What a septic service agreement is for
Most septic failures come from neglect, and homeowners forget when the tank was last pumped. A maintenance plan with pumping on a schedule, filter cleaning and alarm checks keeps the system healthy and gives you a reliable route. Some counties require maintenance contracts for certain systems.
What to put on a septic service agreement
- Pumping schedule.
- Filter cleaning and alarm checks.
- Records kept and shared.
- Priority service.
- What is not covered.
- Price, billing and cancellation.
A worked example
A homeowner with a pump system and an effluent filter wants a regular schedule.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled pumping | 1 | each | Your price |
| Effluent filter cleaning, yearly | 1 | each | Your price |
| Pump and alarm check, yearly | 1 | each | Your price |
Note any county requirement in the notes. This agreement is a template, not legal advice; check your state's rules and county requirements for maintenance contracts.
Line items septic companies use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Septic tank pumping | gal | By tank size; say the size pumped. |
| Locate and dig up lids | each | When lids are buried. |
| Riser and lid install | each | Brings lids to the surface for easy access. |
| Septic inspection | each | For a sale or maintenance; name what it covers. |
| Camera inspection of lines | each | House to tank, tank to field. |
| Baffle repair or replacement | each | Inlet or outlet. |
| Effluent filter cleaning | each | Where the system has one. |
| Line jetting | ft | Clears roots and buildup. |
| Pump or alarm replacement | each | For pump systems. |
| Drain field evaluation | each | Probing and inspection of the field. |
| Drain field repair or replacement | each | Design and permits often required. |
| Permit and health department fees | each | Repairs and replacements often need county approval. |
Terms and deposit language for septic
- Deposit. No deposit on pumping and inspections. Repairs and drain field work take a deposit for permits and materials.
- Payment. Due on completion for pumping and inspections; repairs by milestone.
- Warranty. State your workmanship warranty on repairs; pumps and alarms carry the maker's warranty.
- Lids must be located; digging is billed if they are buried.
- Drain field work usually needs county or health department permits and may need a design.
- Driving over the drain field can damage it; trucks stay off it.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the start and end dates.
- List what each visit includes and how many visits a year.
- Add your price per line; the plan shows a yearly total, and a monthly figure if billed monthly.
- Fill in what is not covered and the renewal and cancellation terms.
- Check your state's rules, then print it for signatures.
Free tools for septic
- Labor rate calculator
- Pipe volume calculator
- Maintenance plan pricing calculator
- Satellite measuring tool
The same service agreement for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.