When a septic system backs up, somebody has to dig. We expose the tank, lines or drainfield, do the excavation the repair needs, and backfill and grade the yard when the work is done.
Septic Repair in Boise and the Treasure Valley
A septic problem rarely announces itself politely. Drains slow down, a toilet gurgles, the yard smells or a patch of grass over the drainfield turns soggy and bright green. Once you know something's wrong, the fix usually involves digging.
We handle the excavation side of septic repair for homes in Boise, Kuna, Star, Middleton, Parma, Homedale, Nampa and Caldwell. Our job is the digging, the pipe and the backfill. Diagnosing the problem and pumping the tank are separate trades.
Start With the Cause
Before anyone digs, find out what's actually wrong. A septic service can pump the tank, look at the baffles and tell you whether the problem is in the tank, the line from the house, the line to the drainfield or the drainfield itself. Each one is a different repair at a different price. It's worth getting that answer first, and we're happy to work from it.
Repairs That Involve Digging
The line from the house to the tank. Pipe can crack, sag or fill with roots. We dig down the run, replace the bad section and set it with steady fall so it drains. If you also suspect trouble beyond the tank, our sewer line trenching page covers that kind of work.
Tank lids, risers and baffles. A buried tank is hard to service. We dig down to the lids and can set risers up to ground level so the next pumping doesn't turn into a dig. If a cracked tank or lid has to be replaced, we excavate around it and set the new one.
The line to the drainfield and the distribution box. Shifted boxes and broken pipe send water unevenly and drown one part of the field while the rest sits dry. We expose the box and pipe, level or replace what's damaged and cover it again.
The drainfield. When the soil in the field is clogged for good, the answer is often a new drainfield. That's a bigger job, and the permit and the design come first. See our septic system installation page for how that goes.
Permits and the Health District
Repairs and replacements are regulated like new systems in many cases. Central District Health handles septic permits in Ada County. Southwest District Health covers Canyon and Owyhee counties. Before a repair, find out what the district requires, and whether an inspection has to happen before we cover the work. We don't pull the septic permit or design the system, and we'll tell you if a job needs an engineer or a licensed septic installer in addition to us.
Finding the Tank and the Lines
Sometimes the hardest part is finding what's buried. Old records from the health district can show the tank and drainfield layout, and a probe rod helps us find the tank with less digging. If you don't know where your system is, tell us, and we'll start with what the records show.
Working in Your Yard
Machines are heavy, and a septic system is the last place you want to drive over. We keep traffic off the tank and drainfield except where we have to dig, and we put spoil piles where they won't bury lids or lines. In tight yards, we'll talk through the route with you before we dig. When the repair is done, we backfill, compact the trench so it doesn't sink and grade the area so water runs off it.
After a Repair
Keep vehicles and sheds off the drainfield and trees away from the lines. Pump the tank on a regular schedule, and keep downspouts and sump pumps from draining onto the field. Those habits help a repaired system last.
Why Call Ultimate Excavation LLC
We're an Idaho registered contractor (RCE-65836) based in Caldwell, with a 5.0 rating on Google. For a repair, you'll hear what we think the dig involves before we start. Call (208) 697-2429 or request a free estimate.
