Anyone here install their own septic

[fried1765]

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.

I had similar experience.
Got wiring permit, but inspector showed up when I was out of town.
He left a message for me to call him.
When I returned home and called, he said, "who did that work"?
I said, "I did".
His comment: "some of the best work I have seen".
I was prepared for at least nit picking criticism.

 

[grsthegreat]

Well most homeowners do electrical work like this so it is fair that it痴 for the most part forbidden. View attachment 682034View attachment 682035

you would never believe the junk ive see after nearly 40 years of electrical service. from one entire cabin wired in lamp cord (2 wire electrical light fixture cord wired inside walls),

 

[buck12]

you would never believe the junk ive see after nearly 40 years of electrical service. from one entire cabin wired in lamp cord (2 wire electrical light fixture cord wired inside walls),View attachment 682044

A buddy of mine bought a house years ago that had small workshop wired with orange extension cords held in place with bent nails.

 

[grsthegreat]

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稚 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.

View attachment 682038View attachment 682039View attachment 682040View attachment 682041

not too far from you in N. Idaho. similar systems used here for most people. A homeowner can do their own work, but the system needs approval in advance from health district. The entire basic gravity system is very simple to install, but the ones i usually work on are very complicated systems with pre-filter tanks, dosing and recirculating tanks, and 1 or 2 computer control modules to control the entire mess.

 

[fried1765]

you would never believe the junk ive see after nearly 40 years of electrical service. from one entire cabin wired in lamp cord (2 wire electrical light fixture cord wired inside walls),View attachment 682044

That picture is absolutely......CRAZY !!!

 

[fried1765]

not too far from you in N. Idaho. similar systems used here for most people. A homeowner can do their own work, but the system needs approval in advance from health district. The entire basic gravity system is very simple to install, but the ones i usually work on are very complicated systems with pre-filter tanks, dosing and recirculating tanks, and 1 or 2 computer control modules to control the entire mess.View attachment 682045 View attachment 682046 View attachment 682047

North Idaho.......I remember hearing of "North Idaho veneer".
Very inexpensive exterior siding!

 

[grsthegreat]

if your familiar with Tyvek home wrap. we call that North Idaho siding.

 

[Jstpssng]

Well most homeowners do electrical work like this so it is fair that itç—´ for the most part forbidden. View attachment 682034View attachment 682035

That's a ***** of mine. There used to be night courses people could take to learn that kind of thing, but I haven't been able to find one in years. I wanted to learn basic skills like framing, plumbing and wiring, and tried to sign up for a basic electrical course at the votech school about 20 years ago but they turned me down because "It's for people who want to get into the trade." They referred me to HD, saying they had all sorts of homeowner courses. They were right... HD has all sorts of "Fluff Courses" but nothing of any substance. What good is it to know how to lay tile if you can't build the floor to lay it on? I've done the best I can on some things, and paid to do many more.

I'm still trying to remember when I did that wiring in your picture though... :laughing:

 

[GSVette]

not too far from you in N. Idaho. similar systems used here for most people. A homeowner can do their own work, but the system needs approval in advance from health district. The entire basic gravity system is very simple to install, but the ones i usually work on are very complicated systems with pre-filter tanks, dosing and recirculating tanks, and 1 or 2 computer control modules to control the entire mess.View attachment 682045 View attachment 682046 View attachment 682047

I was very happy to get a pure gravity system approved-I have a more than passing familiarity with the highly complex, computerized dosing drip systems as that was what was spec’d for our lake lot ( to the tune of around $60k)- which is why we didn’t develop it beyond the weekend cabin with holding tank.

My next door neighbor (couple of thousand feet away) just had his site evaluated and is going to need a sand pile system as his soil coverage and slopes precluded a gravity system like what I installed.

 

[grsthegreat]

I was very happy to get a pure gravity system approved-I have a more than passing familiarity with the highly complex, computerized dosing drip systems as that was what was spec’d for our lake lot ( to the tune of around $60k)- which is why we didn’t develop it beyond the weekend cabin with holding tank.

My next door neighbor (couple of thousand feet away) just had his site evaluated and is going to need a sand pile system as his soil coverage and slopes precluded a gravity system like what I installed.

hope hes rich.

it seams lately every system i work on is high tech. i think all the good properties with easy septic availability have been developed, and all thats left are the old lots that no one ever wanted to build on cause of problems like this.

 

[grsthegreat]

I was very happy to get a pure gravity system approved-I have a more than passing familiarity with the highly complex, computerized dosing drip systems as that was what was spec’d for our lake lot ( to the tune of around $60k)- which is why we didn’t develop it beyond the weekend cabin with holding tank.

My next door neighbor (couple of thousand feet away) just had his site evaluated and is going to need a sand pile system as his soil coverage and slopes precluded a gravity system like what I installed.

the system in this picture also has a problem with his well. after dropping about $60K on septic, comes to find out new well water looks like, and smells like, he tapped into neighbors septic tank. he didnt, but it sure smells like it. you could not pay me to drink that water.

theres a reason no one had ever built on that property. that, and the fact it all clay. when it rains you can barely walk there without slipping. what a hole.

 

[4570Man]

A buddy of mine bought a house years ago that had small workshop wired with orange extension cords held in place with bent nails.

Extension cord you say. Yea that stuff is rated for direct burial.

 

[4570Man]

you would never believe the junk ive see after nearly 40 years of electrical service. from one entire cabin wired in lamp cord (2 wire electrical light fixture cord wired inside walls),View attachment 682044

He could have at least used a pan head screw vs a drywall screw lol.

 

[grsthegreat]

Extension cord you say. Yea that stuff is rated for direct burial. View attachment 682049

funny thing is, ive seen regular romex direct buried. you would not think it would last, but ive seen stuff years old still working powering up a chicken coop or some such thing.

this is one reason the State of Idaho has outlawed a homeowner from doing ANY underground work on their own property. they can wire their own house, but cant install the wire between house and meter, or house and shop. they simply got tired of homeowners installing a 50 amp circuit in romex 10/3 placed 6" under the ground (ive seen it done).

 

[GSVette]

hope hes rich.

it seams lately every system i work on is high tech. i think all the good properties with easy septic availability have been developed, and all thats left are the old lots that no one ever wanted to build on cause of problems like this.

His system has been estimated at 20k-personally I think it’ll be more because of access challenges.

A part of me (the cynical part) thinks it is less about the soils ability to do its job for an on site system and more about county governments being sold on how the new systems are ‘better’ for the environment. I am coming to the conclusion it is really about revenue-they aren’t getting much from my system relative to the folks on municipal sewer/water so they are making it more costly. My system is just as environmentally friendly as any of the local primary (and probably secondary, too) sewage plants.

 

[PILOON]

Well I'm one of those DIY guys.
Made my own house plans. Approved!
Did my own septic, Approved!
Designed and built 3 homes for others, DIY the plans, Approved!

BUT then I had many years of submitting aircraft modifications to Transport Canada and the FAA plus ran an aviation facility with all kinds of approvals.
I kind of learned how to create win/win scenes.
LOL, a lot is in how many sheets of expanded BS you submit.
Bigger the presentation, the more impressive, add lots of detail blow ups and quote all the regulations you are prepared to comply with.
AKA, tell them what they want to hear!

 

[grsthegreat]

His system has been estimated at 20k-personally I think it’ll be more because of access challenges.

A part of me (the cynical part) thinks it is less about the soils ability to do its job for an on site system and more about county governments being sold on how the new systems are ‘better’ for the environment. I am coming to the conclusion it is really about revenue-they aren’t getting much from my system relative to the folks on municipal sewer/water so they are making it more costly. My system is just as environmentally friendly as any of the local primary (and probably secondary, too) sewage plants.

i can give you the name of a guy that does troublesome systems. his prices are alot more reasonable than many in this area. he is ALWAYS busy. i think he works 7 days a week

 

[fried1765]

if your familiar with Tyvek home wrap. we call that North Idaho siding.

That's the joke!
In years past, tar paper,..... now Tyvek.....North Idaho veneer/siding.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I did my septic system about 2 years ago. Called around and got prices first, ranging from $8500 down to the lowest at $6500. Called the state environmental dept and found that for $100, you can take a simple test and get a permit. That $100 also includes 3 on site inspections. My total costs for 1000 gal tank, all the pipe, and all the stone was $1800. Our soil is sandy loam, not a rock to be had.... for a 3 BR house, only needed 200' of laterals 4' deep x 2' wide.

The specs will vary greatly from region to region, state to state, and even county to county. It was a no-brainer for me... just due to the cost savings...

 

[fried1765]

I did my septic system about 2 years ago. Called around and got prices first, ranging from $8500 down to the lowest at $6500. Called the state environmental dept and found that for $100, you can take a simple test and get a permit. That $100 also includes 3 on site inspections. My total costs for 1000 gal tank, all the pipe, and all the stone was $1800. Our soil is sandy loam, not a rock to be had.... for a 3 BR house, only needed 200' of laterals 4' deep x 2' wide.

The specs will vary greatly from region to region, state to state, and even county to county. It was a no-brainer for me... just due to the cost savings...

So....figure double the materials cost, to include labor.
Actual contractor cost then $3,600.
Contractor profit between $2,900 - $4,900