DIY Septic System

[boxygen]

Thanks atgreen, all great advice. I have access to all the hay I want, however I'm definitely going to use fabric. I have a bunch of other projects that will require it in the future so I plan on buying a roll. I own a laser and builders level, I typically use the laser to rough out grades and the level for shooting inverts and other critical elevations, which is pretty much everything besides subgrade. I appreciate the advice on the tanks. I have not called around yet but plan on it soon. Have you ever used Gagne or Precast of Maine out of Topsham? Im in the Freeport area and both are very local to me. Out of curiosity what are you seeing for prices for 1000 gal tank these days? Can you clear one thing up for me? Are you required to be state certified to professionally install systems or is it voluntary to get certified which would allow you to "market" yourself differently from other earthwork contractors?

 

[atgreene]

Thanks atgreen, all great advice. I have access to all the hay I want, however I'm definitely going to use fabric. I have a bunch of other projects that will require it in the future so I plan on buying a roll. I own a laser and builders level, I typically use the laser to rough out grades and the level for shooting inverts and other critical elevations, which is pretty much everything besides subgrade. I appreciate the advice on the tanks. I have not called around yet but plan on it soon. Have you ever used Gagne or Precast of Maine out of Topsham? Im in the Freeport area and both are very local to me. Out of curiosity what are you seeing for prices for 1000 gal tank these days? Can you clear one thing up for me? Are you required to be state certified to professionally install systems or is it voluntary to get certified which would allow you to "market" yourself differently from other earthwork contractors?

I have heard Pepin was $500 +-. I think I pay $600 +, never really look at the bill sad to say. Gagne is good, never used Precast of Maine?

Certification is voluntary, allows you to install a septic w/o 2 of the 4 inspections. FWIW, not a huge incentive, but proves to customers that at least you aren't afraid of getting an education and are willing to learn. Same as the Erosion Control Cert. There again, not many benefits, but you are held to a higher standard, not always a bad thing.

 

[tommu56]

Steverino

Is there a valve in the 1 st box out of your septic tank to select what field gets effluent?

what did they call it when you got it i stopped at a local plumbing supply and they didn't know what valve I was talking about.

We aren't required to have 2 fields down here that might be why.

tom

 

[atgreene]

What valve are you refering to? I've left old systems hooked-up, T'd off the gray water line out of the tank. Allows both systems to function and if the first fails the second will handle it anyway.

Never put a valve in?

 

[Steverino]

Tommu56, those black boxed with the orange plugs in them are "distribution" boxes or are commonly referred to as "D" boxes. The design requirements to meet the state specifications required me to have two separate trenches each with an effective 330 sq. ft. of leaching. This is a gravity system so the distribution had to be done in such a way that it would be equally divided. The local sanitarian requested that I do the way shown in the pictures. I would have preferred to feed down to the first set of infiltrators and then from there to the second set. He felt that in order to conform with the code I had to do a distribution before it reached either set if infiltrators. I don't know that it makes a hill of beans difference but of course in order to have the system approved I did it his way. I balanced them by using a garden hose and watching the flow down each circuit and adjusting the heights of the "D" boxes. Once I was satisfied I placed a patio block under each one for it to rest on. The reason I have the leach field configuration I have is due to space limitation. In a larger area I could have had the two single leach fields going in different directions and did the distribution between them. Hope this answers your question.

P.S. There is no valve in the "D" box it is simply a square vessel with a round opening on each side.

 

[tommu56]

Steverino

thanks

Some areas require 2 fields that you alternate one each year to give the bed a rest on alternate years the valve is to switch between fields manually.

I wanted one to switch were my rain water collection is going and these valves would work for me. I haven't came up with the valve name to find it.

For your distribution boxes they do make a semi circle doohickey that fits in the discharge pipes to even flow out. Again I don't know what the proper name is

tom

 

[LBrown59]

Steverino

thanks

1*Some areas require 2 fields that you alternate one each year to give the bed a rest on alternate years the valve is to switch between fields manually.

I wanted one to switch were my rain water collection is going and these valves would work for me. I haven't came up with the valve name to find it.

For your distribution boxes they do make a semi circle doohickey that fits in the discharge pipes to even flow out. Again I don't know what the proper name is

tom

1*Oh no as if one screw up isn't bad enough now we hafta go for 2.

 

[Steverino]

Steverino

thanks

Some areas require 2 fields that you alternate one each year to give the bed a rest on alternate years the valve is to switch between fields manually.

I wanted one to switch were my rain water collection is going and these valves would work for me. I haven't came up with the valve name to find it.

For your distribution boxes they do make a semi circle doohickey that fits in the discharge pipes to even flow out. Again I don't know what the proper name is

tom

Here is a link to a website that explains how to accomplish what you are attempting to do. It will also sell you the components. http://www.thenaturalhome.com/septic.html#septicfilter
The section you are interested in is Director Valves.
If I ever do another one I think I would use one of these valves.

 

[Whitey]

Here is a site you may find helpful............www.eco-nomic.com

 

[20 20]

LBrown59; I agree with you, this over thinking and over engineering is just a money maker. It benifits the governement agencys the engineers etc etc etc... I'm not saying someone should just dig a hole and be done. BUT A proper working septic is a simple and VERY effective natural{key word} thing. All this over engineering and over thinking is doing is causing head aches and problems down the road. I have installed and worked on septics more then I care to remember, the simple ones do just as good a job{if not better} then the over constructed ones.

With all that said make sure you chew your corn