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Septic Repair in NJ

Failing tank, box, line or field? We repair or replace the part that failed.

Needs a whole new system? Septic installation and the permit path →

Waiting on a septic inspection? What it looks at and what the findings mean →

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A failing septic system usually shows up as wet or unusually green ground over the field, sewage odor, slow drains, or backups. The repair can be as small as a baffle or a distribution box, or as large as a new field or tank, and it is worked out by what is actually broken. In New Jersey an alteration or repair of a system under 2,000 gallons a day falls under N.J.A.C. 7:9A and goes through your local health department, which issues the permit and inspects the work. JWSR installs and repairs septic systems. We do not pump tanks and we do not perform septic inspections, so the first call for a full tank is a licensed septic pumper.

Want that answered for your property instead of in general? Call 862-268-2510 or get a free on-site estimate. We will tell you straight, including when the answer is that you do not need us.

Wet ground over the field, odor, slow drains or backups mean something in the system has failed. We find which part, repair or replace it to the health department's requirements, and restore the yard.

How we do it

We start with what you are seeing and where. Then the owner or a senior supervisor comes out for the estimate, looks at the yard, and works out which part of the system is the likely problem. The repair is sized to that part, not to the most expensive option.

Once the permit path is clear, we excavate to the failed component, make the repair or replacement to the approved plan, leave the work open for the health department inspection, then backfill, grade and restore the yard.

Signs a tank or field is failing

Wet, spongy or unusually green patches over the field, especially when it has not rained. Sewage odor outside near the tank or field, or inside near a drain. Drains that are slow throughout the house rather than at one fixture. Toilets or tubs that back up, gurgling pipes, and standing water over the tank or field. A failing system rarely fixes itself, and catching it early gives you more choices.

A full tank can cause some of the same symptoms, and pumping is the simple first step. We do not pump tanks. If you suspect the tank is simply full, call a licensed septic pumper first. If the symptoms come back after pumping, that points to a part that is failing, and that is where we come in.

Repair or replace

Baffle: the baffles at the tank inlet and outlet keep solids from leaving the tank. A broken or missing baffle can let solids out toward the field, and replacing one is usually a small repair.

Distribution box: the box splits flow among the field lines. If it has settled, cracked or tipped, some lines flood while others sit dry. Resetting or replacing it can restore the field without rebuilding it.

Lines: a crushed, blocked or root-invaded line can be repaired or replaced where it failed. Tank: a cracked or collapsed tank, or one that leaks, is replaced. Field: if the soil in the field has clogged and will no longer take water, the field is replaced, which is the largest repair and the one that needs a full plan.

A cesspool is a different case. It has to be replaced at the time of a real property transfer, and since April 2, 2012 adding a septic tank in front of one is no longer permitted. A full septic system, when a replacement is the answer, runs $30,000 to $75,000. We give you a straight comparison after we have seen the yard.

The permit path for a repair

Under N.J.A.C. 7:9A, an alteration or repair of a system goes through your local health department, which may be municipal or county depending on the town. Expect a plan prepared for the work, soil testing where the repair touches the field, a permit from the health department, and an inspection by the health department before anything is backfilled. Small repairs can move faster than a full replacement, but the health department decides what your repair needs, so call them early.

What you do

If you think the tank is full, call a licensed septic pumper first. Note where and when the wet spots, odor or backups show up, and take photos. Keep vehicles and heavy equipment off the field. Have any past pumping or repair records handy. Do not add chemicals to the system hoping to fix it. We walk the yard with you, and the owner or a senior supervisor comes out for every estimate.

What we do and what we do not

JWSR installs and repairs septic systems: excavation, baffles, distribution boxes, lines, tanks and fields, plus grading and restoration. We do not pump septic tanks and we do not perform septic inspections. The health department inspects the work, and pumping goes to a licensed septic pumper.

What's included

Baffle replacement
Distribution box repair or replacement
Line repair and replacement
Tank replacement
Field replacement
Health department permit and inspection coordination

Common questions

Septic Repair: what people ask us

My septic is backing up. Who do I call first?

If the tank may be full, call a licensed septic pumper first. We do not pump tanks. If the backups return after pumping, or you see wet ground over the field, call us. That points to a failing part, and we install and repair septic systems.

How do I know if the field is failing?

Wet, spongy or unusually green ground over the field, sewage odor, slow drains throughout the house, and backups after rain. A failing field rarely fixes itself. Have it looked at before it becomes an emergency.

Can a septic system be repaired, or does it have to be replaced?

Often it can be repaired. A broken baffle, a tipped distribution box or a damaged line can be fixed without replacing the whole system. A collapsed tank or a field that no longer takes water usually needs replacement. We tell you which after we see the yard.

Do I need a permit to repair a septic system in NJ?

Usually yes. An alteration or repair of a system under N.J.A.C. 7:9A goes through your local health department, which issues the permit and inspects the work before it is covered. What your repair needs is the health department's call, so check with them early.

Do you pump tanks or do septic inspections?

No. We do not pump septic tanks and we do not perform septic inspections. Pumping goes to a licensed septic pumper, and the health department inspects septic work.

How much does a full septic system cost?

Full septic systems run $30,000 to $75,000, depending on the site, the soil and the design. A repair to one part costs a fraction of that. The owner or a senior supervisor comes out for every estimate.

Is a septic emergency something you respond to?

We offer 24/7 emergency service. In a true emergency we typically mobilize within the hour, and emergencies jump the line. A full tank is still a pumper's job first.

Before the machines show up

What New Jersey actually requires

Most of the surprises on this kind of job are regulatory, not mechanical. Here is what binds the work in our counties, with the state sources so you can read them yourself.

What	What it means for your project
Repair permit path	Under N.J.A.C. 7:9A an alteration or repair of an individual subsurface sewage disposal system goes through your local health department. A plan is prepared for the work, the health department reviews it and issues the permit, and the work must be inspected before it is backfilled. Details and forms vary by town and county, so your health department is the final word.
What you do as the homeowner	Call a licensed pumper first if the tank may be full. Document the symptoms, contact your health department about the repair permit, and confirm the permit is issued before the crew digs. Make sure the inspection is scheduled before anything is covered, and keep the paperwork with your house records.
What we do and what we do not	JWSR installs and repairs septic systems. We do not pump septic tanks and we do not perform septic inspections. The health department inspects the work, and pumping goes to a licensed septic pumper.

Sources: N.J.A.C. 7:9A, Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (Cornell LII). This is general information, not a ruling on your property. Your local health department, municipal or county, administers septic repairs under N.J.A.C. 7:9A and has the final say for your address. Every New Jersey threshold in one table →

Go deeper

Septic Repair: the questions behind the job

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