Every drain is slow
Sinks, tubs, and toilets all sluggish at once points past the house to the septic.
★ 4.8 Stars · 8,500+ Google Reviews · Calls answered 24/7
Septic Tank Repair & Replacement in Northern California
Drains backing up? Alarm going off? Soggy, smelly spot over the leach field? Earl's Plumbing finds what actually failed, from a broken baffle to a worn-out drain field, handles the county permit, and fixes it right the first time.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 — a real person answers calls day or night.
Earl's Plumbing repairs and replaces septic systems throughout Northern California, from Shasta County to Placer County, family-owned since 1998.
We repair and replace septic tanks, baffles, risers, distribution boxes, leach fields, effluent pumps, and alarms, inspect systems for home sales, and handle county permits, with no service call fee.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 or schedule online for a free quote.
Tanks, leach fields & pumps
$0 service call fee
County permits handled
Escrow inspections
Financing (OAC)
CSLB #772565
Web-only offer
$25 OFF
Septic Repair
Mention this page when you call or text, or add "$25 web offer" when you book online.
📞 Claim by Phone 📅 Claim OnlineOffer ends this month. One per household.
🚨 Sewage backing up or alarm sounding? Stop using water.
No laundry, dishes, or showers until it's checked. Then call — we answer 24/7.
Signs Your Septic System Needs Repair
Septic systems don't fail quietly for long. Catch it early and the repair is usually smaller.
Backup in the lowest drain
Sewage in a tub or shower is the system telling you it's full or blocked.
Gurgling pipes
Bubbling toilets and drains often mean wastewater isn't leaving fast enough.
Sewage smell outside
Odors near the tank, lids, or leach field are not normal.
Soggy ground or standing water
Wet, spongy soil over the field when it hasn't rained usually means it isn't draining.
Extra-green grass
A lush stripe over the leach field can mean effluent is rising too close to the surface.
Alarm going off
On pumped systems, a high-water alarm usually means a pump, float, or power problem.
Problems right after pumping
If trouble returns soon after the tank was pumped, the leach field is the likely culprit.
Where Septic Systems Break Down
Wastewater goes from the house to the tank, where solids settle, then out to the leach field, where the soil finishes the job. Problems can start at any step.
🛢️ The tank
- Broken or missing baffles that let solids escape
- Cracked, rusted, or collapsing tank walls
- Damaged lids or buried, hard-to-reach access
- Broken inlet or outlet pipes
🔀 Pumps & distribution
- Failed effluent or lift pump
- Stuck floats and alarm panel problems
- Tilted or broken distribution box
- Crushed or root-filled lines to the field
🌿 The leach field
- Soil clogged with solids after years of use
- Roots growing into the lines
- Lines crushed by vehicles or construction
- Roof water or runoff flooding the field
Septic Services We Provide
From a single baffle to a complete new system, one local team handles the diagnosis, permit, digging, and repair.
Tank repair
Baffles, inlet and outlet pipes, lids, and cracks fixed when the tank is sound.
Tank replacement
New tank sized for your home, set, connected, and permitted.
Leach field repair & replacement
Distribution boxes, damaged lines, and full drain field replacement.
Pumps, floats & alarms
Effluent and lift pumps, float switches, and alarm panels repaired or replaced.
Risers & lids
Bring buried lids to the surface so pumping and inspections are easier.
Septic inspections
Escrow and real estate inspections, plus camera inspection of the lines.
Septic pumping
Routine pumping and cleaning with our own truck.
Abandonment & sewer hookup
Switching to city sewer? We connect the line and properly abandon the old tank.
Repair It or Replace It?
Septic work is expensive enough without paying for more than you need. We quote both when repair is realistic.
Repair it when…
- It's a baffle, lid, riser, or inlet/outlet pipe
- A pump, float, or alarm failed
- The distribution box or a section of line is damaged
- The tank itself is structurally sound
Replace it when…
- The tank is cracked, rusted through, or collapsing
- The leach field no longer absorbs water
- The system is too small for the home
- Problems keep coming back after pumping
How Septic Repair Works with Earl's
Septic repairs and replacements usually need a county permit. We handle that part, so you don't have to.
Locate & inspect
We find and open the tank, check the components, and trace where it's failing.
Free quote
Plain-English options, repair vs. replace, with a firm price for each.
Permit & plan
We work with your county environmental health department on permits and inspections.
Repair & restore
Dig, repair or replace, pass inspection, backfill, and clean up.
In California, onsite wastewater (septic) permits are issued by your county. Example: Butte County Environmental Health Wastewater Program.
Make Your Septic System Last
A repaired system is only as good as how it's treated. These habits, straight from the EPA, prevent most of the failures we fix:
- Pump every 3–5 years and have it inspected at least every 3. Pumped systems, about once a year.
- Don't drive or park on the tank or leach field.
- Keep roof drains and runoff away from the field.
- Plant trees well away so roots stay out of the lines.
- Only toilet paper goes down the toilet. No wipes, grease, or chemicals.
Source: EPA — How to Care for Your Septic System. Due for pumping? Schedule septic pumping.
Why Homeowners Call Earl's for Septic Repair
Plumbing and septic under one roof means nobody's pointing fingers at the other guy.
We find the real failure
Tank, pump, box, or field. The fix depends on knowing which.
House to leach field
Drains, sewer lines, tank, and field, all one company.
Permits handled
We work with the county so it's done to code and documented.
No service call fee
Free quote before any digging. You decide, no pressure.
Financing available
Big septic job? Spread it out with financing on approved credit.
100% satisfaction guarantee
If it's not right, we make it right. 28 years and three local offices behind that.
Out of Sight Until It Isn't
Nobody thinks about their septic system until the tub fills up from the wrong direction. And when it goes, it never picks a convenient time. Usually it's a holiday weekend with a house full of guests.
Here's what I want you to know: a septic problem isn't automatically a whole new system. A lot of the time it's a baffle, a pump, or a distribution box. We'll dig where we need to, show you what failed, and give you an honest price. If it really is time for a new tank or field, you'll hear it straight from us, and we'll handle the county paperwork.
— Clinton EarlOwner, Earl's Plumbing · Your Friend in the Business
28
Years serving Northern CA
8,500+
Google reviews
$0
Service call fee
24/7
Calls answered
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Call or Text Your Nearest Earl's Office
Three local offices covering eight Northern California counties. Every line takes calls and texts.
Redding
Redding · Anderson · Cottonwood · Shasta Lake · Palo Cedro · Red Bluff · Corning
(530) 244-3275
Schedule Septic Repair Online — Free Quote
Book in about a minute, right here on the page. Mention "$25 web offer" in your notes and we'll apply it.
1Pick your service
2Choose a time that works
3Get a confirmation — done
Rather talk to a person? Call or text (530) 343-0330 — we answer 24/7.
Sewage backing up? Don't book online — stop using water and call (530) 343-0330.
Septic Repair Questions, Answered
Warning signs, alarms, permits, and repair vs. replace. Straight answers here.
What are the signs of a failing septic system?
Common signs are slow drains throughout the house, gurgling pipes, sewage backing up into the lowest tub or shower, sewage odors in the yard, soggy ground or extra-green grass over the tank or leach field, and a septic alarm going off. If wastewater is surfacing or backing up, limit water use and call right away.
Can a septic tank be repaired, or does it need to be replaced?
Many septic problems are repairable, including broken baffles, damaged inlet or outlet pipes, cracked or missing lids, and failed risers. Replacement is usually the answer when the tank is collapsing, badly cracked, rusted through, or too small for the home. Earl's Plumbing inspects the system and quotes both options when repair is realistic.
How do I know if my leach field is failing?
A failing leach field often shows soggy or spongy ground, standing water, sewage odor, or unusually green grass over the field, plus slow drains that come back soon after the tank is pumped. Causes include roots, crushed lines, a failed distribution box, and soil that can no longer absorb water. Some fields can be repaired; others need replacement.
Do septic repairs need a permit in California?
Most septic tank replacements, leach field repairs, and new systems in California require a permit from the county environmental health department, and many repairs do too. Requirements vary by county. Earl's Plumbing works with the county on permits and inspections, so the work is done to code and properly documented for future sale of the home.
Why is my septic alarm going off?
A septic alarm usually means the water level in the pump tank is too high. Common causes are a failed effluent pump, a stuck float, a tripped breaker, or more water going in than the system can handle. Cut back on water use, check the breaker, silence the alarm, and call a plumber before the tank backs up.
How often should a septic tank be pumped?
The EPA says household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years and should be inspected at least every three years. Systems with pumps or other mechanical parts should be checked about once a year. Household size, tank size, and water use all change how often your tank needs pumping.
Do you do septic inspections for home sales?
Yes. Earl's Plumbing performs septic inspections for buyers, sellers, and agents during escrow. We locate and open the tank, check its condition and the baffles, look for signs of drain field trouble, and explain what we find. If repairs are needed, we provide a free quote so everyone knows what they are dealing with before closing.
How much does septic repair cost?
It depends on what failed, how deep it is, what's in the way, and what the county requires. I won't guess at a number over the phone. We come out, find the real problem, and give you a free quote before any digging starts. There's no service call fee, financing is available on approved credit, and online customers get $25 off.