Family-owned since 1996
Septic Tank Pumping in the Triangle
We pump septic tanks in Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Johnston, Harnett, Franklin, Granville, Person and Lee counties. Family-owned since 1996, with emergency service available 24/7.
Celebrating 30 Years of Service; Est. 1996
Septic pumping near you in the Triangle
If you are in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex, Chapel Hill, Clayton or anywhere between, we pump in your area. We are family-owned and based in Durham, and most of our work is in Raleigh. Bobby Davis Jr. has 50 years in the trade, and we are fully insured and licensed.
Call (919) 481-6929 and tell us your town. We will ask about the tank and tell you when we can be there. If your tank is backing up now, see our emergency septic service page or call, day or night.
What septic tank pumping includes
Every pump-out follows the same steps.
- We locate the lids. If nothing marks them, we probe from where the sewer line leaves the house until we find them.
- We dig to the lids if there is no riser.
- We pump every compartment. Solids, scum and liquid come out until the tank is empty.
- We check the baffles and the outlet tee. A broken baffle or clogged tee sends solids toward the drainfield.
- We clean the effluent filter. If it is damaged, we tell you.
- We note the sludge level, so you know how fast your tank fills and when to book the next pump-out.
- We suggest a riser if the lids are deep. A riser brings the lid to the surface, so the next visit does not start with a shovel.
Pumping is not a repair. If we find a broken baffle, a failing box or roots, we tell you what we saw and you decide. See our residential septic service and septic repairs pages.
How often to pump a septic tank in NC
For a typical 1,000 gallon household tank, the usual advice in North Carolina is every 3 to 5 years. That is a starting point. Four things move it.
Tank size: a smaller tank fills faster. People in the house: every person adds water and solids. A garbage disposal: it adds solids, so plan on the short end. Years since the last pump-out: a tank nobody has opened since you bought the house is overdue.
Not sure when it was last done? Pump it and set the next date from the sludge level we note. Buying a house on septic? Ask for a septic inspection along with the pump-out.
How much does septic pumping cost?
We do not post one number, because no two tanks are the same. What moves the price: the size of the tank; access, and how much digging it takes to reach the lids; how deep the lids are and whether there is a riser; how long it has been since the last pump-out; and whether there is a second tank.
Call (919) 481-6929 and describe the house. The more you tell us, the closer the answer. A riser is an upfront cost that saves the digging on every visit after. Discounts apply: senior, veteran, neighborhood and multi-tank.
Signs you waited too long
If you see anything in the first list, the tank is probably past due. The second list is what we check while it is open. When the tank is not the whole problem, we move on to drainfield repair and replacement, distribution box repair and replacement or root blockage removal.
- Slow drains and weak flushing
- Gurgling in the pipes
- Sewage odor in the house or the yard
- Wet or soft spots over the drainfield, or a backup
- The baffles, for cracks or breaks
- The outlet tee, for clogs and damage
- The effluent filter, cleaned or flagged
- Flow into the distribution box, to see if the lines are taking water
We offer discounts such as
Ask about our discounts
* Only one discount can be applied at a time
Neighbors on septic? Five or more houses pumped on the same trip qualify for the neighborhood discount.
Senior Discount
Veteran Discount
Neighborhood Discount (5+ houses to qualify)
Multi-tank Discount (2+ tanks pumped at the same time)
Septic pumping near you
Where we pump
Most pumping is in
Based out of
Towns with their own page:
septic pumping in Raleigh, septic pumping in Durham, septic pumping in Cary, septic pumping in Apex, septic pumping in Chapel Hill, septic pumping in Clayton, plus Garner, Holly Springs and Knightdale. We also pump in Angier, Archer Lodge, Bahama, Creedmoor, Franklinton, Fuquay-Varina, Hillsborough, Hurdle Mills, Jordan Lake, Lillington, Louisburg, Morrisville, Pittsboro, Rolesville, Rougemont, Roxboro, Sanford, Timberlake, Wake Forest, Wendell, Willow Spring, Youngsville and Zebulon. Grease traps and lift stations are on our commercial septic service page.
Septic pumping FAQ
What homeowners ask before they book.
How often should I pump my septic tank?
Every 3 to 5 years for a typical 1,000 gallon tank in North Carolina. Sooner with a garbage disposal, a full house or a smaller tank. We note the sludge level at each visit, so you know when the next one is due.
How long does a pump-out take?
It depends on the tank and the access. Lids at the surface or on risers go faster. A tank buried under the yard takes longer, because we find the lids and dig first.
Do I need to be home?
Often not, if we can reach the lids. Stay reachable by phone. If we find a cracked baffle we want to talk to you before we do anything extra. If you want to see inside the tank, be there.
Can you find the lids if I do not know where they are?
Yes. We start where the sewer line leaves the house and probe from there, and we dig the lids out if they are buried. A county permit drawing for your address helps. If the lids are deep, we suggest a riser.
What is an effluent filter?
It is a screen on the outlet side of the tank that catches solids before they reach the drainfield lines. It clogs over time, so we clean it at every pump-out, and if it is damaged we tell you. Not every older tank has one.
What if the tank is full of roots?
Roots in the tank usually mean roots in the lines. We pump the tank, tell you where the roots got in, and check whether the lines and the distribution box are taking water. Getting the roots out is a separate job, see root blockage removal. Willows, sweetgums, maples and oaks near the lines are the usual cause.
Need septic pumping? Call us
Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM, and emergency service is available 24/7. Tell us your town and the size of your tank if you know it.