Septic System Repairs
Septic backups often indicate a problem requiring repair. Issues like missing baffles, roots, or broken lids may go unnoticed until an ADEQ inspection or routine maintenance uncovers them.
For burst or leaking septic lines, we offer comprehensive septic system repairs, including line fixes.
We provide on-site estimates for jobs needing a closer inspection and offer expert advice over the phone. Whether you need a second opinion or have questions about recent service, we’re here to assist.
We can help with tilted or broken inlet and outlet baffles, cracked effluent filters, and the replacement of Orangeburg, cast iron, and root-filled sewer lines running to your septic tank or disposal field. Root invasion at the baffles, through the tank seal, or around septic lids is a common issue in the desert.
Priority Pumping removes roots and reseals your septic tank to make it water-tight again—without the need for a new tank. We also handle issues on the backside of the septic tank, including broken sewer lines, damaged distribution boxes, and problems with leach lines or seepage pits in the disposal field.
Septic System Repair Services
Septic Tank Risers
New septic tank installations come with risers, but many older tanks don’t have them. Septic tank risers bring the access point to ground level or just below, eliminating the need to pay for labor every time your tank needs maintenance pumping. Installing risers before extensive landscaping is smart—it allows us to remove a few lids instead of disrupting your grass, rocks, or stone pavers during service.
When concrete lids crack or break, replacing them with risers is the best solution since concrete lids are no longer widely available. The same goes for the concrete plugs over inspection openings.
Septic Tank Baffles
Baffles are crucial to a septic tank’s function. They protect sewer lines entering and exiting the septic tank by keeping solid waste out. A single-compartment tank has two baffles: an inlet baffle on the inlet line and an outlet baffle on the line leading to the disposal field. Two-compartment tanks also have an internal baffle wall that separates the compartments.
Older septic tanks often had pre-cast concrete baffles attached to the walls, which erode over time. These can be replaced with plastic baffles. Even newer tanks can lose baffles due to poor installation or improper drain cleaning. During maintenance pumping or ADEQ inspections, technicians may find the baffle at the bottom of the tank. For a septic tank to function properly, baffles must be securely attached and in good working condition.
Root Removal from Tank and Sewer Lines
Roots in the desert are relentless. With water so scarce, tree and bush roots seek out any available moisture and nutrients, often infiltrating septic tanks and disposal fields. Roots can travel great distances, breaking through older concrete tank seams, slipping in through unsealed baffles, and even lifting concrete lids to reach the water inside. They can also invade seepage pits and leach lines, causing severe damage that may require septic system repair.
If your home or business relies on a septic system, it’s crucial to know where your tank is located and keep trees and bushes far away from it and the disposal field. It’s not a matter of if roots will damage your system, but when.
Roots are a common issue that often goes undetected until a routine maintenance pumping or ADEQ septic inspection. Address root issues at the first sign, as they can multiply quickly and cause bigger problems. If an inspection reveals roots, the tank is no longer functional because they compromise the watertight seal. The roots must be located, removed, and the tank resealed to restore its functionality.
Do you have roots in your septic tank or leach field? Priority Pumping specializes in septic system repair. Our trained technicians can enter the tank, remove the roots, reseal the area, and prevent future root invasions.
Broken Septic Tank Lids
It’s unfortunate, but concrete septic tank lids can crack and break and need replacement. You might wonder why we don’t just bury them back up. The answer is safety—these lids pose a huge risk!
Concrete lids, often called “plugs,” are the original covers that seal the septic tank while allowing access for maintenance. Over time, trapped gases can deteriorate these lids, making them fragile and prone to breaking. This issue is also common with coffin lid tanks, where the lid forms part of the tank top.
Some tanks were originally poured in place with no access points. We can cut into these tanks and install a septic tank riser to facilitate proper servicing.
Since concrete lids are no longer manufactured, we replace them with septic tank risers and poly lids. If we find a broken lid during service, we’ll inform you immediately. We never cover up a broken lid due to serious safety concerns. There have been tragic accidents involving faulty lids, underscoring the importance of inspecting lids during each service or annually if risers are installed.
Distribution and Junction Box Repair
A d-box is a concrete or plastic box that receives septic effluent from the septic tank. It then distributes the effluent to the network of chambers, leach lines, or seepage pits that make up the disposal field.
The d-box connects to the septic tank via a crossover sewer line. The main sewer line from your house carries all waste to the septic tank through the inlet sewer line. Once the septic tank reaches its operating water level, it appears full, which is normal. When more water enters, an equal amount exits through the outlet baffle into the crossover line, eventually reaching the d-box. The d-box distributes the water evenly to the disposal field.
If your system has only one seepage pit or leach line, you won’t have a d-box. D-boxes connect multiple lines, chambers, or pits and ensure even effluent distribution, extending the life of the disposal field.
Older septic systems or those in high-traffic areas may face d-box issues. Roots can also infiltrate the d-box and block effluent from reaching the disposal field. However, d-boxes are usually easy to repair and might be the reason your system isn’t leaching properly. Before assuming field failure, always check the d-box.
Hot tip: Effluent is the semi-treated water that leaves the back of the septic tank and flows into the disposal field.
Sewer Line Repairs and Replacement
Sewer lines can present all kinds of different issues. Common causes of sewer line failure include crushed or broken pipes, weak connections at joints, root infiltration, collapsed or deteriorated orangeburg pipe or badly corroded cast iron. All of these sewer lines issues can contribute to sewer back up issues inside of your home. Continue on to our Sewer Line Repair and Replacement page for a full overview on the cause and remediation for each of these serious sewer issues.
