Free referral service · Chattanooga area
Septic repair and drain field quotes
Slow drains, odors, wet spots over the field or a failed part. Send one request and independent local septic companies contact you.
How this works: Chattanooga Septic Quotes is a free referral service, not a septic company. We pass your request to independent local septic pros, who may pay us for the referral. They quote, schedule and do the work; check their insurance before you hire. More about us.
Signs something is wrong
Angi lists these signs of a full or failing system: sewage backing up into drains, slow sinks, tubs and toilets, gurgling pipes, sewage odors outside, pooling water or spongy ground near the tank or drain field, and a patch of grass over the system that is suddenly greener than the rest of the lawn. A tank that needs pumping more often than it used to can also point to a failing drain field.
What repairs cost
| Repair | Angi 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Typical septic repair | $630 to $3,040 |
| Tank lid | $150 to $500 |
| Baffle | $300 to $900 |
| Effluent filter | $200 to $300 |
| Pump | $250 to $1,000 |
| Main line | $1,000 to $4,200 |
| Clog removal (average) | about $1,700 |
| Drain field repair | $2,000 to $15,000 |
| Replace tank and drain field | $5,000 to $12,000 (average $6,000) |
Angi says a drain field can last up to 50 years but averages about 20. Replacing only the field runs about $7,000, and a perc test, required before replacing a leach field, averages about $1,300. See the cost guide for more.
Permits for repairs
Hamilton County, TN: repairing an existing system needs a $40 repair permit from Groundwater Protection (423-209-7876). Adding field lines or bedrooms is a $440 modification permit. Applications are online.
Catoosa and Walker counties, GA: repairs go through the county Environmental Health office (Catoosa (706) 406-2030, Walker (706) 639-2574). Northwest Georgia Public Health's application covers repair permits, and the system needs a final inspection before it's covered.
Ask your contractor who pulls the permit. Licensed installers do this routinely.
Protect the drain field
The EPA says not to park or drive on the drain field, to keep trees and shrubs away from it, and to send roof drains and sump pumps elsewhere, because extra water slows treatment. Cut back on heavy water use while you wait for a repair.
Sources
- Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Pump a Septic Tank? (2026 data, updated Oct 14, 2026)
- Angi, How Much Does a Septic Inspection Cost? (updated Oct 7, 2026)
- Angi, Common Questions About Septic System Installation, Repair, or Replacement (updated May 3, 2026)
- Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Septic Tank and Drain Field? (updated Oct 29, 2026)
- Hamilton County, Development Services: Groundwater Protection (permits and fees)
- Northwest Georgia Public Health, Repair / Addition-Modification / Existing System application (PDF)
- Northwest Georgia Public Health, Existing System Evaluations (pamphlet, PDF)
- U.S. EPA, How to Care for Your Septic System
Prices are national ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on the system, access and timing; local companies quote after seeing the job.