Why your aerobic system came with a contract
If you bought a home with an aerobic treatment unit — or had one installed — the paperwork probably included a maintenance contract. That is not a dealer upsell. Texas requires an aerobic system to be under a maintenance contract for the first two years after installation. After that, the owner either renews the contract or completes the TCEQ homeowner maintenance course and takes over the testing, reporting, and upkeep themselves.
Most homeowners renew. Aerobic units are more hands-on than conventional septic: they have motors, controls, alarms, and disinfection stages that all need periodic attention, plus county paperwork after every inspection. A contract puts that on a licensed maintenance provider’s schedule instead of yours.
What a contract typically covers
Providers differ in the details, but most Texas aerobic maintenance contracts include some version of the following:
- Scheduled inspections, roughly every four months. Three visits a year is the norm — this is the inspection rhythm the state’s rules are built around.
- Inspection reports filed with the county. After each visit the provider reports the system’s condition to the county on your behalf, keeping your permit in good standing.
- Aerator checks. The aerator runs around the clock on an aerobic unit. When it quits, treatment stops and the system starts acting like a plain tank — checking it is the single most important thing a visit accomplishes.
- Spray field and disinfection checks. Spray heads, chlorine levels, and timers get checked so effluent is treated and dispersed correctly.
- Controls and alarms. Floats, timers, and the control panel get tested so a fault shows up on the panel, not as a backup in your house.
- Small adjustments and cleaning. Clearing a clogged filter, topping off chlorine, and adjusting timers are usually part of the visit.
- Repair response terms. Many providers give contract holders priority scheduling or a break on service rates when something breaks. Terms vary widely — this is one of the main things to compare.
What a contract usually does not include: major parts and the labor to replace them. A failed aerator, pump, or control panel is typically quoted separately. That is normal — just make sure you know the parts pricing before you sign.
What contracts typically cost
Contracts are usually billed annually or in monthly installments, and the price depends on the system size, how far the provider has to drive, and what the visits include. Ask for an all-in figure and compare it against what the visits actually cover — a cheap contract that skips the disinfection check or the county filing is not a bargain.
One cost is separate from any contract: Hunt County charges a $25 annual aerobic registration fee, recorded with an affidavit in the county deed records. That is a county fee, not something your maintenance provider sets, and it applies whether or not you hold a contract.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How many visits per year, and who schedules them? Three visits is the norm — confirm whether they call you or you have to call them.
- What is excluded? Get the exclusions in writing: parts, chlorine, and major repairs are the usual ones.
- How are parts priced? Do you approve the price before a repair happens, or do you get a bill afterward?
- Do I get a copy of each inspection report? The provider files with the county, but you should see the same report.
- What happens if I sell the house? Ask whether the contract transfers to the buyer or cancels.
- What are the renewal terms? Automatic renewal is common. Know the notice period for canceling.
We don’t sell contracts — we match you with the pros who do
To be clear: we are not a maintenance provider, and we don’t sell service contracts. Hunt County Septic Pros is a referral service — we connect Hunt County homeowners with independent local septic pros, and the pro you choose quotes and does the work.
If your initial two-year contract is coming to an end, or your current provider’s service has slipped, it is a good time to shop around. Call [PHONE], tell us about your system, and we’ll match you with an independent local maintenance provider who can quote a contract — or with a pro who can take over an existing one.
Hunt County Septic Pros is a referral service connecting Hunt County homeowners with independent local septic pros.