Septic Tank Pumping in Raleigh, NC
We are Durham-based and spend most of our weeks in Raleigh. Family-owned for 30 years, NC Level IV installers, and emergency service available 24/7.
Celebrating 30 Years of Service; Est. 1996
Septic service in Raleigh, NC, from the crew that works here
We are based in Durham, and most of our jobs are in Raleigh. We know the roads out to the edge of the city and what is under the yards.
Bobby Davis Jr. started this family business in 1996 and has 50 years in the trade. We are fully insured and licensed, and we hold the NC Level IV installer grade, the highest there is. Call (919) 481-6929 and tell us your street.
Where Raleigh's septic homes are
Inside the Beltline, Raleigh is on city sewer, so there is no tank to pump. The septic homes are on the edges: north toward Falls Lake, northwest around Leesville and Brier Creek, east toward Knightdale and Wendell, and south toward Garner and Willow Spring.
Most of that ground is red clay, and red clay drains slowly. After a wet winter or a run of spring storms the drainfield lines sit saturated. You see it as slow drains in the house and soft, wet spots in the yard. Roots from willows, sweetgums, maples and oaks find the joints of older pipes and the distribution box.
We also work the next towns over: septic pumping in Garner, septic pumping in Knightdale, septic tank pumping in Wake Forest and septic pumping in Cary, and across all of Wake County.
Septic tank pumping in Raleigh, NC, step by step
A pump-out is more than a hose in a hole. Here is the visit.
- We locate the lids. If nothing marks them, we probe from where the sewer line leaves the house.
- We dig to the lids if there is no riser.
- We pump every compartment until the tank is empty.
- We check the baffles and the outlet tee for cracks and clogs.
- We clean the effluent filter.
- We note the sludge level so you know how fast the tank fills.
- If the lids are deep, we suggest a riser so the next visit starts at the surface.
The usual advice is a pump-out every 3 to 5 years. The full routine, and what changes it, is on our septic tank pumping page.
When to call for septic pumping in Raleigh
Do not wait for a backup. If sewage is already coming up, call any time: our emergency septic service is available 24/7. Otherwise, call when you notice any of these.
- Slow drains in sinks, tubs or toilets
- Gurgling in the pipes after you flush or run water
- Wet or soft spots over the drainfield
- Sewage odors in the house or the yard
- An alarm sounding on a pump system
- You are buying or selling a home on septic
- It has been 3 to 5 years since the last pump-out
- You do not know where your lids are
Septic service in Raleigh, NC: pumping, repair and installation
Septic repair in Raleigh starts with a pump-out and a look inside the tank, to see whether the trouble is roots, the distribution box or the drainfield.
Not sure which you need? Call (919) 481-6929, or read our residential septic service page.
Septic repair in Raleigh: Wake County permits
Septic permits in Raleigh come from Wake County Environmental Services, not the city. A routine pump-out does not need one. A drainfield repair or a replacement tank needs a county repair permit, and a new system needs an improvement permit and construction authorization before anyone digs. The state rules are 15A NCAC 18E.
Buying or selling? North Carolina does not require a septic inspection at sale, but buyers, lenders and agents often ask for one, and the county keeps permit records that an inspector pulls. Our septic inspection page has the details.
Ask about our discounts
* Only one discount can be applied at a time
If five or more houses on your road are pumped on the same trip, the neighborhood discount applies. Ask your neighbors.
Raleigh septic FAQ
What Raleigh homeowners ask before they call.
How often should I pump my septic tank in Wake County?
Every 3 to 5 years for a typical 1,000 gallon household tank. Closer to 3 with a garbage disposal, a big family or a smaller tank. We note the sludge level each visit, so you know when the next is due. More on our septic pumping page.
Do you pump on Saturdays?
Our hours are Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM. If your tank backs up on a weekend, a holiday or at night, call (919) 481-6929 any time, because emergency service is available 24/7.
Can you find my tank if I do not know where it is?
Yes. Finding the lids is part of every pump-out. A county permit drawing for your address helps. If there is none, we start where the sewer line leaves the house and probe the yard, and we dig the lids out if they are buried.
What if my drainfield is wet?
Rain on red clay can leave a yard soggy for days, so a wet spot is not always a failure. A soft, smelly area over the lines that stays wet in dry weather is a warning. Use less water and call us. We check the tank and the flow into the distribution box. If the lines are failing, see drainfield repair and replacement.
Do I need a permit to replace a distribution box?
Most likely yes. The box is part of the drainfield, and drainfield repairs go through a county repair permit with Wake County Environmental Services. The county decides what counts as a repair, so call us first. Our distribution box repair and replacement page explains the job.