Need some Septic System questions answered?? Please help?
We are supposed to be moving into a new house, the septic has some problems. need to know some sort of ball park $$ for what needs to get done without getting ripped off. please help. all greek to me. never had septic before. The treatment tank was found in "satisfactory condition", the conveyance system was in unsatisfactory..the dbox was not opened at the time of inspection because the effluent liquid level in the absorption area was above the top of the box. Sewage effluent identified above the outlet pip lateral inverts in the d box & above the top of the dbox indicates a saturated drainage area. absorbtion area found unsatisfactory.. effluent liquid was noted to rise back up rapidly and significantly in the pipe line from tank. the stone and probe holes during and after testing to the poin tof back flow towards the treatment tank. sewage identified above the laterals?, stone, dbox indicates a saturated absorption area.. blah blah. someone help
Public Comments
- take your list to your local septic serviceman for an estimate, sounds darn expensive to me, here in cheap mid-Michigan it's $100 or more just to get the tank pumped out (that don't require any repairs or special tools and only takes 15 minutes)
- Where we live that dig a hole & fill it with water & check the absorbation rate to determine if "field lines" will work. If it fails you must use an oxidation pond or install a mechanical sewer system with a sprinkler system for waste water.
- Can't be all that new a new house with those problems.. either the original wasn't done right [drainage area, the "leach field" maybe wasn't extensive enuf for your soils] and stuff coming back up because it couldn't soak in properly is indicative that you may need what we call the "Sewer Hole Guy" [septic system install/repair folks]. Get some estimates p.d.q. We had our tank pumped out, a new box and lines put in and another leach field excavated out.. it cost [8 yrs ago] $300, and basically we bought another 15 years worth of happy flushing. The original system was 15 years old, so that's a ballpark. Pumping out can be done every 5 years for sure [depending on number of residents & such you might need pump-outs at 3 to 4 years] but the defective boxes & unsatisfactory leach field [absorption area, e.g.] need attention pronto. A lot depends on percolation rates [how fast liquids are absorbed in the soils] in your area, whether you have high clay-content or mostly sandy-based soils... A local septic system guy can tell you what is required...based on your description, however, your job may well be a lot like the one we had to have done. Don't wait too long to get this in train...backed up toilets, sinks, tubs & washers are a nightmare. Key words: leach field improvement or expansion.
- When the drainage area is saturated, you will need a new system installed. The sellers are normally the ones who pay, as it is part of the home sale. If they won't, offer about $5000-$7000 less for the home.
