Septic Repair in Ocala, FL
Not every septic problem means a new system. Broken baffles, cracked lids, failed pumps and blocked lines can often be fixed. Tell us the symptoms and a local septic contractor will diagnose it.
Free, no-obligation estimate from a local septic contractor.
Common repairs
What usually goes wrong
Baffles and effluent filters
Baffles at the tank inlet and outlet keep scum and solids from flowing out to the drainfield. A broken outlet baffle or clogged filter can make drains back up even when the tank isn’t full.
Lids, risers and cracked tanks
Old concrete lids crack and settle. A cracked tank can let groundwater in or sewage out, which matters a lot on Florida’s high water table.
Pumps, floats and alarms
Pump-dosed and aerobic systems have electrical parts. EPA says systems with pumps or floats should be checked every year. An alarm usually means a pump or float has failed. See pump & alarm repair.
Blocked or broken lines
Roots, settling or a crushed pipe between the house and the tank, or between the tank and the drainfield, can cause backups that look like a full tank.
Sources: EPA, How to care for your septic system; UF/IFAS, Your septic system.
Permits
Does a septic repair need a permit?
Many do. Florida DEP issues permits for repairs and modifications to septic systems, and in Marion County DEP handles those permits directly. Replacing a pump or a lid is usually treated differently from replacing a tank or a drainfield, so ask your contractor which category your job falls in and who will pull the permit.
If your home is in the Silver Springs or Rainbow Springs priority area, a repair that rises to a full replacement may trigger an upgrade to a nitrogen-reducing system. DEP’s rules and map decide that, so ask for it in writing. More on the springs rules.
Sources: Florida DEP, Onsite sewage permitting FAQ; Florida DEP, requirements for existing septic systems.
Questions to ask before you approve a repair
- Are you registered with Florida DEP as a septic contractor?
- What exactly failed, and can you show me?
- Does this repair need a DEP permit, and is the permit in your price?
- Is this a repair, or is the system near the end of its life?
- Will this trigger a springs-area upgrade on my lot?
- What warranty comes with the work?
Questions
Septic repair FAQ
How much do septic repairs cost?
Can I repair my own septic system?
My alarm is going off. What should I do?
Get a quote from a local septic pro
Tell us what’s happening with your system and where you are. A local Ocala-area septic contractor will follow up with an estimate. There’s no cost and no obligation.