Vacuum tankers
3,500 gallon capacity, so the biggest tanks and traps in the city clear in one trip.
Cesspool, holding tank, and septic service
Pump trucks when the tank has access. Confined-space crews and portable equipment when it doesn't. Pumping, cleaning, and tank maintenance, building by building.
Get a quote
Tell us the address and what needs service. We'll get back to you with a quote.
How a pumpout runs
"3,500 gallons of your dirtiest, smelliest sewage waste, eliminated." That was our line thirty years ago and it still is.
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Measure firstSludge level and tank condition before anything gets pumped.
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Pump it outThe vacuum tanker takes the full load in one trip on most tanks in the city.
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Say what we sawCracks, roots, baffle condition. You hear it before we leave. If an engineer or plumber needs to inspect the tank, we pump it first so they can see it.
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Record itDated service record per location, ready for the building file.
Cesspools, holding tanks, and septic systems
Different tanks, same first job: remove the waste, clean what the pumps and outlets depend on, and get the tank back into service.
- Cesspools and septic tanks pumped and cleaned.
- Holding tanks emptied on a cycle set to the building.
- Commercial, municipal, and residential systems.
Ejector, sump, and retention tanks
We send a pump truck when the tank has truck access. When it does not, the confined-space crew goes in with portable equipment.
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Sewer ejector tanksSolids and buildup removed from the pit so the pumps and floats can work.
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Sump tanksThe low-point pit cleaned so the pump has room to move groundwater out.
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Retention tanksAlgae, silt, and sediment removed so stored stormwater can release the way the system was designed.
Dosing pumps
A dosing pump meters treatment into an ejector pit on a set schedule. We set up the pump, refill the treatment, and service it with the tank.
- Dose and timing set to the pit.
- Service and refills handled with the pumpout schedule.
- Maintenance between cleanings, never a substitute for the pumpout.
Pump float replacement
Float balls and rods tell an ejector tank when to run the pump. When they stop moving the way they should, we replace them so the tank can operate normally.
- Float balls and rods removed and replaced.
- Operation checked before the tank goes back into service.
- We do not touch mercury switches.
Portable pumps
Some sites need a pump to stay in place for an extended period. We install gasoline or electric portable pumps, matched to the access and available power.
- Gasoline pumps where electrical power is not available.
- Electric pumps where the site can support them.
- Temporary pumping kept in place for the duration the job requires.
Septic tank treatment
We offer septic tank treatment, but we usually advise against using an additive as the answer. Nothing in a bottle removes the solids already in the tank.
- Pumping comes first.
- Treatment only when the system and the job give us a reason to recommend it.
- Never sold as a replacement for scheduled service.
What we send out
The crew at work
A septic tank pumped in a Queens side yard, hose off the tanker.
After the pumpout
An ejector pit after cleaning: pumps visible, walls bare, ready for service.
Reviews
“We live in Queens and have a cesspool. Not a lot of companies do this still in Queens, but glad I found them. They are very helpful, professional and timely. They were very punctual and arrived at my house at 3 PM to pump.”
“When my commercial space started backing up water, A&L saved us. No one knew what was causing it, and their techs were able to trace it all and fix the problem on the spot. They were able to trace it back to an issue with the municipal system, and saved me thousands.”
“Their office found us the earliest possible appointment each time we called, their techs have always arrived during the expected window, were clear when explaining what they were doing, and when the camera was run they walked us through the video and their findings. They'll be my first call from now on.”
FAQs
How often should a cesspool or septic tank be pumped?
Most systems run three to five years between pumpouts; heavy use runs shorter. We measure the sludge level and set the schedule off what's actually in the tank.
How do I know it's time?
Slow drains, gurgling, sewage smell, damp ground over the system, or a backup. Any of those, call before it gets worse.
What's the difference between a cesspool and a septic tank?
A cesspool stores and seeps. A septic system separates solids and sends the liquid to a drain field. Pre-1970 buildings off the city main usually have the former.
Do additives work instead of pumping?
No. We offer septic tank treatment, but usually advise against treating an additive as the answer. Pumping comes first.
Do you service commercial and municipal tanks?
That's most of the route. Schools, agencies, and building portfolios run on schedules, building by building.
Talk to dispatch
Call dispatch with the address and what's backing up. For scheduled service, send the quote form and we'll come back with the cycle.