jrdepew
Silver Member
Hey All,
I just moved a long way away from home to the Charleston SC area, and bought a new home 2 months ago. The house was finished a few weeks before we moved in, and has city water but a septic system. They built up the land to put the house on, and to bury the septic system (which is good, as we are awfully close to sea level down here). Most of the yard had been sodded with centipede but the area above the septic drain field was left bare (they had grown some rye just to hold the dirt in place). I planted centipede and it has been coming along good. A few weeks ago I noticed that one part of the yard was extremely wet...then it began to open into a small hole, and now it is a large hole, and the hole pumps water up and out whenever I wash dishes or run the dishwasher or washing machine.
I am guessing that they didn't put enough fill above part of the drain field (the yard is sloping down at this point...and I am guessing the fill dirt got thin). Any chance I am looking at something more expensive here? How much fill should there be over the leach field?
I am meeting with the septic installers and the builder tomorrow (they happen to be installing another 2 septic systems a short drive from my house). I have some pictures to show them and am hoping they make it right.
Who is in charge of filling in over the leach field after the system goes in? The GC or the septic company? I hope they don't fight me on this...it wouldn't be the first battle we have had to fight since moving in.
I would like them to come over, inspect the pipe in that area, the add more fill and grade.
Any comments? I have never dealt with a septic having issues before (I have lived my whole 29 years in houses with septic systems, and never had a single issue).
Thanks,
Joe
I just moved a long way away from home to the Charleston SC area, and bought a new home 2 months ago. The house was finished a few weeks before we moved in, and has city water but a septic system. They built up the land to put the house on, and to bury the septic system (which is good, as we are awfully close to sea level down here). Most of the yard had been sodded with centipede but the area above the septic drain field was left bare (they had grown some rye just to hold the dirt in place). I planted centipede and it has been coming along good. A few weeks ago I noticed that one part of the yard was extremely wet...then it began to open into a small hole, and now it is a large hole, and the hole pumps water up and out whenever I wash dishes or run the dishwasher or washing machine.
I am guessing that they didn't put enough fill above part of the drain field (the yard is sloping down at this point...and I am guessing the fill dirt got thin). Any chance I am looking at something more expensive here? How much fill should there be over the leach field?
I am meeting with the septic installers and the builder tomorrow (they happen to be installing another 2 septic systems a short drive from my house). I have some pictures to show them and am hoping they make it right.
Who is in charge of filling in over the leach field after the system goes in? The GC or the septic company? I hope they don't fight me on this...it wouldn't be the first battle we have had to fight since moving in.
I would like them to come over, inspect the pipe in that area, the add more fill and grade.
Any comments? I have never dealt with a septic having issues before (I have lived my whole 29 years in houses with septic systems, and never had a single issue).
Thanks,
Joe