Septic Tank Pumping Cost

The cost of pumping your septic tank out every one to three years is minimal compared to the damage that could be caused if you do not have your septic tank pumped regularly. How often you clean or inspect your septic system depends on how large your family is.

Families with many members contributing to the same septic tank will have to have their septic system maintained more frequently. Heavy use of garbage disposals and washers also create the need for more frequent septic tank cleaning. The topic of this article is septic tank pumping cost.

Not many people would want to do this project by themselves and luckily, Do It Yourself is not possible, unless you happen to own a septic pumper truck.

Septic tank pumping costs between $350 and $600. The difference in price is due to whether the septic tank lid has to be dug out or not. If you have been reading this site for any amount of time then you know that you should install a septic tank riser if you haven’t already done so.

The pictures below show a septic tank lid that has been dug out and a septic tank that has a riser installed. If you are creative then you can hide the riser in your landscaping.

Septic Tank Dig Out - Extra Septic Tank Pumping Cost

Riser Installed - Lower Septic Tank Pumping Cost

If this is the first time you’re having your septic tank pumped and you don’t know where it is then the septic tank pumping cost will be more than $350. You will have to hire a company that has special septic tank locator equipment.

There are plumbing snakes that have radio transceivers attached to them which can be used to locate your septic tank. There is also Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), which is even more high-tech.

The bottom line is that pumping your septic system will cost you at least $350 and the easier you make it for the pumper truck to access and pump your septic tank the less it will cost.