Septic Tank Replacement
Replacing failing, cracked, collapsed, or undersized septic tanks — including safe removal of the old tank and proper connection to your existing disposal field.
Septic tanks do not last forever. Older concrete tanks deteriorate, steel tanks rust through, lids and baffles fail, and tanks installed decades ago are often simply too small for the house that now sits on the lot. When a tank reaches that point, replacing it is usually far less expensive than dealing with what happens if it is left alone.
We replace septic tanks throughout the Greater Moncton area — removing the old tank properly, setting the new one correctly, and reconnecting to your existing disposal field so the system works as a whole.
Signs your tank may need replacing
- Standing water or soggy ground over or near the tank, particularly during dry weather.
- Sewage odour around the tank area or near the house.
- Slow drains throughout the house that return shortly after pumping.
- Backups into the lowest fixtures in the home.
- A tank that needs pumping far more often than it used to — frequently a sign of cracking and groundwater infiltration.
- Visible damage — a cracked or crumbling lid, deteriorating concrete, or a lid that no longer sits properly.
- Depressions or soft spots in the ground above the tank, which can indicate the tank is failing structurally.
A safety note worth taking seriously. Never enter a septic tank, and keep children and animals away from a tank with a damaged or missing lid. The gases inside are lethal and act quickly. If a lid is cracked or has shifted, cover the opening securely and call for service — this is not a repair to postpone.
Tank replacement versus full system replacement
This is the question worth answering before any work begins, because the two jobs differ substantially in cost.
If the tank has failed but the disposal field is still functioning, replacing the tank alone is often the right call. The field is the expensive component; if it is sound, there is no reason to disturb it.
If the disposal field itself has stopped accepting effluent — surfacing sewage over the field area, persistent saturation, backups that continue after the tank is pumped and inspected — a new tank will not solve the problem. In that case the honest answer is a new system, and we will tell you so rather than sell you a tank that does not fix anything.
Part of our job is figuring out which situation you are actually in. We would rather spend the time diagnosing it correctly than have you pay twice.
How the replacement works
Assessment
We inspect the existing tank and evaluate the condition of the disposal field to confirm that a tank replacement is the appropriate fix, and to determine what size and type of tank the property requires.
Pumping and removal
The existing tank is pumped out and removed. Abandoned tanks cannot simply be left buried in place — an empty tank is a collapse hazard and must be dealt with properly.
Excavation and preparation
The excavation is prepared with a level, stable base. A tank set on uneven or poorly compacted ground will shift, and a shifted tank does not function correctly.
Setting the new tank
The new tank is set, levelled, and connected to both the inlet line from the house and the outlet line to the disposal field. Correct elevations at both ends are what allow the tank to separate solids the way it is designed to.
Backfill and restoration
The site is backfilled, compacted appropriately, and graded so water drains away from the tank area. We leave the site tidy.
Sizing the replacement correctly
A common finding on older properties is that the original tank was sized for a smaller house than the one standing there now. Septic tank capacity is determined by the number of bedrooms in the home, and additions made over the years often push a house past what the original tank was built to handle.
If your home has been added to since the system went in, the replacement may need to be larger than what you are taking out. We check this rather than assuming a like-for-like swap.
Serving southeastern New Brunswick
We handle septic tank replacements across Greater Moncton and the surrounding communities of southeastern New Brunswick, based in Steeves Mountain. Call (506) 233-6272 to discuss what you are seeing on your property.
Still working through the details? Our septic FAQ answers 397 questions about systems in New Brunswick — rules, sizing, costs, maintenance and troubleshooting.
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Serving homeowners, builders, and property owners throughout Greater Moncton and southeastern New Brunswick.