Septic questions, answered straight
These are the questions Malabar and Palm Bay homeowners ask us most. If yours isn't here, call the office — we'd rather spend five minutes on the phone than have you guessing about a system you can't see.
Call (321) 724-4357Are you licensed, insured, and certified for septic work?
Yes. Palm Bay Septic Inc. is a licensed and insured septic contractor working throughout Brevard County, and the work is done by our own trained technicians rather than handed to a stranger. If you'd like to see our credentials before we start, ask when you call and we'll go over them with you — checking is a reasonable thing to do before letting anyone dig up your yard.
What should I expect during a septic system inspection?
We locate the tank, uncover the access lids and open them. From there we look at liquid level, sludge and scum depth, the condition of the inlet and outlet baffles, and how the drainfield is taking water. On an aerobic unit we also check the air pump, floats, alarm and control panel.
Then comes the part customers mention most in their reviews: we call you over and physically show you what's inside. You see the same thing the technician sees, hear what it means in plain language, and get our honest read on what needs doing now versus what can wait.
How often should my septic tank be pumped?
Every three to five years suits most Brevard households, but the honest answer depends on your tank size, how many people live in the home, whether you run a garbage disposal, and how much water the system handles day to day. A two-person household with a large tank can go longer; a full house on a small tank often can't.
Rather than sell you a schedule, we show you the sludge layer at the visit. Once you've seen how much your tank actually accumulates, the right interval for your house is easy to set — and we'll tell you if you called us out sooner than you needed to.
What are the signs my septic system needs repair?
Call us when you notice any of the following:
- Drains that empty slowly all over the house, or toilets that gurgle
- Sewage odor indoors, near the tank, or over the drainfield
- Soggy ground or unusually green, fast-growing grass above the field
- Wastewater backing up into tubs or floor drains
- An alarm sounding or a warning light on an aerobic control panel
Symptoms like these can point to several different causes, which is why we diagnose before we quote — replacing the easiest part rarely fixes the actual problem.
Do you service both standard and aerobic septic systems?
Yes — conventional tank-and-drainfield systems and aerobic treatment units both. ATUs bring air pumps, floats, alarms and a control panel into the picture, so they need a technician comfortable with the electrical side as well as the tank. Maintaining complex aerobic systems and correcting faults inherited from a previous installation is steady work for our crew, and we'll walk you through how your unit is supposed to behave so the panel on the wall stops being a mystery.
See all septic servicesStill have a question about your system?
Call the office Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.