Every visit ends with a written maintenance report: what we checked, what we serviced and what is due next. Keep it with your property records. It is what a buyer, a realtor or the health authority will ask to see. If something needs repair, we explain it and quote it before doing any work.
Signs your septic system needs maintenance
- You have an existing maintenance plan and a visit is due
- You moved in without clear servicing records
- Your system has pumps, filters or controls that need scheduled attention
- You want to understand repeat alarms or recurring service needs
- Your septic company has to dig to reach the tank each visit
- You are not sure where the tank lids are
Septic tank risers & lids
On most older tanks the lids are buried a foot or more down, so every pump-out or inspection starts with a search and a dig.
Risers bring the openings up to grass level under a secured, watertight lid. Service is quicker, the lawn stays intact and the tank is easy to inspect when you sell.
- Locate the tank openings and inspect the concrete rim
- Install risers sized to your openings, sealed to the tank
- Fit watertight lids with a secured closure
- Add risers to the baffle and outlet openings where useful
- Backfill, grade away from the lids and tidy the lawn
What a septic maintenance visit includes
- Go over the system drawings, maintenance plan and past records
- Check the tank, baffles and effluent filter, and clean the filter
- Test the pump, floats and alarm
- Walk the drain field and check for wet areas, odour and root problems
- Give you a written maintenance report with photos and the next service date
Warranty. Pumps, level sensors and other parts we supply carry a 3-year limited parts warranty from the day they are installed, matching the manufacturer warranty. If a covered part fails because of a defect in materials or workmanship, it is repaired or replaced at no charge. The warranty covers parts only: labour to diagnose, remove and install is billed at our normal rates. It does not cover damage from flooding, lightning or power surges, freezing, roots, vehicles driven over the system, sand or gravel, grease, wipes or other things that should not go down a drain, or work on the system by anyone else. Full terms are on our warranty page.
Safety first. Leave filters, floats and panels to us. Effluent filters and pump chambers hold sewage and gas, and the pump runs on line voltage. Keep the lids closed and secured between visits.
Septic maintenance cost: what changes the price
- System type, maintenance plan and components to service
- Access to filters, tank openings, pumps and controls
- Whether pumping, replacement parts or repairs are separately required
You get the price before we start.
Before your maintenance visit
- Your system maintenance plan and previous service reports
- Known tank and control locations, without opening them
- Changes in household use or symptoms since the last visit
Septic maintenance questions
How often does a septic system need maintenance?
Follow the maintenance plan for your system. Pumped and treatment systems usually need a visit at least once a year. If the plan is missing, we identify your system and set a schedule.
Does septic maintenance include pumping?
We can pump the tank on the same visit if it is due. Pumping is listed as its own line on the quote, so you see exactly what you pay for.
Can I book maintenance after buying a rural home?
Yes. Gather the system records, maintenance plan, inspection report and past invoices if available. If any are missing, the first visit fills the gaps.
What records should I keep?
Keep the system plan, maintenance instructions, pump-out records, inspection findings, component replacements and recommendations together. These help future servicing and a property sale.
What affects septic maintenance cost?
System type, the number of components, access, and whether parts or repairs are needed. You get a written price before any work starts.
Will risers be ugly in my yard?
They sit at or just above grass level and can be low profile. Some owners cover them with a decorative lid cover. We can keep the lids slightly below grade if you prefer, with a marker.
Do risers save money?
They remove the digging cost from every future service call, so they usually pay back over time.
Can risers be added to any tank?
Most concrete and plastic tanks can take them. We check the opening size and condition first.