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Drainworks vacuum truck pumping a septic tank in a Connecticut yard
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Septic · West CT branch

Septic pumping in Plymouth, CT

Priced by tank size, so you know the cost before the truck rolls. Every pump-out includes 12 inches of digging, a cleaned filter and a written condition report.

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West CT · call or text(860) 248-6262
Instant price
Price my pump-out
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How big is your tank?
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starting from
$446
A starting estimate, before tax. A real person confirms your price before anything is scheduled.
From$4461,000-gallon pump-out
12INOf digging included
150FTOf hose on every truck
3–5YRSBetween pump-outs in CT

What is included

More than a pump-out.

  • 12 inches of diggingWe find the lids and dig down 12 inches at no charge. Deeper lids start from $65 a foot by hand, up to 2 feet.
  • Every compartment pumpedBoth sides of a two-compartment tank. Heavy solids get extra mixing from $80 a cycle, only when the tank needs it.
  • Filter cleanedIf your tank has an outlet filter, we pull it, rinse it and reset it while the tank is open.
  • Written condition reportWhat we saw inside: baffles, liquid levels and anything that needs attention before it fails.
  • 150 feet of hoseEnough to reach most tanks from the driveway. Longer runs start from $55 for each extra 30 feet.
  • Yard put backIf we dig, we backfill and seed the disturbed area before we leave.
Drainworks technician probing a lawn to find the septic tank lids
Finding the lids before the pump-out

Starting prices

Priced by tank size.

Starting prices are set by the size of your tank. Disposal, filter cleaning, the condition report and 12 inches of digging are included.

Extra digging, per foot
From $65
Extra hose, per 30 feet
From $55
Extra mixing, per cycle
From $80
Frozen ground, winter
From $299
Tank cannot be found or reached
From $99
Septic pumping starting prices · Drainworks 2026 pricebook
ServiceWhat it coversStarting at
Up to 1,000 gallons
3 bedrooms
The most common Connecticut tank, including older 750-gallon tanks.
From$446
Estimate
Get a quote →
1,250 gallons
4 bedrooms
Larger homes and newer systems.
From$477
Estimate
Get a quote →
1,500 gallons
5 bedrooms
Large homes and big two-compartment tanks.
From$524
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2,000 gallons
6+ bedrooms
Multi-family homes and small businesses.
From$606
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2,500 gallons
Commercial
Offices, shops and larger systems.
From$668
Estimate
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3,000 to 5,000 gallons
Commercial
From $787 for 3,000 gallons to $1,117 for 5,000.
From$787
Estimate
Get a quote →

Prices are per pump-out, before tax. Septic Protection Plan and Family Protection Plan members get a scheduled pump-out every two years as part of the plan. Member prices are for Septic Plan and Family Plan members. Starting prices from our 2026 pricebook. A real person confirms your price before anything is scheduled.

Know the signs

Six signs your tank is full.

Any one of these means it is time to book a pump-out. Two or more at once means book today.

Slow drains across the house

When every sink and tub drains slowly at once, the tank is usually full, not one pipe.

Gurgling pipes and toilets

Air pushed back up the drains is a sign the wastewater has nowhere to go.

Sewage smell in the yard

Odor near the tank or leach field often means the tank is overdue or a cover is cracked.

Soggy, bright green grass

A wet patch over the leach field can mean effluent is surfacing. Call before it spreads.

Backup in the lowest drain

A basement floor drain or first-floor toilet backing up is the most urgent sign.

Septic alarm sounding

Pump chambers have a high-water alarm. Silence it, limit water use and call us.

How often to pump

Every 3 to 5 years, adjusted for your home.

Connecticut guidance is every three to five years. Household size and tank size move that number, so here it is for yours.

Pump your tankEvery 2.6 years

Based on 4 people and a 1,000-gallon tank.

Request a pump-out
Years between pump-outs · Penn State Extension estimates
People750 gal1,000 gal1,250 gal1,500 gal
19.112.415.618.9
24.25.97.59.1
32.63.74.85.9
41.82.63.44.2
51.32.02.63.3
6+1.01.52.02.6

How it works

Locate. Pump. Inspect. Report.

About an hour on site for a typical tank. You do not need to be home if we can reach the lids.

  1. 01

    Locate

    We find the tank and uncover the lids. A probe or flushable locator finds tanks nobody has marked.

  2. 02

    Pump

    Every compartment is pumped and the solids are mixed so nothing heavy is left behind.

  3. 03

    Inspect

    Baffles, the outlet filter and liquid levels are checked while the tank is open.

  4. 04

    Report

    You get a written condition report, and the yard is backfilled and seeded if we dug.

Watch

Is my septic tank full?

How a septic tank works, and the signs that it needs pumping. Recorded by the Drainworks crew.

Is my septic tank full?How a septic tank works, and the signs that it needs pumping.

Connecticut rules

What the state expects.

Septic systems in Connecticut are regulated by the Department of Public Health and your local health district. Here is what that means for you.

  • LicensingLicensed septic professionals onlyConnecticut requires septic work by professionals licensed through the Department of Public Health. We hold septic installer license #6174.
  • Pump-outsEvery three to five yearsState guidance is to pump a typical household tank every three to five years. Bigger families and smaller tanks need it sooner.
  • AdditionsB100a reviews before you buildAdding a bedroom, a pool or a garage? Your health district reviews it against your septic system first. We do the soil testing and locating.
  • Water softenersNo backwash into the tankSoftener and filter backwash should not drain into a septic system. It needs its own drywell, which we install.
  • AdditivesPumping beats additivesNo additive replaces pumping. Regular pump-outs are what protect the leach field.
  • Home salesInspections are expectedState law does not require one, but most buyers and lenders ask for a septic inspection before closing.
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Plumbing PLM.0288824-P7 · Septic installer #6174 · Home improvement HIC.0650272

Questions

Septic pumping, answered.

Answers from licensed plumbers and septic installers. Still unsure? Call West CT at (860) 248-6262.

How much does septic pumping cost in Connecticut?
Septic pumping at Drainworks starts from $446 for a tank up to 1,000 gallons, $477 for 1,250 gallons and $524 for 1,500 gallons. That covers disposal, 12 inches of digging, filter cleaning and a written condition report. Deeper digging, extra hose or a winter frost fee can add to it, and a real person confirms your price before anything is scheduled.
How often should I pump my septic tank?
Every three to five years for most homes. A family of four on a 1,000-gallon tank should pump about every two and a half years. The calculator on this page gives a number for your household.
How long does a pump-out take?
About 45 minutes to an hour for a typical 1,000-gallon tank once the lids are uncovered. Buried lids add time for digging.
Do I need to be home?
No, as long as we can reach the tank and the driveway is clear for the truck. We leave the condition report and settle the invoice by phone.
What if you cannot find my tank?
We probe for it by hand, from $65, or use a flushable locator, from $150. If the tank cannot be found or reached, a truck trip charge can apply, from $99.
Can I save money by digging the lids myself?
Yes. If the lids are fully uncovered when we arrive, you get $50 off the invoice.
Should I add risers to my tank?
If your lids are buried, a code-compliant riser brings them to the surface so every future pump-out skips the digging. Risers start from $699 when the lid is already dug.

Membership

Out of sight, out of mind.

Like automatic oil delivery for your septic system. We inspect the tank every year and pump it every other year, without you keeping track.

Compare all three plans →

Septic Protection Plan

Septic only
Worry-free, automatic septic maintenance
$24.16per month · 24 months

Or $579.76 paid up front for the full term.

  • Automatic pump-out every two years
  • Yearly inspection and filter cleaning
  • Priority emergency service, no overtime charges
  • 12 inches of digging included
  • 5% off future septic installs

Tank due? Book it today.

Pump-outs are priced by tank size, with 12 inches of digging included across western Connecticut.

West CT · call or text (860) 248-6262