Septic questions, answered

We are based at 2918 E Beaver Rd in Bay City and serve Bay, Saginaw, Midland and Gladwin counties, including Bay City, Saginaw, Midland, Freeland, Gladwin, Auburn, Essexville, Pinconning, Kawkawlin, Hemlock and nearby communities.

Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

No. We are not a 24/7 or emergency service. Call during office hours or request service online and we will get you on the schedule as soon as we can.

Same-day service is available when we’re already working in your area. Call (989) 205-6017 and we will tell you the soonest day we can be there.

We do not offer online self-scheduling. We plan our routes so our trucks spend less time driving between jobs. Request service with the days that work for you and we will call you back to set the visit.

It depends on your town, the tank size, how full it is and how easy the lid is to reach, so we do not publish prices. Call or request service and we will give you an honest quote up front.

The common guideline for a typical household is every three to five years. Tank size, the number of people in the home and water use all change the right interval.

Slow drains throughout the house, gurgling pipes, sewage odors, water backing up in a low drain, and wet spots or unusually green grass over the drain field.

Some Michigan counties require one. Saginaw County, for example, requires the septic tank to be pumped as part of its time-of-sale evaluation. Check with the county health department for current requirements.

Discount Septic Service LLC is a family business, owner-operated by Michael and Selena Marsh, serving Mid-Michigan since 2012.

No. Pumping takes a vacuum truck, and septage has to be hauled and disposed of properly under Michigan rules. Leave it to a septic service.

With regular pumping and good habits, a septic system can last for decades. Drain field life depends heavily on keeping solids out of it, which is why routine pumping matters.

Keep vehicles and packed-down snow off the tank and drain field, fix dripping fixtures, and if your tank is due, have it pumped before the ground freezes.

Yes, for weekends and events only. Call to check availability for your date.

Most residential pump-outs are finished in well under two hours once the lid is exposed. Buried lids, long distances from the truck and very full tanks add time.

For most homes on a regular schedule, a thorough pump-out is the cleaning. Tanks that have gone a long time need extra work to break up compacted sludge and hardened scum so everything comes out.

Saginaw County requires the septic tank to be pumped as part of its time-of-sale evaluation. Requirements vary by county and can change, so check with the county health department for current rules.

No. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Call during those hours or request service online and we will get you on the schedule as soon as we can.

Yes. Septic installations in Michigan are permitted through the county health department. Contact your county health department early in your project.

Sometimes. If the problem is caught early, pumping, cutting water use and fixing the cause can help. A field that has failed completely usually needs to be replaced.

For pipes in reasonable condition, yes. If a line looks badly damaged, a camera inspection first tells us whether jetting is the right approach.