Septic tank installation

tomnky · Dec 6, 2004

They are called "leach chambers " in this part of the country.

A lot better than the old 4" pipe & stone. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tevi · Dec 6, 2004

I want to go the pipe route because I need to drive heavy equipment over the lines and chambers don't hold up.Bob hoe far apart are your lines spaced Thanks

ByronBob · Dec 7, 2004

I'm almost positive their 10 feet apart. That would make my leach field about 80 feet in width which is right.
Is their a reason you need to drive heavy equipment over your leach field? I'd try anything in the world not to do that. Regardless of what the spec's of the pipe or whatever you have in the ground it's not a good idea.

slowzuki · Dec 7, 2004

The whole point of using chambers here like infiltrator is so you can drive over them. Can't drive over typical septic field.
Ken

( I want to go the pipe route because I need to drive heavy equipment over the lines and chambers don't hold up.Bob hoe far apart are your lines spaced Thanks )

ByronBob · Dec 7, 2004

This may be true but the reason my septic system has this is because the ground was wet, it was winter when they put it in. He figured the footprint he made would be lessened by it. No gravel and multiple trips out to the leach field. Yes it cost him more up front for this system but his time was reduced. To me I didn't mind either way.

But driving over the area still isn't a good idea to me even if I can

Tevi · Dec 7, 2004

Around here farmers have driven over the chambers amd damaged them with tractors>i haven't heard this case being with a traditional system

rambler · Dec 9, 2004

( I want to go the pipe route because I need to drive heavy equipment over the lines and chambers don't hold up.Bob hoe far apart are your lines spaced Thanks )

You can drive over a line from/ to any of your components, but driving over the leach _field_ is a really bad idea. They need to be soft loose soil with some nice sod on top. Heavy equipment packs the soil tight, and you will not get any infiltration - if not this year, in a few years it will show. It might be possible to get away with it in some soils with some designs, but I would do anything at all to avoid driving anything heavy over a newer leach system - govt rules make them shallow & fragile, and you will damage it 80% of the time. And govt rules make them real expensive to move & reinstall - around here any how.

The concern is not if the pipe or infiltrator can take the traffic - its if the soil could take it & still do it's job of draining.... Most soils cannot.

--->Paul

slydog · Feb 3, 2005

How heavy is "HEAVY"? Is there any problem with driving a small tractor or a 3/4 ton Pick up over a leach field, or are we talking about a large earth mover or cement truck filled with concrete?

Also, I am doing some bartering for a new 1200 gallon poly septic tank for future use on my home in Arkansas. I will be storing this for a few years till I am ready to install it. Does anyone forsee any problems I might have by "bringing my own" tank vs. purchasing one through my install contractor?
I will have to haul this thing over there myself also on a double axle 16' trailer and drag it off where I plan to store it. I don't think this will be a problem.....I hope!

sweettractors · Feb 3, 2005

how much does a new tank cost? 

Here in Ky, My son just had a local contractor install a 1000 gal tank and 500 ft lateral lines at $2200 total job complete. We own 2 backhoes and could not afford to do the job ourself, at the price he got.--Ken Sweet

slydog · Feb 3, 2005

( how much does a new tank cost? )

Here is where my poly tank is coming from. They have a wide range of prices depending on the tank.

National Tank Outlet