A failing septic system can disrupt your home or business fast. PlumbSmart's licensed team is available around the clock to diagnose, repair, and restore your septic system so you can get back to normal.
Septic systems are the silent workhorses of properties that sit beyond the reach of municipal sewer lines. When they work well, you never think about them. When they fail, the signs are impossible to ignore: slow drains throughout the house, foul odors in the yard, soggy ground near the drain field, or sewage backing up into fixtures. These are not problems that get better on their own, and postponing service almost always turns a manageable repair into a much larger and more expensive project.
PlumbSmart Plumbing and Drains has been serving Asheville and surrounding Western North Carolina communities since July 2008. As a family-owned, licensed, and insured plumbing company holding NC License 29593, we bring years of hands-on experience with the wide variety of septic systems found across the region. Our team handles everything from routine septic tank clearing to full system replacement, and we provide honest, straightforward assessments so you always know what you are paying for before work begins.
Whether you own a single-family home, a rental property, or a commercial building, a properly functioning septic system is essential to protecting your investment and the health of everyone on the property. PlumbSmart offers 24/7 emergency septic service, online scheduling for non-urgent appointments, and set pricing so there are no unwelcome surprises on your final bill.
Symptom: Multiple drains in the home slow down simultaneously or sewage backs up into toilets, tubs, or floor drains, often accompanied by a sewage smell inside the house.
Solution: A plumber will locate the cleanout access, inspect the tank level and inlet and outlet baffles, and clear blockages or pump accumulated solids to restore normal flow through the system.
Symptom: Soggy, spongy, or unusually green patches of grass appear over the drain field area, or standing water collects in the yard even during dry weather.
Solution: The technician inspects the distribution box, lateral lines, and soil absorption capacity. Depending on the cause, repairs may involve jetting clogged laterals, replacing distribution components, or recommending field restoration or replacement.
Symptom: Solids escape the tank and clog the drain field prematurely, or sewage appears to move sluggishly between the tank and the field even after a recent pump-out.
Solution: A plumber uses a video camera inspection to evaluate baffle condition and installs new PVC or concrete baffles to restore proper flow direction and solids retention inside the tank.
Symptom: Ground settlement, tree root intrusion, or age causes visible cracks or soft spots near the tank, sometimes combined with persistent odors at ground level even when the system has been recently serviced.
Solution: The technician assesses whether the crack is above or below the liquid level and whether structural integrity is compromised. Minor cracks may be sealed; severely deteriorated tanks typically require full replacement to prevent groundwater contamination.
Symptom: Recurring slow drains or blockages that clear temporarily but return within weeks, sometimes with a gurgling sound from toilets after flushing.
Solution: Video camera inspection pinpoints the location and extent of root intrusion. The technician then uses sewer jetting to cut and flush roots from the pipe, followed by a recommendation on whether lining or pipe replacement is the best long-term solution.
Symptom: Frequent service calls, rising repair costs, and no single identifiable cause point to a system that has simply aged past its reliable service window.
Solution: PlumbSmart evaluates the full system, presents multiple options, and walks you through new installation choices that meet current code requirements, so you can make an informed decision rather than continuing to chase recurring problems.
A septic system is a self-contained wastewater treatment setup buried on your property. Household waste flows from the building into the tank, where solids settle to the bottom as sludge, grease and lighter materials float to the top as scum, and relatively clarified liquid called effluent exits through the outlet baffle into the drain field. Beneficial bacteria inside the tank break down organic material continuously, but solids still accumulate over time and must eventually be removed. When the tank is not serviced or when something disrupts the bacterial balance, solids can escape into the drain field and cause permanent damage to the soil's ability to absorb liquid.
During a septic repair or diagnostic visit, PlumbSmart technicians begin with a thorough inspection of the accessible components: the inlet and outlet pipes, baffles, tank walls, distribution box, and the condition of the drain field area. When visual inspection is not enough, we use video camera technology to look inside the lines themselves, identifying blockages, root intrusion, collapsed sections, or deteriorated joints that would be impossible to locate otherwise. This approach means we are repairing what is actually broken rather than guessing, and it saves you money over the long run.
For septic tank installations and replacements, the process involves sizing the new tank correctly for the number of bedrooms or occupants the system will serve, obtaining any required local permits, excavating carefully to avoid disturbing surrounding soil structure, setting the new tank, connecting the inlet and outlet lines, and completing a final inspection before backfilling. PlumbSmart provides multiple options and solutions on all repairs and installations, so you understand the trade-offs between different approaches before any work begins.
Sewer jetting is a particularly effective tool for septic line maintenance. High-pressure water is directed through the line to scour pipe walls of grease buildup, mineral deposits, and root fragments. Unlike chemical treatments that can harm the bacterial environment inside a septic tank, jetting is a mechanical process that clears blockages without introducing substances that disrupt the tank's natural treatment cycle. After jetting, a follow-up camera inspection confirms the line is clear from access point to tank.
PlumbSmart holds NC Plumbing License 29593 and is fully insured, so every septic repair or installation meets state code requirements and your property is protected.
PlumbSmart includes a complimentary camera inspection with every drain clearing service, giving you a clear picture of your line condition at no extra cost.
You receive transparent, set pricing and a choice of solutions before work starts, so you can make an informed decision without pressure or hidden fees.
Septic emergencies do not wait for business hours, and neither does PlumbSmart; the team is available around the clock for urgent septic issues.
Piper Protection Plans
Save on service calls with a Piper Protection Plan
Comprehensive from $14/month or Premium from $35/month, with discounts, priority scheduling and annual inspections.
Western North Carolina's landscape creates a distinct set of conditions for septic systems. Many properties in and around Asheville sit on steep terrain with shallow rocky soil, which limits drain field placement options and can accelerate wear on older system designs. The region's older housing stock means many septic tanks were installed decades ago under standards that differ significantly from current requirements. Cold winters can affect ground movement around buried tanks and lines, and the combination of clay-heavy soils in some areas with high seasonal rainfall puts additional stress on drain fields that are already aging. These regional factors make thorough inspection and honest assessment especially important when evaluating whether a repair or a replacement is the right long-term choice for a specific property.
The answer depends on what is failing and how extensively. Baffle damage, inlet and outlet pipe issues, and line blockages are often repairable without touching the tank itself. A tank with structural cracks below the liquid line, severe root damage, or walls that have deteriorated to the point of collapse generally warrants replacement. PlumbSmart uses video camera inspection to assess the actual condition of components and will explain the realistic lifespan and cost of each option so you can decide with confidence.
A backup into household fixtures almost always means the path from the house to the tank, or from the tank to the drain field, is blocked or overwhelmed. Common causes include a full tank that has not been pumped, a clogged or collapsed inlet pipe, tree roots obstructing the line, or a failed drain field that can no longer accept effluent. In some cases, non-flushable wipes, grease buildup, or a foreign object lodged in the line is the culprit. A camera inspection quickly identifies the source so the correct repair is made the first time.
If sewage is actively backing up into fixtures or you can smell sewage inside the living space, it is best to minimize water use until the system is evaluated. Running water into a blocked or failed system can force sewage further back into the house and create a more serious cleanup situation. For less severe symptoms such as slow drains without backup, reducing water use is still wise. Call PlumbSmart as soon as you notice symptoms so the team can assess urgency and advise you appropriately.
Yes. PlumbSmart provides commercial plumbing and maintenance services in Asheville and surrounding Western North Carolina communities, and that includes septic system service for businesses, multi-unit properties, and other commercial sites. Commercial systems are often larger and subject to heavier use than residential systems, so sizing, maintenance schedules, and repair approaches are tailored to the specific demands of the property.
Sewer jetting uses a high-pressure water stream delivered through a specialized nozzle to scour the interior walls of pipes, cutting through grease, mineral scale, and root growth. It is used when a blockage is too dense or widespread for a standard drain snake to fully clear, or when roots have colonized a section of line. Because it is a mechanical rather than chemical process, jetting does not harm the bacterial environment inside the septic tank. PlumbSmart follows jetting with a camera inspection to confirm the line is fully clear.
Yes, and it is one of the more common causes of repeated drain problems on properties with mature trees. Roots naturally seek moisture, and the slightly warmer, nutrient-rich environment around septic lines is attractive to them. Once a root finds a small joint gap or crack, it grows inside the pipe and eventually forms a dense mass that traps solids and restricts flow. Left unaddressed, roots can crack or collapse the pipe entirely. Video camera inspection is the most reliable way to detect root intrusion early, before the damage becomes structural.
PlumbSmart offers financing through GoodLeap with 5, 7, and 10 year financing plans, making larger repairs or full system replacements more manageable without requiring a large upfront payment. Ask a PlumbSmart team member about current financing details when you schedule your service appointment.
PlumbSmart offers the Piper Protection Plans, available at a Comprehensive level for 14 dollars per month or 168 dollars per year, and a Premium level for 35 dollars per month or 420 dollars per year. These plans are designed to help homeowners manage the cost of plumbing maintenance and service. Contact PlumbSmart directly to review what each plan covers and determine which option fits your property's needs.
Areas we serve
PlumbSmart has served homes and businesses across Asheville since 2008, along with the surrounding Western North Carolina communities. Not sure if we cover your address? Give us a call and we'll let you know.
Headquartered in Asheville, NC
1 Sunny Ridge Dr., Asheville, NC 28804
Serving Asheville & nearby WNC communities
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