standing water or soggy ground above the septic tank or drain field
- Unusually lush, green grass over the tank or drain field compared to the rest of the yard
- Sewage backing up into the house through floor drains or the lowest toilet
- Toilets flushing slowly or incompletely despite clear drain lines inside the house
Septic Tank Inspection
Full Nelson inspects septic tanks to assess the tank structure, inlet and outlet baffles, liquid levels, and sludge depth. Inspection is recommended before purchasing a home with a septic system, when symptoms suggest a tank problem, or as part of routine maintenance planning.
During inspection, we check:
- Tank structural integrity: cracks, corrosion, or shifting that compromise the watertight seal
- Inlet and outlet baffle condition: baffles direct flow inside the tank and prevent solids from reaching the drain field. Damaged or missing baffles are a common cause of premature drain field failure
- Liquid levels: abnormally high levels inside the tank can indicate a blockage at the outlet, a saturated drain field, or a groundwater intrusion issue
- Sludge and scum depth: determines whether the tank needs pumping and how quickly solids are accumulating
- Lid and riser condition: cracked or improperly sealed lids allow surface water and debris into the tank
Septic Tank Repair
Not every septic problem requires a full tank replacement. Many issues can be resolved with targeted repairs.
Common septic tank repairs include:
- Baffle repair or replacement: Damaged inlet or outlet baffles are replaced to restore proper flow control inside the tank. A failed outlet baffle is one of the most common causes of solids reaching the drain field.
- Lid and riser replacement: Cracked concrete lids or damaged risers are replaced to maintain the tank's watertight seal and prevent surface water infiltration.
- Inlet and outlet pipe repair: The connections between the house sewer line and the tank, and between the tank and the drain field, can crack or separate due to ground movement. Repairing these connections restores proper flow.
- Crack sealing on concrete tanks: Minor cracks in concrete tank walls can sometimes be sealed, though significant structural damage usually means replacement is the better option.
Septic Tank Replacement
When a septic tank has collapsed, developed major structural cracks, or deteriorated to the point where repairs will not provide a lasting fix, Full Nelson excavates and replaces the tank. Replacement involves removing the old tank, preparing the excavation to proper depth and grade, setting the new tank, connecting the inlet and outlet piping, backfilling, and compacting the soil.
Tank sizing depends on the number of bedrooms in the home and the expected daily wastewater volume. Local codes specify minimum tank sizes based on these factors. Full Nelson installs tanks that meet or exceed code requirements and are appropriate for your household’s actual usage.
Why Full Nelson
- Family, Women, and Veteran owned since 2003
- Licensed, insured plumbers and excavation technicians
- Septic tank inspection, repair, and replacement
- Camera inspection of inlet and outlet lines
- Up-front pricing before work begins
- 24/7 emergency service for septic backups