Service
Septic Tank and Cesspit Services
At Lanes, we have all the expertise you need to keep your septic tank and cesspits operating efficiently, along with nationwide cover and a full range of specialist septic tank and cesspit services.
Septic tanks and cesspits are the most popular way of managing wastewater for properties that can’t connect to the public sewer system – but owners of septic tanks should understand what it means to be responsible for keeping them in good working order.
We’re on call 24/7 from our depots throughout the country. We can help with pre-planned maintenance programmes and installation work, as well as responding to any emergency calls quickly.
Our team of highly-trained professionals can install a new septic tank on your property, or empty and clean an existing tank with the aid of our top-of-the-line tanker fleet. Whatever your needs, we have solutions to carry out any work with minimum disruption to you.
If you have a septic tank or cesspit issue that you’d like us to manage, don’t hesitate to call us straight away on 0800 526 488 for a free quotation. You can also fill out our online enquiry form to request a call back at your convenience.
To learn more about what we can do, browse our full range of domestic septic tank and cesspit services below:
Septic Tank Emptying and Cleaning
Septic tanks need to be emptied out regularly to keep them working smoothly and prevent major hygiene issues. Using a powerful combination of vacuumation and tanker equipment, our septic tank emptying and cleaning services are efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sensitive at the same time.
Septic Tank Installation
Lanes offers advice and assistance with septic tank installations. From beginning to end, we make sure we minimise the amount of fuss, mess or disruption for you, taking care of the heavy lifting and figuring out the best septic tank solution for your household. We also oversee the installation and provide you with long-term maintenance support.
Septic Tank Installation
We also offer a full range of support services to help householders to install their septic tank efficiently with minimum disruption. Our dedicated teams have been doing this since day one, so you can be sure you’re in expert hands.
Installing a septic tank is an essential wastewater management option for isolated properties or those unable to connect to the public sewer system. But the process of installing one can be complex, and must take into account factors such as geology and ground conditions.
For more information on our septic tank installation services or a free quotation, call us today on 0800 526 488. You can also complete our online enquiry form to request a call back at your convenience.
Assessment, Surveying and Procurement
Lanes is an ideal partner to identify the best location for your septic tank and to find the right unit to meet your needs.
We will specify a location that won’t interfere with your existing infrastructure and will accommodate a sufficiently-sized drainage field. We will also source the right model and size of tank, based on the likely wastewater output of your property.
Lanes is happy to be involved with any part of the process, from specifying and sourcing the tank, to installing and maintaining it.
Installation and Maintenance Services
With depots across the country, we’re able to send our technicians out to homes anywhere in the UK to provide professional septic tank installation that complies fully with all current regulations.
Installing your septic tank isn’t the end of our talents. We offer ongoing service maintenance agreements for regular emptying of tanks in the longer term. We will, of course, also give you advice and maintenance tips on how to avoid back-ups, blockages and odour issues in the future.
Septic Tank Emptying and Cleaning
If you need your septic tank emptying or cleaning, give the experts at Lanes Drainage Services UK a call. As leading drainage contractors and registered waste handlers, we can help you empty your septic tanks safely and responsibly, using a combination of powerful vacuumation and tankering equipment, and get everything back in optimal working order.
Septic tanks can play a vital role in helping your household deal with wastewater in a way that’s efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly. But they also need to be cleaned and maintained regularly to avoid costly problems from arising.
With a network of 20 depots and a fleet of advanced 3,000 and 4,000-gallon tankers operating across the country, Lanes are well placed to deliver the support you need to keep your septic tank well-maintained and in top condition.
For more information or a free quotation, call us on 0800 526 488, or fill in our online enquiry form to request a call back.
Does my septic tank need emptying?
Septic tanks need to be emptied regularly to prevent the significant health and environmental risks that can ensue when the tank overflows or malfunctions.
The following telltale signs may demonstrate that your septic tank needs to be emptied:
- Pooling water around the drain field of your septic tank which suggests that the piping system is clogged and liquid is being forced to the surface
- Issues with slow-draining sinks and toilets that cannot be resolved by unblocking the drain in question
- Foul or unusual odours in the area of the septic tank
- Unusually vigorous plant growth in the area around the tank
- Overflowing sludge or scum on the water, for systems where sewage flows into water.
The question of how often a septic tank should be emptied is difficult to answer definitively, as this will depend on how many people are living in the household, and how often the tank is used.
However, as a general rule, emptying the tank once a year can be a good guideline.
For more information on looking after your septic tank, check out our septic tank maintenance guide or our guidance on cesspit maintenance.
How can Lanes help?
If your septic tank is full and in need of cleaning and emptying, leave it to the expert team at Lanes Drainage Services UK. As the UK’s leading privately owned specialist drainage contractor, we offer an unrivalled tankering service that allows us to remove and dispose of vast quantities of sludge and slurry from overflowing septic tanks with a minimum of fuss.
Aided by our state-of-the-art vacuumation equipment, our septic tank and cesspit emptying services can deliver optimum results with minimal disruption to you.
We also offer a septic tank cleaning service, in which our qualified professionals use jet vacuumation to clear all of the lines into the tank, check the soakaway and – if necessary- clear any debris around it, even if a man-entry clean is needed to do so.
Further Information
If your property has a septic tank, it’s important to keep up to date with the relevant rules, regulations and responsibilities – especially if they change.
Recent legislative updates, which came into force in January 2020, make it illegal for septic tanks to discharge directly into a watercourse – this must be remedied by connecting to the main sewer network, creating a drainage field or installing a sewage treatment plant.
The law applies to houses with existing septic tanks as well as newly-built properties, so make sure you have complied – you could be fined up to £100,000 if not.
For more information, consult the official government guidance on this legislation. You can also check out our homeowners’ guide to septic tanks, our advice on the essentials of septic tank maintenance, or download our septic tank best practice guide.
If you have any other questions, give Lanes a call on 0800 526 488.
FAQs
Most septic tank installations can be completed within a week or two, with some of the quickest installations being finished in under a week. However, it’s important to remember that the length of the installation could vary, depending on factors such as:
- The size of your septic tank
- The conditions around the installation site
- Whether or not the site is easily accessible
- Weather-related disruptions
By getting in touch with Lanes Drainage Services UK, we can provide you with a more accurate estimate of how long the installation will take, after reviewing the conditions around your home.
You will not usually need to vacate your property while the septic tank installation is taking place, as Lanes will work to install and get the new tank up and running before capping off and removing the old one.
Our aim is always to minimise any disruption to you, which means that in the vast majority of cases, you will be able to stay within your home and continue using your drains during the installation process unless there is a specific reason why this would not be possible.
The cost of a septic tank installation depends on a number of potential factors, including the type, size and planned location of the septic tank, the drainage requirements involved, and whether or not an existing tank needs to be removed. The decision to invest in an underground tank rather than an above-ground tank will also affect the cost of installation.
To get a quote on how much it will cost to install your septic tank, contact Lanes Drainage Services UK. We can provide you with an accurate estimate by assessing your specific requirements and conditions.
You need to be aware that legislation came into effect in January 2020 prohibiting septic tanks from discharging directly into a watercourse, regardless of whether you are a new or existing septic tank owner.
To comply with these new rules, you must connect to the main sewer network, set up a drainage field, or convert your tank into a sewage treatment plant. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £100,000 so it is vital to make sure your property is fully compliant.
To make sure you are in the know and have all the latest up-to-date information, consult the official government guidance. You can also check out the Lanes guide to the essentials of septic tank maintenance, or download our septic tank best practice guide.
For any other queries, call us on 0800 526 488 or use our online enquiry form.
As with any drainage maintenance problem, prevention is better than a cure, so it’s important to take basic steps to reduce the likelihood of septic tank blockages and other issues.
The most important advice is to ensure that the tank is not damaged by washing harmful objects or substances down the drain. When flushing the toilet, its contents should be restricted to the so-called Three Ps – pee, poo and paper – which means no period care products, food waste, fats, oils, grease or anything else should ever go into the pipes.
Even aggressive cleaning products can have a negative impact, meaning care should be taken when using these. The same is true when undertaking DIY septic tank cleaning – this should only ever be done with careful reference to the manufacturer’s guidance.