Septic Systems

[btuser]

For those keeping score I received the final cost.

15K.

Is that for a new leech field or does it include the tank as well? 15k is really not that crazy for a working system. I've seen/heard prices go much higher depending on circumstances.

Sorry you've got to flush the money so you can flush other things. As someone who has survived the alternative (bad/no septic! as well as tree roots in the main line) I can say piece of mind is money well spent. In my area sewer works out to about 2k/year with average water use, so if a septic is healthy it's adds value to the property vs paying monthly.

 

[earl764]

15K for the whole thing.

1. new exit pipe for the basement.
2. piping to the tank.
3. new tank.
4. new field.

old tank will be collapsed and filled in.

 

[semipro]

I'd consider using using a lint filter at your clothes washer and a filter between the tank and field; something that can be accessed easily and cleaned with a hose.
Lint from synthetic clothes doesn't degrade in the tank, may not settle well, and may work its way out to your field where it can clog the small exit holes in the drain pipes.

 

[USMC80]

15K sounds good, Mine was 26k three years ago

 

[oldspark]

15K sounds good, Mine was 26k three years ago

Boy that sounds high, I was quoted about 8 thousand one and a half years ago.

 

[USMC80]

25k average price where I'm at in NJ. Sucks

 

[oldspark]

I guess you people in NJ have more money then us Iowa folks.

 

[USMC80]

I guess you people in NJ have more money then us Iowa folks.

LOL. Someone thinks so I guess

 

[Highbeam]

I'd consider using using a lint filter at your clothes washer and a filter between the tank and field; something that can be accessed easily and cleaned with a hose.
Lint from synthetic clothes doesn't degrade in the tank, may not settle well, and may work its way out to your field where it can clog the small exit holes in the drain pipes.

Good idea but lint won't clog the exit holes, it will form a mat on the soil surface that will slow or stop infiltration of effluent. Once that drainfield can no longer absorb water it fails.

 

[Michael Golden]

Installed my own aerator septic with 420' of leech for just under $3000! Had to take simple test through the health dept. and then they had to come and inspect. It is really a very easy job and only took about 16 hours from start to finish with two guys.

 

[osagebow]

When we bought our house there was a big ugly hole in the yard from a failed pond project. Used it to make a dry well for all the grey water. Hand dug a 30' long, 3' deep trench to it that doubles as a french drain for the yard and gutters. That was fun.
It has worked great. We only have a 750 gallon tank, and have pumped it every 4 years.

 

[Highbeam]

Installed my own aerator septic with 420' of leech for just under $3000! Had to take simple test through the health dept. and then they had to come and inspect. It is really a very easy job and only took about 16 hours from start to finish with two guys.

I wish this stuff was that cheap and easy. You must have great soils and a very relaxed AHJ.

 

[Michael Golden]

I wish this stuff was that cheap and easy. You must have great soils and a very relaxed AHJ.

What "stuff"? It was a aerator system with 420ft of leech, my soil is actually not that good. I hit some clay here and there, that is why I had to go 400 ft instead 200ft. It just shows how much things are marked up when you get someone else doing the work. I had two estimates one was $8500 and the other $10500. That right there is money in the bank!

 

[Mackman]

House built in the 1940s and it had a septic system?? Most houses around here (SE PA) would have had cesspools. By the way i do own a septic company. www.bmwastewater.com. Mods if im not allowed to post links sorry.

The best thing you can do for a septic is pump it every 2-3 years. Also i do agree Rid-x or any other type off stuff like that is a joke. A good working septic doesn't need anything added to it.

 

[Mackman]

New septics around here are about 12-17,000 for a basic system. Then if you get into sand monds or drip irrigation can get upwards of 30,000+

 

[semipro]

The best thing you can do for a septic is pump it every 2-3 years.

Sounds a lot like the recommendation to change engine oil every 3000 miles.
If loading is light why pump so often? Say like my parents living in a 4 bedroom house, just the two of them.
It would seem that as long as solids levels stay low enough that they don't exit the tank and enter the field there's no harm in extending pumping intervals.

 

[Mackman]

Sounds a lot like the recommendation to change engine oil every 3000 miles.
If loading is light why pump so often? Say like my parents living in a 4 bedroom house, just the two of them.
It would seem that as long as solids levels stay low enough that they don't exit the tank and enter the field there's no harm in extending pumping intervals.

2 people i say no longer then 5 years. I charge 235.00 up to 1,500 gallons. Most tanks in my area are 1,000 or 1,250 gallons. So the way i look at it is 235.00 is going to make sure there are no solids in the tank. Thats a cheap piece of mind. But if you want to gamble to save 235.00 it could cost you big $$$. Then you would have wished you spent 235.00 every 3-5 years.

Plus the homeowner has no way to really tell how much solids are in a tank. Do they have a garbage disposal?? Do they have alot of guests over?? Do they flush wipes?etc. There is alot of variables that go into it. The avg. life for a septic system is around 20 years give or take. I seen them fail at 12 years and last over 45 years. Its all about maintenance. Just like a car engine.

 

[Beer Belly]

We sold a home a few years back, and the buyers were more worried about "is there any paranormal activity", than they were about testing a 1953 Septic System....2 years later they dropped 20K into a new system. One of the selling points to our current home was that a sewer line was under way.....granted, we now have an assessment of 22K, but that is over a 20 year period, and getting quotes of $3,500- $4,000 to hook up....oh yeah, then you get the "usage" bill......to us, it's worth the cost to have the option.

 

[oldspark]

Sounds a lot like the recommendation to change engine oil every 3000 miles.
If loading is light why pump so often? Say like my parents living in a 4 bedroom house, just the two of them.
It would seem that as long as solids levels stay low enough that they don't exit the tank and enter the field there's no harm in extending pumping intervals.

Well we dug mine up to fix a pipe going into it a few years ago and part of the crap had changed to dirt (compost) and had to be dug out, I pump every 2 years to be on the safe side.

 

[semipro]

Plus the homeowner has no way to really tell how much solids are in a tank. Do they have a garbage disposal?? Do they have alot of guests over?? Do they flush wipes?etc. There is alot of variables that go into it. The avg. life for a septic system is around 20 years give or take. I seen them fail at 12 years and last over 45 years. Its all about maintenance. Just like a car engine.

I guess that's my point to: "there are a lot of variables". I get your point on the cheap cost of maintenance versus replacement though.
We've pumped twice in 12 years for our family of four and each time the solids level was feet below the outlet.
I don't understand why inspection ports aren't built into systems so that you can check the inlet/outlet and sludge level.
I'd rather pay someone to come out and check solids levels with a "Sludge Judge" than to pay for pumping that may not be needed.

To your point "Its all about maintenance" I have to disagree somewhat. I think a good deal of what determines how long a system lasts has to do with how well it was originally designed/built. In many cases owners do "maintenance" often because the system is not handling the loading it should . In many cases this is because the drain field is inadequate given soil conditions.

 

[oldspark]

I do have risers on mine where I can keep an eye on it, I just let it go too long once, not going to happen again.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Wife and I moved in to our 3 BR (built in '79) house in 2002, septic was pumped at that time. I had them do it last year- first time, no issues. One must calculate their crap-load. If you have a couple 350#ers, and a slew of kids flushing toys down the toilet- YMMV.

 

[maple1]

We just had our tank pumped this past summer for the first time since we moved in almost 18 years ago. I knew I was way overdue, but just kept putting it off - mainly because the tank was covered over with I wasn't sure how much dirt & exactly where. Anyway, the system was & still is working OK, but he left with a heavy truck load, and that pump did some major thrashing. And I don't really know what kind of shape our field is in now, and won't until there's a problem - we've (family of 5) sent a ton of water through it over the years via the washers (clothes & dish), I'm sure some fines got sent to the field. But a septic system should last a long time as long as it is used & maintained right. Ours wasn't and it's almost 20 years in now with a freshly emptied tank - it won't be that long next time, for sure.

Oh yeah - don't flush baby wipes no matter how biodegradable the packaging says they are. There was a big mess of them in our tank, and our youngest kid is 14 now.

I also don't think I would sweat going 10 years between pumpings if there was only 2 in the house - unless your tank is undersized.

 

[Mackman]

Wipes are turning into a major problem. Even for people tied into sewer. The treatment plants are having a hard time with them as well. here is a good write up about them damn wipes

http://www.pumper.com/editorial/2013/06/wipe_out

 

[oldspark]

I also don't think I would sweat going 10 years between pumpings if there was only 2 in the house - unless your tank is undersized.

Chart on page 6 on how often you should pump out the tank.
(broken link removed to http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/WW/publications/pipline/PL_FA95.pdf)