Septic tank pumping
Routine pump-outs for household tanks, whether your lids sit on risers at ground level or need to be dug up first.
What pumping costsPort Orchard & South Kitsap
Septic pumping in Port Orchard, WA
Call one number and we’ll connect you with a local septic company. Tell them what’s going on, get a price, and pick a time.
Free referral line. We don’t pump tanks ourselves. The company you’re connected with does the work, and we’re paid for the referral.
What you can call about
Inspections and home sales
The three-year inspection for gravity systems, yearly checks on alternative systems, and the inspection you need before selling a house.
Inspection rules in KitsapAlarms and backups
A beeping alarm panel, slow drains all over the house, sewage smells, or water coming up through a floor drain.
What to do right nowHow the call works
Call (302) 212-0798
We connect your call to a septic company that serves your area.
Explain what you need
Routine pumping, an alarm, or a home sale. Have your address ready, and your tank size if you know it. It’s on your record drawing.
Get a price and a time
Ask for the total before a truck is sent, and ask whether the company is certified by Kitsap Public Health. You schedule and pay the septic company directly.
What pumping takes out of your tank
Everything that goes down a drain ends up in the tank and separates into layers. Grease and oils float to the top as scum. Solids sink to the bottom as sludge. Only the clear liquid in the middle should flow out to the drainfield.
Pumping empties the tank, scum and sludge included, before those layers reach the outlet. Solids that get carried out to the drainfield clog the soil, and replacing a drainfield costs many times more than a pump-out.
The EPA’s rule of thumb is to pump when the bottom of the scum is within 6 inches of the outlet, or the top of the sludge is within 12 inches. Household tanks typically need it every 3 to 5 years.
Signs it’s time to call
- Several drains in the house are slow at the same time.
- Toilets or pipes gurgle after you run water.
- You smell sewage near the tank, over the drainfield, or inside.
- The ground over the drainfield is soggy, or the grass there is greener than the rest of the yard.
- Water comes up in the lowest drain, like a basement floor drain or shower.
- The alarm panel is beeping or its light is on.
- It’s been more than three years since anyone inspected a gravity system.
What affects the price
Tank size
Pricing usually starts from a base amount for a set number of gallons. A bigger tank, a second tank, or a pump chamber adds to it.
Getting to the lids
Lids on risers at ground level are quick to open. Buried lids have to be found and dug up first.
Access for the truck
A steep driveway, a long hose run, or a tank far from where the truck can park adds time.
Inspection and county report
If you need an inspection filed with Kitsap Public Health, that’s often a separate line on the bill.
Timing
After-hours and weekend emergency calls usually cost more than a scheduled visit.
Ask for the full price, including any dig-out, inspection or filing fees, before the truck is sent. More on septic pumping costs
Areas covered
Port Orchard and the rest of South Kitsap, including:
- Port Orchard
- Manchester
- Southworth
- Olalla
- Burley
- Gorst
- Sunnyslope
- Long Lake
- McCormick Woods
- Glenwood
Questions people ask
Is this a septic company?
No. Port Orchard Septic Connect is a referral line. We connect your call to an independent septic company, and that company does the work and bills you.
Does it cost anything to call?
No. We’re paid for the referral, and we don’t add anything to your bill.
How do I know the company is qualified?
Kitsap Public Health certifies septic pumpers, installers and maintenance specialists. Ask the company whether they’re certified, or check the Health District’s list of septic contractors.
How often does a septic system need an inspection?
Kitsap Public Health requires a gravity system to be inspected every three years by a certified septic professional. Systems with pumps, treatment units or other parts beyond a basic gravity setup need an inspection at least once a year, and the owner needs an annual maintenance contract. More on inspections
How do I find my tank?
Start with your property’s record drawing, which Kitsap Public Health keeps on file. Our guide to finding your septic tank covers the records search and what to look for in the yard.
What if the system needs a repair?
The septic company will explain what they found and whether the repair needs a permit. Kitsap Public Health lists financing options for repairs, including the Craft3 septic loan program and Rural Repair and Rehabilitation loans and grants.
Need a pump-out or an inspection?
One call connects you with a septic company serving South Kitsap.