Septic Tank Emptying
Regular emptying of domestic and commercial septic tanks across Cornwall. Whoever does it must be a registered waste carrier. Most standard tanks take under an hour.
From £150Tank backing up, soakaway saturated, or weird smells in the garden? Here's how septic tank problems are diagnosed in Cornwall, what repairs typically cost, and when replacing makes more sense.
Most septic tank failures aren't the tank itself — they're the soakaway / drainage field. When the ground around the soakaway gets saturated (often after years of use or extended heavy rain — common on Cornwall's clay soils), effluent stops draining away, and you start seeing pooling, slow drains, or sewage backing up.
Other common issues include:
A CCTV drain survey usually pinpoints the cause quickly. Repairs range from a few hundred pounds (pipe replacement, baffle repair) to several thousand (soakaway rebuild) or a full system replacement (£3,000+).
If your septic tank's playing up, get it diagnosed first by a local firm, and ask them to say plainly whether repair or replacement makes more sense.
We’re an independent guide, not a septic tank company. These are the honest options; pick whichever suits you.
Anyone who takes septic tank waste away must be a registered waste carrier. Whichever local firm you find, look it up on the Environment Agency’s public register before you book.
Ask for the firm’s waste carrier registration and check it, get a written price that says what’s included (disposal, hose length, access), and ask for a waste transfer note once the job is done.
Leave your details and we’ll try to introduce you to one local septic tank firm covering your postcode. We’re still looking for local firms to work with, so we may not have one for your area yet. We’ll tell you who before sharing anything, and septic tank firms may pay us for introductions.
Whatever else is going on below ground at your Cornwall property, here’s what each job involves and what it typically costs. Or stick with septic tank repairs — your call.
Regular emptying of domestic and commercial septic tanks across Cornwall. Whoever does it must be a registered waste carrier. Most standard tanks take under an hour.
From £150Full cesspit pump-outs for sealed systems. Cesspits need emptying far more often than septic tanks, so the running cost adds up.
From £120New septic tank or treatment plant installation, fully compliant with the General Binding Rules 2020. Survey, install, commission: what a full job includes.
From £3,000Tank backing up, soakaway saturated, weird smells in the garden? Diagnosis via CCTV, then repair or replace: how to decide.
From £150 (survey)Blocked or slow-running drains cleared fast using high-pressure jetting. From kitchen sinks to main sewer lines.
From £80Camera inspections to diagnose blockages, root ingress, collapsed pipes, and drainage issues before they become expensive problems. A written report should be part of it.
From £150Prices depend on tank size, access, and your exact location. These are guides, not quotes: always get a written price before work starts.
Standard domestic tank (up to 2,700L). Price varies by access and distance.
Sealed cesspit pump-out. Larger cesspits (10,000L+) quoted individually.
High-pressure jetting. Most domestic blockages cleared in under an hour.
Out-of-hours and weekend work, where a firm has capacity. Ask for the price before they set off.
Find your nearest town guide for local access issues, typical prices and what to expect.
Everything you need to know about septic tank repairs in Cornwall.
Common signs include slow-draining sinks and toilets, soggy ground or pooling water over the soakaway, foul odours near the tank or drainage field, gurgling sounds in the plumbing, and sewage backing up into the property. If you see any of these, get it looked at before it escalates — a full backup can damage the tank, contaminate the property, and breach environmental rules.
Costs vary widely with the diagnosis. CCTV survey: £150–£250. Minor repairs (pipe replacement, baffle repair): £500–£1,500. Soakaway rebuild: £2,000–£5,000. Full tank replacement: £3,000+. A CCTV survey is almost always the right first step — diagnose accurately before spending on repairs.
Depends on the issue. Concrete cracks can sometimes be sealed if caught early; corroded steel tanks usually need replacing. Soakaway failures are often the issue rather than the tank itself, and a rebuild fixes that without touching the tank. A good specialist should give an honest call after surveying — sometimes a full replacement is cheaper than repeated repairs on a worn-out system.
Minor repairs (pipe, baffle): often same day. CCTV surveys: usually 1–2 hours. Soakaway rebuilds: 1–3 days. Tank replacement: 2–5 days. Sewage backing up into the property is an emergency; say so when you ring.
Most building insurance policies exclude drainage and septic tank repairs as 'wear and tear' or 'gradual damage'. Some specialist policies do cover sudden damage (e.g., a tree root smashing a pipe). Check your specific policy schedule. Most firms can provide quotes and survey reports you can submit to insurers.