A survey, not an ad
Syracuse Septic Pros Guide to the Best Septic Companies in Syracuse
Five septic companies that serve Syracuse and the towns around it, ranked on how long they can be shown to have been trading.
- Syracuse and ten towns within 20 miles
- Written price before any digging
- Licensed, insured local contractors
- Built around Onondaga County soils
Syracuse Septic Pros publishes this list as a starting point for homeowners around Syracuse who are choosing a septic company. It names real, established local businesses, including several we are not connected with, because a list that only named ourselves would be useless to you and would not deserve to be read.
How this list was put together
Every company below was checked on the same few things: a working local phone number, a business website that describes real septic work, a physical base in Central New York, and a record with the New York Department of State showing when the current business entity was filed. The order follows that record. The longest verifiable trading history goes first.
There are no paid placements. No company paid to appear here or to rank higher, and none was asked. Facts about each business come from its own website or from public records, and are the kind that stay true: where it works, what it does and when it was established. We do not publish other companies' prices.
Two well-known names are not on the list for a specific reason: their current business entities do not appear in the state corporation records we checked, so their stated tenure could not be verified the same way. That says nothing about their work.
1. Skaneateles Excavation, Inc.
Based in Skaneateles, west of Syracuse. The corporation was filed with the New York Department of State in 1962, the longest verifiable record on this list, and the company describes itself as a third-generation, family-run business. Its site lists excavation and site development, trucking and hauling, and septic pumping, installation and repair, and says it is registered with Cayuga County to install and repair septic systems.
A good fit when the job is as much excavation as septic, such as a new system or a field replacement on a site that needs real earthwork.
Not sure what the system needs? Describe what you are seeing and get a straight answer on what it usually takes.
Call (315) 922-54582. C. Mattes, Inc.
Based on South Bay Road in Cicero, north of Syracuse. The corporation was filed in 2005. Its site lists septic tank pumping, septic tank repair, grease trap pumping and cleaning, and jetting, and publishes service pages for many of the towns around the city.
A good fit for homeowners on the north side, around Cicero, Clay and Brewerton, and for businesses that need grease traps handled as well as septic.
3. Northrup Septic Service
Based in Tully, south of Syracuse. The current business entity, Northrup Septic Service LLC, was filed in 2015; the company's site describes it as family owned since 1954, which we could not check against a public record. It says it serves Onondaga County and surrounding areas and focuses on septic pumping as routine maintenance, minor repairs and grease trap cleaning.
A good fit for scheduled septic tank pumping on the south side of the county.
4. Van Liew Septic Services, LLC
Based on Kline Road in Pennellville, in Oswego County north of Syracuse. The company was filed as an LLC in 2020 and describes itself as a locally owned and operated family business. Its site lists pumping for household tanks from 500 to 1,500 gallons and septic system installation, and names a service area that includes Oswego County, Clay, Lysander and Brewerton.
A good fit for the northern towns and Oswego County, including homes in Hastings and Central Square.
5. Syracuse Septic Pros
This website, included here for transparency, since this article is published on this company's own website. Syracuse Septic Pros is a referral service. When you call, you are connected with a local septic contractor for the job you describe, and the details of that contractor, including licensing and insurance, are theirs to confirm with you directly.
What this site offers is the information on it: typical price ranges for every common septic job, the state and county rules that apply around Syracuse, and soil conditions town by town.
Not sure what the system needs? Describe what you are seeing and get a straight answer on what it usually takes.
Call (315) 922-5458How to choose between them
Start with the job. A routine pump-out is a different call from a failed leach field. For pumping, the nearest reliable company with an open slot is usually the right one. For a replacement, you want a company that works with licensed design professionals, knows which county will review the plans, and can explain the soil on your lot.
- Ask who will design the system if a new field is needed, and whether that person is a NYS licensed engineer or architect
- Ask whether the tank will be pumped through the main manhole and the baffles checked
- Ask for the price in writing before work starts, and what could change it
- Ask which county health department will review the job: Onondaga, Oswego or Madison
- Ask for proof of insurance before anyone digs
Any of the companies above should answer those questions without hesitation.
Before you call any of them
A few details make the first call faster and the answer more useful, whichever company you ring. Know your town, since the county health department that reviews septic work differs between Onondaga, Oswego and Madison counties. Know roughly where the tank is, or where the sewer line leaves the basement. Know when the tank was last pumped, if anyone does. And say plainly what is happening: a routine pump-out, a slow drain, a backup, wet ground over the field, or an inspection for a sale with a closing date attached.
If a sale is involved, say so at the start. Inspection slots around closing dates go quickly in spring and summer, and a company that knows the deadline can tell you straight away whether it can fit the visit in.
What the price usually looks like
Typical ranges for common jobs around Syracuse, from published sources, are collected in the septic cost guide. A standard pump-out typically runs $325 to $600; replacements run into the thousands and depend on the soil.
Questions people ask
How were these septic companies chosen?
Each has a working local number, a real website, a Central New York base and a New York Department of State record. They are ordered by the length of that record.
Did any company pay to be on this list?
No. There are no paid placements.
What are the signs of a good septic company?
Clear answers on who designs replacements, pumping through the main manhole, a written price before work, and proof of insurance.
How much does septic pumping cost in Syracuse?
A standard pump-out typically runs $325 to $600 for a 1,000 to 1,250 gallon tank.
Why is this website on its own list?
It is a referral service that connects callers with local contractors. It is listed last and says so plainly.
Talk it through before anyone digs
Say what the house is doing, how old the system is and when the tank was last pumped. You will hear what the job usually involves, what it tends to cost, and whether it needs digging at all.
Call (315) 922-5458