How Much Does Septic System Installation Cost in Lancaster County, PA?

What is the typical septic system installation cost in Lancaster County, PA? This question has been on your mind for some time as you realize you either want to install a septic system or your old one needs to be replaced. Whatever the reason behind your need for this service, it helps to know the average costs before you buy. This saves you from any big surprises while also helping you budget accordingly. 

So, how much does septic installation cost? Unfortunately, there’s quite a large ballpark for this particular service. At Sonlight, we typically charge anywhere between $25,000 and $60,000, depending on the circumstances. Your septic installation might be closer to the lower end of this scale, or it could be even higher. With that in mind, the main question is more to do with what affects septic installation costs, so let’s explain. 

The Main Factors Influencing Septic System Installation Costs

We’ve installed and replaced a lot of septic systems in our time, so we’re perfectly placed to tell you what can either raise or lower the total costs. Pricing varies based on the following: 

System Size

It comes as no surprise to learn that the size of your septic installation will have a big influence on the overall cost. Generally speaking, if all of the other conditions are the same, then smaller systems will be cheaper than larger ones, purely because of the manpower and resources required. 

However, don’t assume that smaller septic systems are always cheaper. 

As you’ll see from the other factors below, a smaller system could work out to be more expensive than a larger one, depending on where it’s installed. For example, a property with easy access and minimal planning regulations to worry about will be easier to work on than one with all sorts of site problems for us to work around. In cases like this, a larger system at the “easier” property may be cheaper than a smaller system at the “harder” property. 

You’ll understand more about what we mean as we go through the other price factors, starting with a very important one. 

System Type & Materials Required

Yes, the type of system you want to install will play a pivotal role in determining septic system installation cost in Lancaster County, PA. We typically cover three common septic systems: 

• Gravity Septic Systems: This is what we consider the “simplest” of the three systems because it uses gravity to help wastewater flow down from your house into the septic tank within a drain field. There’s no need for pumps or special materials here, so the overall cost will be a lot cheaper than the other two.
  
  The “catch” with gravity septic systems is that they’re only suitable in certain locations. If your property or site doesn’t have a natural slope, then gravity will be useless. You also need the right soil conditions to allow for a proper drainage field to surround the septic tank.
  
  
• Pump Septic Systems: Perhaps the most common septic system these days, a pump system uses a special pump to push wastewater away from the home, through the septic system, and into the tank. These pumps run on electricity, which means they have to be installed by licensed professionals and then wired correctly. As a consequence, you’ll need to connect this system to an electricity source, and it tends to have higher maintenance costs. This results in them being more expensive than gravity systems due to the extra installation work required.
  
  The upside of pump septic systems is that they’re more suitable for a wider range of customers. You can have flatter land and install this system - or it can even be installed when there’s an uphill slope leading to the drain field. 
  
  
• Advanced Treatment Systems: You’re now looking at the premium end of the scale when it comes to septic system installations. Unlike the other two systems, this one adds in a stage that treats the wastewater before it enters the draining ground and septic tank. This will involve air pumps or filtration/disinfection elements, and you can imagine that this adds to the overall costs.
  
  They can also still use a pump system, so if you’re hoping to install an advanced treatment system, you may be looking more towards the $60,000 end of the scale. 

The good news is that most residential properties will be able to install either a gravity or a pump septic system. The expensive advanced treatment systems are reserved for properties/sites in environmentally-sensitive areas, or those with extremely strict local regulations surrounding septic systems. 

Local Planning Regulations & Permits

Speaking of which, local planning regulations may require you to obtain specific permits before installing a septic system. They could also force you to carry out work around the site area beforehand, which may add to the costs. 

Sonlight Services will help you figure out the local regulations and permits for Lancaster County so you don’t have to worry about them. We’ll then factor these into our quote, leaving you with no surprises when the installation date comes around. 

Pre-Installation Work Requirements

This basically takes into consideration all the planning and work required before the septic system installation starts. It involves excavation work around the site, soil testing services, and so on. The more labor-intensive the pre-installation work is, the more expensive a septic tank installation will be, and that’s purely because it adds to the overall time on the job.

This is one of the main reasons why a small septic system installation could cost more than a bigger one, depending on where it’s located. The bigger system could require minimal pre-installation work, while the smaller one needs days of excavation to get the site ready. 

New Installation vs Replacement - What Are The Cost Differences?

It's also important to recognize that septic system installations can cost more or less, depending on one other key factor: is this a new installation or a replacement? 

Replacement septic systems may be necessary if your system fails and is due for an upgrade. In this case, it may be cheaper than installing a brand-new system because a lot of the site preparation work has already been taken care of. You’re not starting from scratch, so to speak, which is why it might seem as though someone else paid less for septic installation than you, despite both properties holding similar conditions. 

How To Ensure You Get A Fair Price For Septic System Installation

You’ve seen the price factors, but how do you make sure you get a fair quote for septic installation cost in Lancaster County, PA? It all boils down to making the right decision when choosing your septic system installation partner. At Sonlight Services, we offer the following features to help you get the best price for this service: 

• Fully Licensed & Experienced Technicians: Expertise and experience matter when installing septic systems, as this dictates how long the process takes. Our team is fully licensed and has years of experience installing multiple types of systems throughout Lancaster County. This enables us to work efficiently and carry out the job without making silly mistakes that an inexperienced team would. As such, we spend less time on each job to keep your costs down. 
• Top-Class Warranties: We pride ourselves on our workmanship, which is why we give you a lifetime warranty on septic tanks, a 3-year warranty on septic pumps, and a 1-year warranty on our work. These are the best in the industry, and our warranties protect you in the extremely rare case that something goes wrong with your system. 
• Honest & Transparent Quotes: You’ll never deal with hidden fees from us. When we quote you for septic system installation, we take every factor into account and lay them out for you to see. You don’t just get a lump sum; you get a breakdown of why the price is set to what it is. We are transparent about everything and will never charge you extra without consulting you first. Some companies give you a quote for septic system installation, but that doesn’t include additional fees. You end up paying way more than expected because of these hidden charges, and we’re completely against that. 
• Digital Records & Compliance Handled: Septic system installation in Lancaster County requires you to contact your municipality and deal with lots of planning paperwork. We handle this for you and use digital records to ensure nothing goes missing. We also make sure that the installation remains compliant at all times, negating the chances of you being hit with fines from the local government. 

Find Your Free Quote For Septic Installation in Lancaster County, PA

We hope you’re learned something from this blog and now understand the septic system installation cost in Lancaster County, PA. As stated at the start of this guide, the ballpark price range could be between $25,000 and $60,000, though it’s all based on various factors. 

To work out how much it will cost you, please fill in the form below to request a quote for this service. We’ll contact you to discuss things further and provide a free, accurate quote with a full cost breakdown.