Buying House with Septic System

[ponytug]

When we put in our septic, we wanted as large a system as we could get. Undersized systems just fail!

If you can see the county health dept records what was approved and installed, it could help.

Sometimes. When we were doing diligence on this place, I discovered that the health department was using a mail based scheme for the septic; I.e. not the physical address, and not the parcel number. It was a WWII postal route relic, and nobody in the office was old enough to what went where. Luckily, they were willing to turn me loose with the files, and I was able to find the property (and help them out matching the WWII mail route to the street addresses on a couple of their properties.

Still makes me smile. The 2010 census also had workers trying to ground truth the old WWII addresses for the first time. There are times when it does feel like being in a land that time forgot here.

All the best, Peter

 

[tradosaurus]

We moved to the country a few years ago and our first time with a septic system (gravity system).
1) Only 1 ply toilet paper.
2) Use a bidet to minimize toilet paper.
3) If you have a garbage disposal get rid of it.
4) We collect all table scraps into a 1 gallon compost bin and then when full put it in freezer. Dispose of bags at gas station.
5) Use septic friendly chemicals when cleaning tubs and toilets.
6) Pump at least every 5 years.
7) Basically the only things to do down toilets is waste and 1 ply toilet paper.

 

[kenmbz]

We have strainers on our kitchen and utility sinks to stop larger bits.
Have it pumped every three years.
I had an inspection before I bought and they used a stick to see how wet/dry the sand field was.
Checked the tank and aerator. Not much else they could do.

 

[paulsharvey]

Im a firm believer in the 80/20 rule in almost all aspects of life. Septic tanks, ive kniw people that go insane; unbleached TP, to even folks that dont flush TP, and bag it up and trash can or burn it.... Does that maybe make 2% difference, maybe, but thats a Lot of effort, and nasty or a 2% gain. We use good TP, accept some stray rice or whatever or even the greae off a pan get into the system.

I firmly believe the simple 20% effort 80% reward stuff, like not draining grease, or frequent disposal use, and your good. BUT, my area had very good soils, so... even tampons, OK, maybe after 10 years it does need pumped, ok.OK. Skip the flushable wipes altogether, and you'll be fine.

Oh, if you have a garage floor drain or utility sink, dont Dump crap in those; like petroleum, lots of harse cleaners, but its ok to use shower and toilet bowl cleaner, and even bleach, sparingly

 

[paulsharvey]

We even will pour a cap full of bleach in the sink drain if its getting funky. We dont pour a cup or a jug, but a cap full, sure.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, septic, vs sewer; sewer you dont care cause its the cities problem, so, lots of people pour the fry oil down, use Dude wipes, he'll, needles, cigarette butts, chicken bones in disposal, ect. Heck, ive know people to out their old paint or motor oil in sewer. Septic, its your problem.

Even modern sewer, grinder pump to force main systems; thats generally Your grinder pump, so... dont flush that sacrificial sock...

 

[Joel/ak]

Tell me more about this. So it failed a month after the inspection. I'm curious what does an inspection include?

Inept inspector. It was an old drywell system. Now in a drywell system for those that dont know has a tank and then goes into a pit (if you will) instead of a field. Old owners somehow collapsed the pipe going to the "pit". They just had the initial tank always pumped.
Anyways the inspector took samples and came back good.
Obviously it would cuz the waste was never making it to it.
Once the tank filled, I found the problem. Made a big stink with county about how they dont do there due diligence on the property.
Then I got into it with the inspector cuz after his 3rd trip out he was amazed that now I have a creek in my backyard.... its only been there for God knows how long. Guy couldn't even look at a map
Go figure, cost me 5 grand but better system.

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