If you’ve listened to the Excavation Profits Podcast for any amount of time, you know the purpose of the show is simple: real conversations with successful excavation and septic contractors who are winning in today’s economy. No hype. No fluff. Just proven strategies that keep their phones ringing, their equipment running, and their businesses profitable.

In this episode, host Scott Andreasen sits down with two leaders who are redefining what’s possible in the septic industry:

• Clint Mundt, founder of Septilink, the breakthrough septic monitoring technology.
  

• Chris Ragsdale, owner of Septic IQ, a septic maintenance provider and early adopter of the Septilink system.
  
  

What follows is a deep dive into how Septilink went from a frustrated homeowner’s idea to one of the biggest technological shifts the septic world has seen in decades — and how contractors like Chris are using it to eliminate emergencies, boost recurring revenue, and create a level of customer confidence that never existed before.

Here is the podcast:

From Frustrated Homeowner to Industry Innovator

The idea for Septilink didn’t come out of a boardroom. It started in Clint’s backyard.

About five years ago, Clint found himself constantly battling issues on a property with two septic systems. Red lights. Alarms. Unexpected backups. Stressful emergencies. It was the same story homeowners experience every single day — and Clint recognized something odd:

“We monitor everything else in our homes… why not our septic system?”

That question sent him into months of research, prototyping, and field testing. Eventually, the data proved that septic issues can be predicted before they become catastrophic. Septilink was born — and from there, the company entered a rapid phase of development, testing, and dealer partnerships.

Fast forward three years, and Septilink has:

• Released its SL5 product at the 2025 Texas Onsite Wastewater Conference
  

• Grown to 1,000 Members in past year
  

• Partnered with 20 dealers across 12 states
  

• Outgrown its Texas office and expanded into a 7,500 sq ft facility
  
  

The technology is no longer just an experiment. It’s a movement.

Meeting the Contractor Who Built a Business Around It: Septic IQ

When Chris Ragsdale of Septic IQ first came across Septilink, he wasn’t looking for another gadget. He was looking for a competitive differentiator—a way to elevate his business beyond the traditional “three visits per year” maintenance model the industry had relied on for decades.

Chris found exactly what he’d been searching for at the 2023 Texas onsite wastewater show, where he met Clint and saw Septilink in action.

“I walked up, saw the boards, the charts, the system… and said, ‘This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for.’”

Chris immediately signed up to be part of the early rollout — helping collect field data, testing functionality, and giving feedback. As Septilink improved its hardware and software, Chris did something most contractors won’t:

He rebuilt his entire business model around it.

He renamed his company Septic IQ, redesigned his brand around the concept of septic intelligence, wrapped trucks, created new uniforms, and built an entire membership model around data-driven septic care.

Why?

Because for the first time ever, septic companies could stop reacting and start preventing.

The Shift from Emergency Calls to Predictive Care

Before Septilink, Chris—like all septic providers—regularly dealt with emergencies:

• overflowing tanks
  

• failing pumps
  

• backups in the home
  

• red-light alarms
  
  

But once he began installing Septilink, something extraordinary happened:

Emergency calls dropped dramatically.

Not because customers suddenly started taking better care of their systems — but because Chris now sees issues before the homeowner even notices.

Pump run times spike?
→ The system flags it.

Toilet leaking?
→ The data shows continuous inflow.

Aerator failure?
→ Chris knows before the homeowner hears a thing.

His favorite story is one nearly every Septilink dealer can relate to:

“I called a customer and said, ‘Hey, I think you’ve got a toilet running.’ She laughed because they had just noticed it. She said, ‘This feels weird… but I love that something I’m paying for is actually working.’”

This is what he calls the “proactive peace of mind model.”

Septilink eliminates the crisis and replaces it with confidence — and that confidence has become a powerful revenue driver.

Monthly Recurring Revenue & Higher Customer Trust

Before implementing Septilink, Chris already recognized the importance of recurring revenue. He tested software platforms for over a year before choosing ServiceTitan and shifted his clients to monthly billing, allowing them to budget more easily for maintenance.

But Septilink is what brought the entire thing together.

When a system alerts Chris’s team before a homeowner notices a problem, customers feel taken care of. They trust the service. They stay on memberships longer. And they refer new clients more frequently.

Chris of Septic IQ now has:

• Over 100 members using Septilink
  

• A high acceptance rate (only ~10% decline the upgrade)
  

• Virtually zero red-light emergencies
  

• Faster workflows and fewer truck rolls
  
  

The system has made him more efficient — and more profitable.

How It Works Inside the Business

The Septilink installation is simple. Chris says:

“If you can install a septic control panel, you can install this.”

The bigger challenge isn’t the hardware — it’s the business transformation.

Here’s how Chris built his recurring revenue model around Septilink:

Step 1 – Integrate monitoring into existing maintenance contracts

In Texas, maintenance contracts legally require three site visits per year. Septilink doesn’t replace that — it enhances it.

Step 2 – Educate customers on proactive vs. reactive care

People don’t want septic emergencies. Once they understand the benefits, most sign up immediately.

Step 3 – Bundle Septilink into a membership

Chris rebuilt his tiers and transitioned customers into a higher-value plan that included monitoring at no upfront cost.

Step 4 – Provide WOW-level service

Stopping toilet leaks. Spotting pump failures. Calling customers before they call you.

This is what creates loyalty.

Step 5 – Rebrand around technology

Changing the company name to Septic IQ was bold — and it paid off. Anytime customers see his logo, his trucks, or his tech, they associate his company with intelligence, prevention, and reliability.

Unexpected Business Benefits

One of the biggest surprises for Chris?
He’s no longer fighting fires every day.

He references Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” describing how most contractors live in Quadrant 1 (urgent and important).

With Septilink, he now lives in Quadrant 2 (not urgent but extremely important).
That shift has allowed him to:

• plan better
  

• train better
  

• grow methodically
  

• make better decisions
  

• reduce stress across his team
  
  

“Our goal is simple: get every member fully connected with Septilink so no one is left without proactive monitoring.”

What’s Next for Septilink?

Clint shared several exciting updates on the podcast:

1. 240-Volt Support

For higher-demand pump systems.

2. Dual Pump Kits

Ideal for systems with two pumps instead of an aerator/pump combo.

3. The SL7 Coming in 2026

This is a massive step.
The SL7 will be:

• a full replacement control panel
  

• with built-in monitoring
  

• in a single compact box
  
  

This means complete system control + monitoring in one unit. No more separate controller and monitoring device.

4. Improved Dealer Tools

As companies like Septic IQ scale to hundreds of units, Septilink is enhancing:

• dashboards
  

• site management tools
  

• map visualizations
  

• alert controls
  

Weekly app updates are already rolling out, but 2026 will bring even more.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Septic Is Data-Driven

Both Clint and Chris agree:

The septic industry is shifting from reactive emergency service to proactive, preventative care—and Septilink is leading the way.

Chris summarized it perfectly:

“Some people love the run-to-failure model. That’s not how I like to do things. And it’s not what gives customers the best experience.”

As more contractors adopt smart monitoring, homeowners will begin expecting it — just like they expect smart home thermostats, security systems, and appliance alerts today.

The companies who get ahead of this will be the ones dominating their markets five years from now.

Where to Learn More

Connect with Septilink

📧 dealer@septilink.com
📞 469-916-2650
🌐 septilink.com

Connect with Septic IQ (Chris Ragsdale)

📧 chris@septiciq.com

🌐 https://septiciq.com/