Septic & well inspectors
A-American Septic
A-American Septic Service is a septic tank cleaning, pumping, and inspection company serving Phoenix and the entire Valley, including Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley. It handles both residential and commercial systems.
For a property sale, its trained, licensed state septic inspectors perform a full inspection and assessment of an existing system and produce the state-mandated State Inspection Report. A written price quote for the inspection is given over the phone after a few questions about the property. The company also recommends that listing agents request a septic permit search from the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, since permit information is mandatory on notices of transfer for 2001 and newer systems.
Beyond inspections, the team handles pumping and cleaning, electronic septic locating, design and installation, permitting, major and minor repairs, effluent filter cleaning and replacement, riser installation, grease trap work, and abandonment of old systems when a property converts to city sewer. The company has been family owned and operated since 1953, holds Arizona ROC licenses #333848 and #333849, is licensed, bonded, insured, and inspection certified across Maricopa County, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and says its staff is certified by the National Association of Waste Water Transporters.
Prices are quoted per job rather than published; the site asks for a street address and bedroom count to quote.
Best for
Owners and buyers of Maricopa County property with an on-site septic system who need a state-mandated transfer inspection report, routine pumping, or grease trap service. It is a septic specialist rather than a plumber.
What they do
- Septic tank pumping and cleaning
- State-required septic inspections for property transfers
- Electronic septic tank locating
- Septic system design and installation
- Septic permitting assistance
- Major and minor septic repairs
- Effluent filter cleaning, replacement, and installation
- Riser installation
- Grease trap cleaning, pumping, and installation
- System abandonment for conversion to city sewer
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1953 |
| Licenses | Arizona ROC #333848, Arizona ROC #333849 |
| Memberships | BBB accredited, Technicians certified by the National Association of Waste Water Transporters |
What stands out
- Family owned and operated in Phoenix since 1953, serving all of Maricopa County.
- Holds Arizona ROC licenses #333848 and #333849, and is licensed, bonded, insured, and inspection certified.
- Accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
- Service technicians are certified by the National Association of Waste Water Transporters.
- States more than 150 years of combined experience across its team.
Common questions
- Should a plumber or a septic company be called for a backup?
- A-American recommends calling the septic company first, because most plumbers have little or no septic experience. A single fixture backing up usually points to a plumbing issue, while multiple backups, or a backup near the septic tank, point to the tank or the system itself.
- How does a septic tank work?
- The tank is where the first stage of wastewater treatment happens. Bacteria digest the organic waste, and what they leave settles to the bottom as sludge. Soaps, fats, and grease float on top as scum. The treated water in the clear zone between the two flows out to the next component of the disposal system, and gases vent through the building's plumbing vents.
- Does the system need service before a large gathering?
- A maintenance pump a few days before a party, wedding, or holiday gathering is recommended if the system is close to needing one. A septic system is sized for a household's day-to-day load, and a dozen or more extra guests can overload it. Emergency service is expensive and may not be available.
- Do systems installed after 2001 need anything extra?
- Yes. Systems installed after 2001 have a filter, and A-American recommends the filter be serviced annually to avoid a backup.
- How does a water softener affect a septic system?
- The main risk is a leaking softener. A continuous inflow of water from a leaky softener, toilet, or faucet can damage a system that is not designed for it. The company also cites studies indicating that brine regeneration waste can harm the microbial system and cause the tank to discharge more grease, oil, and solids into the drain field.