A septic services company with longevity and local history says a lot to a potential customer, according to Misty Price, co-owner of Price’s Septic tank Service in Danielsville, Georgia.

“We’re from here; everybody knows everybody,” says Price, who shares ownership of the business with her husband, Shane Price. “Our company is one of the only ones that is family owned. Our phone number was taken out in 1962, and we still have the same phone number.”

The company has been around for more than 60 years, founded by Shane’s grandfather, Alfred “Fats” Gary. Later he sold to Shane’s father, Harold “Cowboy” Price.

Misty and Shane have been the sole owners for the past 17 years. Their son, Cody Price, 27, also works with them, providing commercial and residential septic service, as well as grease traps and jetting/camera work in a 25- to 30-mile area around Danielsville, which is about 45 minutes northeast of Atlanta.

Misty says the company’s reputation is solid after being in the business so long. “We still go out on jobs that Shane’s dad went on,” she says.

Back when Shane’s father owned the business, the economy dropped out in the late 1970s, Misty recalls. Harold had to take on a second job and pumped tanks on the side when he could find the time.

“Later, my husband wanted to buy the business and grow it,” she says.

When they bought the company in 2002, they had only one truck. “We pumped probably three tanks a week,” she says. “Now we’re doing six to eight a day. It’s really grown leaps and bounds beyond what we thought.”

At one point, the Prices tried adding portable restroom services to the company offerings, but it wasn’t a good match for their business model. Today, they continue to focus on septic tank service.

Price’s fleet

The company dumps about four tanks a day, per truck. Their fleet includes three vacuum trucks; usually they have two on the road. One is a 2007 Kenworth with 3,500-gallon waste and 500-gallon freshwater steel tank; one is a 2000 Sterling with 3,000-waste and 500-gallon freshwater steel tanks. Misty calls them both “eye catchers.”

But the star of their fleet is a white and viper blue 2018 Peterbilt 348 with a 3,000-gallon waste and 300-gallon freshwater steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 4310 blower package from Pik Rite. The truck is powered by a PACCAR PX-9 375 hp engine sending power to the wheels through an automatic transmission (Allison Transmission).

Features include a custom-built swivel jetter reel with 300 feet of 1/2-inch hose, chrome toolboxes, stainless steel hose tray protectors, rear work lights, a 2-inch inlet hydrant fill in the rear, polished aluminum wheels, rear hooks to carry 225 feet of 3-inch hose and a 10-ton tow hitch.

Interior features include dual air-ride seats, Bluetooth hands-free phone, stereo, air conditioning, inside-outside access PTO switches and one-touch speed control for pumping and jetting. Graphics were provided by Flaherty and Sons Vinyl. Cody is the driver, and the truck is used for septic and grease trap service, jetting, and pumping lift stations.

“This Peterbilt is one of the nicest trucks we own,” Misty says.

Working with a husband and son can be a lot, Misty says. “It’s kind of hard to have a life outside work, and it’s a lot of work to balance life and work and leave work at work.”

But keeping the community served remains a point of pride for the Prices — and Misty’s not shy about it. “Our reputation has always been really good. We’re awesome-sauce!”