Septic tank pumping companies · Ellis County

Listings last refreshed October 16, 2026

Best Septic Tank Pumping in Rice [2026 Update]

1 septic tank pumping company in Rice, ranked by Pump Score using Google reviews and profile data.

✓ How we rankFree directory, no pay-to-rank

Septic tank pumping in Rice, TX is one of those jobs homeowners put off until a drain backs up or the yard starts to smell. Most homes in Ellis County run a conventional tank that holds solids and scum while liquid drains out to a field. Solids build up year after year, and pumping removes them before they reach the drain field, which is the expensive part to repair. This page explains how to tell when your tank is due, what the visit involves, what the work usually costs, and who is listed to do it locally.

Top Rated Septic Tank Pumping Companies in Rice Compared

Compare the top picks side by side. Full write-ups follow below.

#	Septic Company	Best for	Score	Rating	Verified
#1	Dulworth Septic Services	Homeowners who want a septic company with a long track record	9.2	547 reviews	—

1Dulworth Septic ServicesHomeowners who want a septic company with a long track record9.2

Rice Septic Tank Pumping Reviews and Ratings

1. Dulworth Septic Services

Best for: Homeowners who want a septic company with a long track record

9.2Pump Score

5021 SE, S McKinney St547 reviews

Score breakdown and details

Location: Rice · 5021 SE, S McKinney St, Rice, TX 75155
Track record: Established, very high review volume
Rating: 547 Google reviews
Profile: Unclaimed listing (Google data)
Today: See hours on profile

Recommendation10

Trust8

Confidence: high

Strengths

547 Google reviews, a well established track record
Direct phone number published, no lead form in the way
Has its own website with more detail on services
Opening hours published

Watch Out For

The Google profile is not owner verified. Double check the address and phone when you call.

Our take: Our top pick in this area. A Pump Score of 9.2/10 reflects the best combination of rating, review depth and profile completeness here.

1septic company ranked

547Google reviews analyzed

0open Saturdays

$300–550typical 1,000 gal pump out

Hiring Local Septic Tank Pumping in Rice

Our directory currently lists one septic pumping business tied to Rice, Dulworth Septic Services, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 547 reviews. Its entry appears in the ranked listing below, followed by sections for owners who want to plan ahead. Nothing on this page replaces an on-site visit, and the prices are guide ranges for planning, not quotes.

Only here

Why Rice Has One Listed Pumper and What That Means

Rice sits in Ellis County, and our directory shows one septic pumping company tied to the town: Dulworth Septic Services at 5021 SE, S McKinney St in ZIP 75155. Its 547 Google reviews carry a 4.7 rating, which is a good amount of feedback for one local business and gives you a sense of how many homeowners have already used it. The listed hours run Monday through Friday, so plan on a weekday booking. Corsicana is about 10 miles away and Ennis about 12. Kemp, Bardwell, Scurry and Gun Barrel City all sit within 21 miles. With rural distances like these, a single pumper may cover a wide area, so book early and keep the nearby towns in mind if your first choice has no open dates. Ellis County has six other towns beyond Rice that you may want to compare.

Signs a Rice Septic Tank Needs Pumping Now

Most household tanks are pumped every three to five years, but the calendar is only a starting point. Solids settle at the bottom and scum floats at the top. When the sludge layer gets close to the outlet, solids can escape into the drain field, and that damage is slow and costly to reverse. The signs below suggest a tank is due or already overdue.

Drains that run slowly in several fixtures at once
Gurgling sounds in the plumbing after you flush or run water
A sewage smell near the tank lid, over the drain field, or indoors
Soggy or unusually lush patches of grass over the drain field
Toilets that back up when the washer or shower drains
Water coming up in a basement floor drain or the lowest fixture in the house

Pumping Frequency for a 1,000 Gallon Tank

A 1,000 gallon tank is a common size for a single-family home, and it is the size most owners will ask about first. Tank size alone does not set the schedule, though. Household size, garbage disposal use, and how much water goes down the drain all change how fast solids accumulate. A family of five running a disposal every day will fill a tank faster than a couple who are home only a few days a week.

Many owners find it useful to write down the date of each pumping and the size of the tank. If the last visit was four years ago and the household has grown, the tank is probably closer to its limit than the calendar suggests. A pumper can also measure the sludge and scum layers during a visit and tell you whether the three to five year window still fits your home.

What Happens on a Pumping Visit

A standard visit follows a fairly predictable sequence. Knowing the steps helps you ask better questions and spot anything unusual.

Locate and uncover the lidThe crew finds the access lids, which are often buried under soil or sod. If the lid is hard to find, uncovering it can add a separate charge, so mention this when you book.
Open and inspect the tankThe crew checks the tank interior, the inlet and outlet baffles, and the level of solids and scum. Ask them to show you the layers if you are curious.
Pump out the contentsThe contents are removed by vacuum truck and taken to an approved disposal site. Most visits for a single tank are short, but access and tank size affect the time.
Check the outlet and filterIf the system has an effluent filter, the crew should inspect and clean it. Clogged filters are a common cause of drain field trouble.
Review the findingsAsk whether the baffles are intact, whether the tank shows cracks or leaks, and when the next pumping is likely due. Keep the service record with your home papers.

Ellis County Soil and Why Drain Fields Struggle

Ellis County lies in North Central Texas, in the broad region of dark clay soils often called the Blackland Prairie. Clay soils hold water well and drain slowly. When they are wet they swell, and when they dry they shrink and crack. A drain field needs soil that can take in treated liquid and pass it along, so a clay yard has less margin for error than a sandy one.

This is why regular pumping matters more in a clay setting. A tank that lets solids drift into the field forces the soil to absorb material it was never built to handle. Over time the field can clog, pool water, or fail. Replacing a drain field is one of the costliest septic repairs, so keeping the tank pumped on schedule is the cheapest protection the system has.

Booking Septic Pumping for Rice and Nearby Towns

Rice residents often need to plan around distance and business hours. A few steps make the booking go more smoothly.

Have the last pumping date and tank size ready when you call
Note where the lid is, and mark it if it is buried
Ask whether the visit includes an inspection or only pumping
Confirm the total cost, including any locating or uncovering charge
Request a weekday visit, since the listed hours run Monday through Friday
If the first choice is booked, check pumpers in Corsicana, Ennis, or Kemp

How Much Does Septic Tank Pumping Cost in Rice?

The guide prices below give a general sense of what septic work costs in Texas for 2026. They are planning ranges, not quotes. A standard 1,000 gallon pumping typically falls between $300 and $550, while a larger 1,500 gallon or bigger tank runs $450 to $750. Aerobic system pumping is higher, at $350 to $650, and a septic inspection is $200 to $500.

Other costs can change the total. Riser and lid installation ranges from $300 to $800, and locating and uncovering a buried lid runs $50 to $200. An emergency or weekend callout can add $100 to $300, and grease trap pumping is $250 to $500. Larger repairs such as a septic or effluent pump replacement, $800 to $1,800, or a drain field repair, $2,000 to $10,000, cost much more. Ask for a written estimate that matches your tank and access.

Typical 1,000 gal pump out$300 to $5502026 guide price for Rice

Typical septic tank pumping prices in Rice
Service	Guide price
Pumping
Septic tank pumping (1,000 gallon)Standard residential tank, lid already exposed	$300 to $550
Large tank pumping (1,500 gallon+)Bigger homes or two compartment tanks	$450 to $750
Aerobic system pumpingTrash, aeration and pump tanks emptied	$350 to $650
Locating and uncovering the lidDepends on depth and soil	$50 to $200
Grease trap pumpingRestaurants and commercial kitchens	$250 to $500
Emergency or weekend calloutAdded to the pumping price	$100 to $300
Inspection and maintenance
Septic inspectionVisual and operational check, often for a home sale	$200 to $500
Aerobic maintenance contractYearly, three visits as required in many Texas counties	$200 to $450
Effluent filter cleaningOften included with a pump out	$75 to $150
Repairs and installs
Riser and lid installationSaves digging on every future pump out	$300 to $800
Septic or effluent pump replacementPump unit, float switch and labor	$800 to $1800
Drain field repairSize, soil and access dependent	$2000 to $10000
New aerobic system installedDesign, permit and install	$8000 to $18000

Guide prices only, not quotes from listed businesses. Always confirm with your septic company.

Daily Habits That Protect a Rice Septic System

Good habits between pumpings stretch the time between visits and reduce strain on the drain field. Most of them cost nothing.

Spread laundry across the week instead of running several loads in one day
Fix running toilets and dripping faucets, since extra water fills the tank faster
Use plain dish soap in normal household amounts
Keep heavy vehicles and equipment off the drain field
Keep tree roots and deep-rooted shrubs away from the field lines
Limit use of the garbage disposal, which adds solids to the tank
Watch the field for soggy spots and sewage smells after heavy rain

The Pump in Your Septic Tank and Water Use on Pumping Day

Many homeowners ask this question after they look at their system records or see a control panel near the tank. The answer depends on the type of system. The points below cover the two situations owners run into most often.

What Pump Is in Your Septic Tank

Many systems have a pump in a separate chamber that moves treated liquid to the drain field, especially aerobic systems. Aerobic systems also use an air blower and need a maintenance contract. A conventional gravity system often has no pump at all, because liquid flows downhill to the field. Check your permit paperwork or the installer's records, or ask the pumper during a visit, since that will tell you which part of the system you are looking at.

Water Use on Pumping Day

It is wise to hold off on showers, laundry, and running taps while the tank is open and being emptied. Extra water adds to the load the crew is handling and can complicate the job. Ask the crew whether they prefer a quiet house while they work, and follow their instructions. Once the job is finished, you can return to normal use.

What Not to Flush or Pour Down a Rice Drain

Many clogs and tank problems come from items that never belong in the system. The table below lists common culprits and safer choices.

Item	Why It Causes Trouble	Better Option
Wipes, even flushable ones	They do not break down and can clog outlets and filters	Trash can
Cooking grease and oil	Solidifies in the tank and adds to scum	Collect in a container and throw away
Coffee grounds and food scraps	Add solids faster than bacteria can break them down	Compost or trash
Bleach and harsh drain cleaners	Can kill the bacteria that treat waste	Use sparingly and dilute
Paint, solvents, and thinner	Toxic to the system and the groundwater	Take to a household hazardous waste site
Cat litter and diapers	Do not break down and fill the tank quickly	Trash can
Medications	Can disrupt bacteria and do not treat well in the tank	Return to a pharmacy take-back program

Best Time to Book Septic Tank Pumping in Rice

Book the pumping before the tank reaches the point where warning signs appear, not after a backup starts. Dulworth Septic Services lists hours from Monday through Friday, so a weekday request is the practical way to schedule. If a problem arrives on a weekend, expect an emergency or weekend callout charge in the $100 to $300 range. Calling early in the week leaves room to fix a schedule slip before it becomes a bigger problem. The listed number is (972) 617-4100.

General Texas booking pattern for septic tank pumping companies, shown as a guide rather than measured local data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Septic Tank Pumping Companies in Rice

Straight answers to the questions homeowners ask before booking a septic company.

Run a septic tank pumping business?

Claim your listing from $10 a month and stand out to local homeowners.

See plans

How do you know when to pump a septic tank?

Most tanks need pumping every three to five years, but a pumper can measure the sludge and scum layers to decide. Slow drains, sewage odors, or backups are signs the tank may already be overdue.

Is Dawn dish soap good for septic systems?

Plain dish soap used in normal household amounts is generally treated as acceptable in septic guidance, and no brand is endorsed here. Heavy use of harsh cleaners and bleach is the bigger concern for the bacteria that treat waste.

How much does it cost to get a septic tank pumped in Texas?

Guide prices for a 1,000 gallon tank run about $300 to $550 for 2026, and larger 1,500 gallon tanks run $450 to $750. Final costs depend on access, tank size, and the type of system.

What is the pump in my septic tank?

Many systems, especially aerobic systems, have a pump in a separate chamber that moves treated liquid to the drain field. A conventional gravity system often has no pump, so check your records or ask the pumper during a visit.

How often does a 1000 gallon septic need to be pumped?

A 1,000 gallon tank usually needs pumping every three to five years, depending on household size and water use. A larger household or regular garbage disposal use may mean more frequent pumping.

Can I take a shower while my septic tank is being pumped?

It is best to hold off on showers and laundry while the tank is open and being emptied, since extra water adds to the load. Ask the crew for their preference and follow their instructions.

Is there a septic pumping company in Rice, TX?

Our directory lists Dulworth Septic Services at 5021 SE, S McKinney St in ZIP 75155, with the phone number (972) 617-4100. Its listed hours are Monday through Friday.

How much does a septic inspection cost in Texas?

The guide range for a septic inspection is $200 to $500. The final price can vary with system type and what the inspection includes.

Find Septic Tank Pumping Near Rice

Where the septic company listed above are based.

Open in Google Maps