Just a reminder for those with septic systems

[Zerk]

My largest deduction is medical insurance and medical costs, my deductions last year were a lot more than the $24k he is proposing. :

What is your max out of pocket and deductible? Though I realize you can deduct anything medical related. Can sue flex or HSA for asprin and bandaids too.


Personally I'd like to see that stuff go tax free like they do groceries in my state.

 

[mapper]

What is your max out of pocket and deductible? Though I realize you can deduct anything medical related. Can sue flex or HSA for asprin and bandaids too.


Personally I'd like to see that stuff go tax free like they do groceries in my state.

Deductible is $250/per person, max pop, $2000/$4000 max family, prescription $100/300 tier 2 and 3, $2000 non-generic, premiums $1250/month.
Prescription drug costs are exempt from sales tax here.
Wife has chronic autoimmune disease, our medical costs are pretty high, won't drop for a couple of more years when I hit 65.

 

[breadtrk]

Tough one. If it never acts up, you won't need to. If it does, the cleaner probably knows tricks. Though it is nice to have a plan before poop backs up.

Might be some metal, in it and metal dectector might help. Driving rod down works with old concrete ones, some day when you are really bored.

Place is 135 years old, I'm think I'm gonna stick my head in the sand and not worry. Then again. it might be a pipe straight to the creek for all I know. I do know that I've never seen anything that was flushed in that creek, but I've only lived here 60 years, and trust me when I tell you that I know every rock and branch in that creek all the way to the river. That creek goes through an old dishwashers yard too, he is known as Randy Travis these days, even in our darkest hours of drunkedness he never once mentioned a tampon or rubber floating by.

 

[Zerk]

The septic is what from the 50s? Seems that was not an uncommon time for farms to get rid of outhouses. I doubt he had indoor plumbing 135 years ago.

My guess is, if it is original, is is not a septic, but something else. Maybe someone with more experience with that old of house can say.

But I'd probably let the sleeping dog lie. But someday it could wake, and need to do something Things change out there. Trees grow.


I would not want to stir the pot with the county.

 

[Zerk]

never once mentioned a tampon or rubber floating by.

That would be because you are smart enough not to flush those into a septic, I hope. Otherwise, I suspect it is going to an alternative place.


Was there an old fashion well, big hole?

 

[dmccarty]

DO NOT raise any questions about codes that might incriminate you! Some of these bureaucrats will jump on it and make you correct it...

Asking questions to the county ABOUT the code is not going to get him in trouble. They only way the inspector would pay a visit if one ran their mouth and starting yapping about all of the problems that they had with the system. Answering questions about the code is partly why we pay taxes. Some of the best information I ever got about property and what was happening in my county happened when I went to various county government offices, include the health department, and asked some simple, open ended questions.

Later,
Dan

 

[teejk]

Asking questions to the county ABOUT the code is not going to get him in trouble. They only way the inspector would pay a visit if one ran their mouth and starting yapping about all of the problems that they had with the system. Answering questions about the code is partly why we pay taxes. Some of the best information I ever got about property and what was happening in my county happened when I went to various county government offices, include the health department, and asked some simple, open ended questions.

Later,
Dan

Ever here of "I'm asking for a friend"? Granted many public servants are there to help...speaking from experience a few are not and like to exert power. Approach with care...

 

[Zerk]

Do you want the government looking back for your permit? I would definitely worry in liberal states.

They have forced people to put septic in, when all they had was an out house.

You can't have pressurized water and no septic, in some places.

 

[John White]

In our area most pumpers charge $250 or more. I charge $190 to $200. I don't use any help, saving on insurance and taxes. I am also a mechanic and I do all my own maintaince and work. Yes septic tanks need to be pumped. A lot depends on how you take care of it. Years ago we didn't use near as much water, (taking showers) and a lot of our clothes were made out of cotton which would deteriorate and brake down in the septic. Now days we have a lot of synthetic fabrics and they don't brake down. They float out to your drain field and the microbes cant eat them. After years of abuse your drain field turns in to muck and cannot absorb the water. I tell my customers to not flush any thing down the toilet except toilet paper unless they have eaten it first. Drain cleaners, mouth wash, anti bacterial soaps, Clorox, Lysol, certain medications and other things kill the bacteria in your tank. During the 60 and 70's developers went out in the suburbs and had land plotted into 100ft plots. No sewer lines telling home buyers that the big pipe would come later. (it never came and never will) Many or most of the tanks had no baffles. Most were buried and the home owner had no idea where the lids were. So out of sight, out of mind. I am seeing lots of the fail now. I am pumping a few of them every 30 days. I don't know what they are going to do. Health dept. says there is not enough yard to put in another system. I pumped one the other day that was 30 years old, never pumped. Leach field I am sure is plugged. I hate govt. regulations and intruding. When I first started out, you paid one fee to the county. You could install, repair and pump on one license. Now you must have three licenses, bonds, certification. So I don't do any repairs or installation any more as I don't have time and stay too busy pumping. A lot of contractors have gotten out of the installation business. Because of the liability. County mandates how you install it them if it fails you are on the hook. A small business that I service had to have a upgrade septic system. They followed the rules and had a system installed as to their specs. This system failed shortly after being put into service. I had to pump it once a week, at $360. (considered commercial) I agree with some of the rules, making people put risers on their system. If they don't know where their tank is, they wont have it pumped. Remember your septic system is a investment. When it quits working and sewage is backing up, that $30k boat or car wont seem too important at the time. A properly installed system if maintained can last many years. Take care you your system, Have it pumped as needed.

 

[fried1765]

In our area most pumpers charge $250 or more. I charge $190 to $200. I don't use any help, saving on insurance and taxes. I am also a mechanic and I do all my own maintaince and work. Yes septic tanks need to be pumped. A lot depends on how you take care of it. Years ago we didn't use near as much water, (taking showers) and a lot of our clothes were made out of cotton which would deteriorate and brake down in the septic. Now days we have a lot of synthetic fabrics and they don't brake down. They float out to your drain field and the microbes cant eat them. After years of abuse your drain field turns in to muck and cannot absorb the water. I tell my customers to not flush any thing down the toilet except toilet paper unless they have eaten it first. Drain cleaners, mouth wash, anti bacterial soaps, Clorox, Lysol, certain medications and other things kill the bacteria in your tank. During the 60 and 70's developers went out in the suburbs and had land plotted into 100ft plots. No sewer lines telling home buyers that the big pipe would come later. (it never came and never will) Many or most of the tanks had no baffles. Most were buried and the home owner had no idea where the lids were. So out of sight, out of mind. I am seeing lots of the fail now. I am pumping a few of them every 30 days. I don't know what they are going to do. Health dept. says there is not enough yard to put in another system. I pumped one the other day that was 30 years old, never pumped. Leach field I am sure is plugged. I hate govt. regulations and intruding. When I first started out, you paid one fee to the county. You could install, repair and pump on one license. Now you must have three licenses, bonds, certification. So I don't do any repairs or installation any more as I don't have time and stay too busy pumping. A lot of contractors have gotten out of the installation business. Because of the liability. County mandates how you install it them if it fails you are on the hook. A small business that I service had to have a upgrade septic system. They followed the rules and had a system installed as to their specs. This system failed shortly after being put into service. I had to pump it once a week, at $360. (considered commercial) I agree with some of the rules, making people put risers on their system. If they don't know where their tank is, they wont have it pumped. Remember your septic system is a investment. When it quits working and sewage is backing up, that $30k boat or car wont seem too important at the time. A properly installed system if maintained can last many years. Take care you your system, Have it pumped as needed.

My Clorox, and soaps go straight from the clothes washer to the grass. I should do the same with the dishwasher, but it does not get much use.
Around here a new septic system goes for $12,000 +
Once upon a time I was a Civil engineer.
I replaced my own septic system, for $800, without permit, or inspection, about 31 years ago.
1000 heavy top tank (can drive over), + a distribution box + a leaching pit surrounded with washed stone.
My soil is pure sand,..... down to forever.
Just that one task paid for my old backhoe. It was 16 years old then, but is 47 years old now, and has 1850 hours. Still works like a charm.
A hoe is a wonderful/very useful toy, that I absolutely would not want to be without.