Septic tank repair cost

Question

Our septic tank's backing up into the garden and the emptying company reckon the baffle's collapsed. What do repairs like that cost?

Stewart · Accepted Answer

The baffle is to control the amount of excrement that is let through the baffle bit by bit to try and fill the septic tank up equally and evenly to get maximum use the full use of all the septic tank, this can cost from £180 - £300 depending on the baffle but that’s what it would cost for me to do that job but bear in mind that is a blind estimate

Shaun · Answer

A collapsed baffle doesn’t necessarily mean the whole tank needs replacing. It depends whether it’s just the inlet/outlet baffle that’s failed or whether the tank itself is damaged.

As a rough guide, once the tank is emptied and inspected, a straightforward baffle repair/replacement might be around £500–£1,500, depending on access and the type of tank. If the tank structure has cracked or collapsed, costs can rise considerably and replacement may be the better option.

I’d get it emptied, cleaned and properly inspected first before agreeing to a full replacement, as backing up can also be caused by a blocked outlet or failed drainage field.

Daniel · Answer

Hi Tushar, the cost can vary quite a bit depending on the type of septic tank, access and the extent of the damage. If the baffle has collapsed, the tank would normally need to be emptied and inspected first to confirm exactly what's failed and whether the baffle can be repaired or needs replacing.

As a rough guide, a straightforward baffle repair could be a few hundred pounds, but costs can increase if excavation is required or there's damage to the tank, outlet pipework or drainage field. With sewage backing up into the garden, I'd recommend getting it inspected fairly quickly before carrying out any further work.

Happy to take a look and provide a proper quote once the fault has been confirmed.

Kieran · Answer

Hi Tushar,

DK Services (Cheltenham) Limited would recommend inspecting the septic tank and drainage system before giving a repair cost, as a collapsed baffle may not necessarily be the only reason the tank is backing up into the garden.

We would first need to establish the size and type of the existing tank, approximately how old it is, how many people/property bedrooms it currently serves, and when it was last emptied.

We would also want to check the condition of the inlet and outlet, confirm whether the internal baffle has actually failed, and importantly establish whether the existing soakaway/drainage field is still accepting and dispersing the effluent effectively. If the drainage field is saturated, blocked or has reached the end of its useful life, repairing the baffle alone may not resolve the problem.

If you know approximately how long the system has been installed, whether there have been any previous repairs, and whether the backing-up problem has developed gradually or happened suddenly, that would also be useful information.

Once the system has been assessed, we should be able to advise whether a straightforward repair is practical or whether further remedial work is required, and provide an appropriate quotation.

Daniel · Answer

Replacing or retrofitting a broken baffle varies in price, but the precise cost depends heavily on the construction of the tank and the extent of the damage.

Key Cost Factors to Keep in Mind:

​Tank Construction: If it's a GRP/fibreglass or plastic tank, installing a replacement hanging baffle or dip pipe assembly is straightforward. In older concrete or brick tanks, an input or outlet baffle is fairly easy to replace with modern upvc fittings. The tank will need to be pumped out completely and cleaned before a drainage engineer can safely carry out an internal inspection or repair (usually £120 – £250 for a full pump-out if not already done).

​Drainage Field (Soakaway) Impact: When a baffle fails, scum and heavy solids flow straight out into the outlet pipe instead of staying in the main settlement chamber. If solids have washed out and clogged the soakaway pipes, jetting or rebuilding the drainage field may be required.
​A CCTV camera inspection (£150 – £250) is usually the best immediate step to verify whether the soakaway has also failed.

Septic tank repair cost

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