A-1 Excavating & Septic Systems LLC

I attempted to call both numbers I had for this business and it would ring once and then disconnect. I am not sure how they can conduct business without having working phones.

Did not call to cancel and no communication from A-1 to reschedule. Left numerous messages, but no return call.

May 2011 I had A1- Excavating & Septic System LLC replace a drain field and septic. The tops of the septic were supposed to be even with the top of ground. Septic was installed crooked. I complained about it and was told it was fine and it would settle.. The unevenness of the tops became worst. I happen to have a plumber out for a repair inside the house unrelated to the septic. I remarked about my septic and plumber said the ground was caving in. I call A1 Septic and spoke to Mr. Catterton to let him know was happening. He told me the plumber was an idiot and I didn?t know what I was talking about. He said this twice and I informed him an inspector was coming out to look over problem. He accused me of threatening him and said he had lawyers why don?t I get one. I told him his company was referred to me by a contactor that builds houses in the county so I though he must take care of his customers. Also reminded him I was not happy when it was first put in. There was silence and I said does this silence me you don?t care about your customers? I repeated that his company was referred by another contractor and I believed he would take care of his customers. He hung up on me. I had to get it repaired and the company that repaired it found many violations and the inspector concurred. The septic was installed crooked, no support wrong size pipe which something painted over to not see the size. Also the filled the hole with clay dirt and not gravel as the instructions on the tank say. Septic leaked out of pipe underground. The septic had to be jacked up so supports could be place under it. Before the company broke ground the top health inspector came out to look at the septic and the manufacture of the tank came out (3 ½ hour drive) and both said the tanked need to be tug up to see how it was installed. Companies can make mistakes or cut corners but the fact Mr. Chatterton wouldn?t offer to check the problem is unacceptable. I did get a attorney to get the cost of the repairs $4,860 back from A1, funds haven?t been reimbursed court case is pending.

The overall experience was wonderful and begins with my first phone call. George Catterton the owner answered the call himself. I explained that I was considering purchasing a house that has a septic system. I know NOTHING about septic systems and the idea of them makes me very nervous. George put my mind at ease with his professionalism and care in explaining what needed to be done to make sure the system was in good shape. The words that I remember from that conversation were "I will NOT let you purchase a house with a bad septic system." And I really believed him - he was very sincere. When George arrived at the house with his assistant (also named George!), he camed fully pre-pared with a small back-hoe, camera, everything he needed for the job. I was so clueless about septic systems that i took him around the back of the house to what I THOUGHT was the system. Instead, George said that what I thought was the system was two wells. He opened the wells with his machinery, let me see in side and advised on how to get them filled in. Now on to locating the septic system!! It was an incredibly hot day but George was calm and caring as we searched for the system. He was very clever in coming up with methods to find it with his assistant. With the help of his assistant, the system was found and unearthed. A curious pipe was found above ground and George advised that the pipe was not to code and needed to be addressed before I purchased the house. The new pipe led to the old system and George and his assistant used a camera to find the tank. When the septic system was unearthed, George failed it immediately noting that the system was too small and made of brick. He said it was a handmade system. The house is old so we expected some surprises but this news was a REAL surprise! I appreciate George and his assistant George for being so patient and so smart in discovering ways to find the system in a house that is old and with a lot of mysteries. I especially appreciate his disposition and sense that he really cared about his job and his customers. This is a family owned business and I really sensed his pride and knowledge about septics. George knowledge and longevity in the business made me want to use him in the future. George conveyed a high level of trust and real old-fashion ethics...that's what stood out the most in my experience with this company. I can't imagine how awful it would have been to purchase this house without having the inspection from A1 Excavating and Septics, LLC. With George's certification that the system failed, I was able to get the owner to replace the system without any expense to me and that put me in a better place to decide if I want to purchase the property or not. If I do purchase, I plan to work with George for all of my septic needs. He was GREAT! Here's an update. The owner of the property decided not to replace the system and even presented a report from another septic company that passed the system. My inspection from A-1 Excavating kept me from making a BIG mistake. I didn't purchase the property with the brick home-made septic system!!! Thanks again, George and your team.