We repair concrete and plastic septic tanks and holding tanks in Riga and the Riga region: first we pump out and flush the tank, then we find the fault and fix it. We set the repair price after an inspection; pumping before the repair costs from €75.
How to tell what is wrong with your septic tank
In a working septic tank, the liquid level is always at the height of the bottom of the outlet pipe: as much flows out to the drain field as flows in. Look under the lid and compare.
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| The level is below the outlet pipe, and the tank does not fill up after pumping | The tank is not watertight, and wastewater is escaping into the ground through a crack or a joint |
| The level is above the outlet pipe, and water comes back up the inlet pipe | The outlet or the drain field is clogged |
| The tank overflows in spring or after rain, but not in dry weather | Groundwater or rainwater is getting in through the joints, the cover or the inlet pipe |
| A smell in the yard by the lid | The cover is not tight or is damaged |
| A smell in the house | More often the culprit is ventilation or the traps in the house's internal plumbing, not the tank |
The most common septic tank repairs
- Sealing concrete ring joints: the cleaned and dried joints are filled from the inside with waterproofing mortar. This helps if the rings have not shifted.
- Replacing the cover or hatch: an old concrete or wooden cover is dangerous because it can collapse. A new cover must withstand any load that may be placed on it and be tight against smell and rainwater.
- Relaying the inlet pipe: the pipe has settled, developed a backfall or cracked at the joint with the tank. The damaged section is dug up and relaid with the correct fall.
- Restoring the T-shaped overflow pipe: without it, floating grease and sediment flow out to the drain field and clog it.
- Damage to a plastic tank: cracks and deformation, which often occur when the tank is pumped out completely while the groundwater is high. A small crack can be welded; a deformed tank is usually replaced.
- A neck extension or height adjustment if the cover has ended up below ground or sunk into the lawn.
Why a repair starts with pumping
Cracks and damaged joints cannot be seen in a full tank. The tank is pumped out, the walls and bottom are flushed, and only then can the damage be assessed. Pumping is also the first step if the inspection shows that a repair does not make sense and a new tank is needed.
No one may climb into a septic tank without ventilating it first and without a second person above ground: gases build up in the tank that can be fatal within a few breaths. If someone offers to climb into the tank without these safety steps, refuse.
When a repair no longer makes sense
If the rings have shifted, the tank has no bottom or it is a single-chamber well, a repair will not make it watertight or compliant with the regulations. Likewise, a drain field that is completely clogged is not renewed but rebuilt: see drain field. In such cases, replacing the old septic tank is the better option.
What the regulations require
Repairing the system is the owner's responsibility and cost. A holding tank must be sealed, and wastewater from a septic tank may enter the environment only through a purpose-built infiltration system, not through cracks. In Riga, if an inspection finds a violation, the defects must be fixed within a month.
Cabinet Regulation No. 384: point 4.2 (the owner covers maintenance and repair costs), point 4.4 (septic tank discharge only through an infiltration system), point 4.5 (holding tank is sealed). Riga City Council Binding Regulations No. 66, point 5.3: defects found are fixed within a month; point 5.4: septic tank maintenance at the time set by the manufacturer or installer. Sources: likumi.lv, checked on 30 October 2026.
How the repair works
- Request Describe the type and age of the septic tank and what you are seeing: level, smell, overflow. After you submit the form, we contact you within 5 minutes.
- Pumping and inspection The tank is pumped out and flushed, and the walls, joints, inlet pipe, overflow and cover are inspected.
- Estimate We tell you what is damaged, what can be repaired and what is better replaced, and how much it costs.
- Repair We fix the damage, check that the inlet pipe and outlet work, and backfill the excavation.
How much septic tank repair costs
We set the repair price after an inspection, because it depends on the damage. Known items: pumping before the repair from €75 (up to 4 m³) or from €90 (up to 6 m³), relaying the inlet pipe from €25/m. If the tank has to be replaced, a new septic tank with installation costs from €2,200. The price depends on access to the tank, the digging depth and whether the work has to be done while the groundwater is high.