Anyone here install their own septic

[Steppenwolfe]

I just had a new conventional system installed at my farmhouse we are renovating. 1500 gal tank, (4+ bedrooms), used the infiltrators... took one day with a three man crew who does this everyday and for 60 years. $4900 bucks installed. 5 lines, 80 ft long, 9 ft apart, 54 inches deep. Tank was 1k, the infiltrators were 2k for 100 of them, misc pipe and fittings another 500 bucks. Not a huge profit margin. Old man was 77 and his two sons 55 and 41 ... his backhoe is new in 2019 and cost $108 grand. He tries to install 3 to 5 a week, averages 3.5; all added up he makes a good living. BTW, we had to have an engineer design, inspect, and sign off on the system. Permit was $750 bucks which includes the well permit; that is going in in two weeks.

 

[fried1765]

I just had a new conventional system installed at my farmhouse we are renovating. 1500 gal tank, (4+ bedrooms), used the infiltrators... took one day with a three man crew who does this everyday and for 60 years. $4900 bucks installed. 5 lines, 80 ft long, 9 ft apart, 54 inches deep. Tank was 1k, the infiltrators were 2k for 100 of them, misc pipe and fittings another 500 bucks. Not a huge profit margin. Old man was 77 and his two sons 55 and 41 ... his backhoe is new in 2019 and cost $108 grand. He tries to install 3 to 5 a week, averages 3.5; all added up he makes a good living. BTW, we had to have an engineer design, inspect, and sign off on the system. Permit was $750 bucks which includes the well permit; that is going in in two weeks.

OP's Florida soil will likely perk much better than what appears to be clay mix soil shown in your pix.

2019 cost of that Case TLB.... without a thumb.... was $108K ???

 

[PILOON]

Oh there is a better system created every year or so.
Little pumps to circulate, others to aerate Bioflow, Equoflow , bioness on and an.
Soil tests, percolation tests, surveys to assure separation from yours and all neighbors sewage and wells.
Then to add insult to injury they mandate biannual pumping, and that subject to fines.
Next your inspector decides he does not like your experts proposal and has you do it all over again.
I have seen where the ordered sand trucked from great distance claiming the perk tests were non conforming.

Then you discover your $$$ perk test is merely a hole and timing how long it takes 5 gals of water to be absorbed.
My bucket and Timex can do that but I'm not a licensed certified soil engineer. (he used a digital stopwatch?)

 

[4570Man]

OP's Florida soil will likely perk much better than what appears to be clay mix soil shown in your pix.

2019 cost of that Case TLB.... without a thumb.... was $108K ???

That’s about what a new full size runs. Personally I don’t understand paying that. My $28,000 2011 used Deere hoe does the same job just as good. I sold that hoe for more than I had in it after a little over a years use. You could pay for my Deere 310 that I used to have, the M59 I have now and the Kubota KX040 I have now for 108k.

 

[fried1765]

Oh there is a better system created every year or so.
Little pumps to circulate, others to aerate Bioflow, Equoflow , bioness on and an.
Soil tests, percolation tests, surveys to assure separation from yours and all neighbors sewage and wells.
Then to add insult to injury they mandate biannual pumping, and that subject to fines.
Next your inspector decides he does not like your experts proposal and has you do it all over again.
I have seen where the ordered sand trucked from great distance claiming the perk tests were non conforming.

Then you discover your $$$ perk test is merely a hole and timing how long it takes 5 gals of water to be absorbed.
My bucket and Timex can do that but I'm not a licensed certified soil engineer. (he used a digital stopwatch?)

You certainly DID hit the nail on the head with your analysis!
I had all the training to do the job, but never got that license.
My last license was for flying a 747-400,... not particularly comparable.

 

[RoyKing]

You can't fight city hall, what they say goes unless you can afford lawyers. File your own permit, go watch an install and copy it. Take lots of pictures. I was told you can't install your own ATS 36Kva generator, after inspection they commented it was best job they had seen.

 

[4570Man]

You can't fight city hall, what they say goes unless you can afford lawyers. File your own permit, go watch an install and copy it. Take lots of pictures. I was told you can't install your own ATS 36Kva generator, after inspection they commented it was best job they had seen.

Well most homeowners do electrical work like this so it is fair that it’s for the most part forbidden.

 

[4570Man]

Id just like to be clear that again their is no structure on the property yet, just trying to get the small stuff done, well was put in, I had electric and now Im thinking the septic. I do know where I plan to place the home, Im only guessing that as long as its away from my well ( I think the requirement is 75 feet but I would be double that ) and its downhill from the planned home location ( it is ) than I will be ok.

I have a backhoe, tree roots are pretty much non-existant cause I yanked everything out with an excavator and its all sand

You really need a bigger backhoe with a 36” bucket to do a septic. A backhoe digs like this V vs like this I I and digging a wide ditch with a narrow bucket doesn’t work good at all.

 

[1930]

You really need a bigger backhoe with a 36” bucket to do a septic. A backhoe digs like this V vs like this I I and digging a wide ditch with a narrow bucket doesn’t work good at all.

I believe this and had thought the same. Thanks

 

[GSVette]

In my county a soil evaluation and septic design by a licensed septic design engineer is required in order to obtain a permit from the health district. An approved installer is also strongly recommended (but I don’t think is necessarily required).

I did the install on my system with the assistance and supervision of a good friend who happens to be an approved installer.

Laterals (5x100’), tight line (~500’), 2 plastic dual chamber tanks-1 1000 gallon, 1 1500 gallon, distribution box and low profile infiltrators. Entire install (less backfilling) completed in one weekend with 2 guys.

Used my buddies Volvo excavator rather than my 580E-excavator was much quicker and really the better tool for this size of job.