Choose a septic tank pro who is licensed and insured, with experience installing your system type
A septic system installation involves excavation, tank placement, and drain field connections, so you need accurate planning to protect your soil and water.
Expect to pay $4,000 to $5,600 for labor during septic installation, with total project costs averaging $8,000 when including excavation and system components.
You should estimate your septic system size based on household occupancy, plumbing fixture count, and anticipated lifestyle changes to avoid capacity problems down the road.
Hiring a local septic tank company provides reliable support with sizing calculations, excavation work, and connecting your system properly to prevent soil contamination and sewage backup.
If you’re preparing to add a septic system to your home, you’ll need to find and hire a top-notch septic tank company. In most states, septic system installers must have a septic installer’s license and general insurance coverage, but many municipalities also require bonding.
You should confirm that your pro complies with local laws and regulations, has at least five years of experience, and has worked with the specific type of septic system you need. Let’s review how to hire the right septic tank installer for your project.
Local septic tank installers usually handle sizing and installing septic systems, which involves calculating demand, excavating, installing the treatment technology, backfilling, and connecting the system to your home. However, some pros offer additional services, including the following:
Repairs for existing septic systems
Removing old systems in preparation for replacement or sewer connection
Connecting homes to the municipal sewer system
Abandoning septic tanks
Designing specialized septic systems for wetlands or other restricted areas
In most states, it’s illegal to install your own septic system due to the related environmental risks. Even if it’s a DIYable project in your area, it’s best to hire a septic tank pro. Mistakes can contaminate your soil and drinking water, leave you with very large fines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and cause issues with sewage backing up into your home. It’s never worth attempting to install a septic system yourself.
The average cost to install a septic system is $8,000, and an average of between $4,000 and $5,600 of that cost goes toward labor. Some contractors won’t include excavation in their initial estimates, and that can add between $1,500 and $6,300 to your total. Prices can vary widely based on the size and type of septic system you need, the quality of your soil, and your location.
Using the following tips to hire a septic system installer can help you get the best pro for the job and limit the risk of soil contamination and issues with sewage backup.
Septic installers should help you size your system to avoid major problems with capacity, but having an idea of the size you need before reaching out to pros can help estimate your costs. Base your estimate on the number of people in your home, the number of plumbing fixtures that have frequent use, and any expected changes to your lifestyle or family size.
There are several different kinds of septic systems, and each is appropriate in different situations. Most residential homes have anaerobic septic systems with standard drain fields to speed up sewage treatment and dispersion, but familiarize yourself with aerobic septic systems and other drain field designs in case you have a different kind.
You may also want to hire a land surveyor to scan your property to determine the location of your drain field, but note that some installers will scan before they begin excavating for removal anyway.
Septic system leaks present a major environmental issue, so federal and state laws demand that you hire a licensed septic professional. Ask each pro you’re considering for license and insurance information to verify. You can use our online contractor license look-up tool or your state’s website to confirm that your contractor’s license is valid, active, and in good standing.
You should always contact at least three septic installers before hiring one, and ask for quotes from each. You can then compare them to rule out estimates that come in significantly higher or lower than the others. You should also speak with each pro to get a sense of their process and professionalism. Be wary of companies that advertise pricing that’s too good to be true, won’t provide license and insurance information, or charge for estimates.
A properly installed septic system should last for decades without issues, so ask your pro for references from at least five to ten years in the past. Ask those references about their experience before and during the installation, and confirm that they haven’t had issues related to workmanship since.
There are a few key questions you can ask your septic system installer to make sure they’re qualified with an expert-level understanding of the installation process, and have your best interests at heart.
Are you licensed and insured in my state?
How many years of experience do you have?
Have you worked with the type of septic system I need in the past?
Does your estimate include locating and removing my existing septic system?
What’s your process for sizing a septic system?
Does your work include a workmanship or labor warranty?
Do you also handle pumping and other maintenance and septic tank repairs?
What’s your process like if I run into an issue in the future?
Choosing the right local septic system installer means setting yourself up for peace of mind for decades to come. Even minor issues with septic systems can lead to major environmental problems, severe fines, and soil and water contamination, so it’s crucial that you choose a reliable contractor.
Always hire a licensed and insured installer, verify that they have experience with the system you need, and confirm that the company’s online reviews are generally positive.
Septic installers won’t expect a tip, but if yours goes above and beyond to restore your landscaping or limit lawn damage during the process, a tip is a good way to show your appreciation. You can also write online reviews for your pro and even offer to be a reference to help guide future customers to choose them as a reliable professional.
I recently moved to another state and chose United Trust Van Lines after comparing several companies. Their team was punctual, professional, and extremely careful with my belongings. I was especially impressed with how they handled my home office setup and fragile items. Everything arrived on...
United Trust Van Lines, LLCPositive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
The WaterworksAs usual with ECO, tech Jordan was outstanding, very professional, very knowledgeable, and very thorough with repairs made to tankless water heaters. Very highly recommend ECO!!!
Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC TechniciansI would recommend this company to anyone! He showed up on time, was friendly, completed a very difficult repair on our dryer vent cover, was responsive, and pricing was extremely fair and competitive. I would have him back to do any of our repairs or cleanings without hesitation!
U.S.A. Dryer Vent, LLCBest cleaning I've had at my property
I'm a repeat customer of All Star Paving & Sealing and I appreciate the service that all start paving has done for me in the past. I just recently had them out for an estimate and things couldn't have gone better. The staff that they send out to do the estimates are very knowledgeable. The...
All Star Paving and SealingSupreme Brick & Chimney is one of the best service providers I’ve interacted with. Extremely efficient, knowledgeable, and thorough. They took the time to walk me through their detailed full-service inspection and were extremely professional. Not to mention their turnaround time was...
Supreme brick & chimneyStorms Mobile Welding was great to work with. They were prompt, professional and did an overall excellent job on the project. I highly recommend.
Great experience all together. Dog friendly, courteous, great results and honest with recommendations. Will certainly be using Cardinal in the future for any carpet repairs
Cardinal Carpet Care & RepairDid a great job replacing the ice maker and water regulator on my refrigerator. He was quick and thorough, very friendly and professional. If I needed a heart transplant I'd want him to do it!!!
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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