Plumbing emergencies will keep the average homeowner up at night. If you’ve ever had the rank smell of sewage in your basement, you understand these vivid nightmares. You need help immediately, and only one person can do the job.
They come riding unto your property in their big, smelly trucks with a large tank and equally fat hose.
The right septic cleaning company will do its job, and life will go on seamlessly. The wrong septic cleaning company will cost you more down the road and will cause headaches that will last for years.
Here are a few basic things to remember when picking the right septic cleaning company.
Licensed
Above all else, you want to hire a company with septic cleaning experience and the proper septic cleaning equipment.
Your septic system consists of several parts. It’s not just a simple holding tank on your property. Rather it has all kinds of pipes, coming to and from it along with the pumps that send waste out to it.
A good septic tank cleaning company understands all the parts and how to care for them. If they do not understand septic systems, then they can cause irreparable damage that will cost you thousands of dollars in repair and damage control in time.
So make sure the company you choose has ample experience pumping septic tanks.
You can verify their experience by asking them about their license and certification. Proper certification requires more than just filling out paperwork and signing a document.
While licensing requirements vary from state to state, generally speaking, operators must usually be 18 years old and either work for or own a certified septic removal company.
Often states require operators to pass a written or oral test that proves they understand the proper procedure for pumping and cleaning a tank as well as removing and disposing of its waste contents. Some states even have levels of certification, with an additional level requiring knowledge of different disposal methods.
Usually, states require recertification within a given time frame, two years or less. Some places even limit the jurisdiction under which septic cleaning operators can work unless the local board of health gives them special permission.
Insured
Your septic cleaning tank company must have insurance. If you find a company that is sending you an extremely low estimate for cleaning, ask them if they’re insured.
Even experienced companies have caused property damage. When this happens, the septic cleaning company’s insurance will cover the damage. If the company does not have insurance, you’re on the hook for hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars worth of damage.
If anyone from the septic cleaning company sustains an injury while on your property, their insurance will cover their medical bills. If the company does not have insurance, then you may be liable for their bills.
Insurance will give you peace of mind, so make sure the company has proper liability insurance.
Respected
Cleaning septic tanks is not for the faint of heart. You want someone who understands the job and knows how to work hard. To find the most respected septic tank cleaning company, look for references and reviews.
Ask around your community for the most trusted septic tank cleaners. Your neighbors have stories. Ask older and younger members of the community as both will have experience with septic tank cleaners.
Do a quick Google search as well and look at the online reviews. What are others saying about the septic tank cleaning companies in your area? Are they prompt, thorough, and affordable?
Then make a couple of calls to different companies. Ask about prices and services. Ultimately, while customer service is nice, their ability to clean your tank thoroughly and promptly for an affordable price matters more than anything else.
Affordable
You have to have your septic tank pumped. There’s no avoiding this task. You do not have to pay more than you should, though, for this essential service.
So when you’re looking for the best septic tank cleaning company, you should spend a little bit of time comparing cleaning fees. If you have an average tank of 1,000 to 3,000 gallons, then plan on spending between $250 and $600 to have your tank pumped.
The fees vary from location to location.
There is good news. If you have a normal septic system without any complications, you should need your tank pumped only every three to five years. Plan on having a septic cleaning company inspect the tank every one to three years, though, to make sure nothing has compromised it.
Inspections matter. Many a homeowner has heard stories of the septic tank that collapsed at the most inopportune time. When this happens, the replacement costs far outweigh the annual inspection costs.
Do not neglect any septic pumping and inspection you need to be done annually. Wait no longer than three years for this service.
Quality Customer Service
A great septic cleaning company will have equally great customer service. They will arrive at your place wearing professional clothing and not an old t-shirt and holey jeans. They’ll carry a level of self-respect with themselves because they know their job matters.
The best septic cleaning company will have operators that are polite and respond quickly to your concerns. You want a company that understands they’re dealing with people and not just the materials in your tank.
Choose Your Septic Cleaning Company Wisely
The individuals who own a septic cleaning company understand hard work. These are the guys that deserve great respect because they keep our world functioning at a first-world level. They prevent water-borne diseases and sewage-related problems that could destroy an ecosystem.
So as you look at a septic cleaning company, look for the company with the best reputation, most affordable prices, proper licensing and insurance, and winning smiles. You’ll have landed on a real gem of a company that you can call in the middle of a disaster or just every three years when you need your septic tank pumped.
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