Who knows about septic systems??

[Shemp]

I talked to a guy about installing one on my land today and was suprised that he said that only 2-250 gallon tanks would be enough for the system. The wife and I plan on building a house later on closer to retirement but wanted to go ahead and put one in for our 5th whel trailer. I figured go ahead and get it set up for the house later on down the line. The house that we've been looking at is about 3700 sq. ft and would have 3 1/2 bathrooms. the majority of the time it would be only us but you never know when a child is going to come back home to live and possibly bring their family with them. It just seems to me that 500 gallons is kind of small. He saying that since the soil is real sandy that it will disperse(?) quiker and better so that a larger tank will not be needed. Any thoughts?? Thanks.

 

[Onthesauk]

Can't tell where you're located but here in the NW, septic tank size is code based on the number of bedrooms. And yes, sounds way small to me too.

 

[Rowdius]

The rules will vary greatly depending on where you live, so I cannot answer that question, but 250 gallons sounds too small to me.

Most codes go by the number of bedrooms in the house, not size. Just the same, I would install the largest tank I could afford now, to save upgrading later. Personally I have a little over 1000 gallons, divided between two tanks. (Two tanks, or at least two comparments is code just about anywhere that has a code.)

 

[Greyfields]

I want to say 3 bedroom homes are closer to the 1000 gallon tank size. Of course, soil type is important as well. You can compensate for poor soils by upping the size of the tank because the tank is cheap relative to the drain field portion.

 

[Botabill]

How good the soil is to disperse the fluid that come out of the tank has little impact on how big the tank should be. The tank holds your solids that don't flow away until you pump them out. If the tank is too small and the solids wash or overfolw into your drain tiles your system can be destroyed at great expense. Don't ask me how I know. As was mentioned most tank sizes are dictated by the local laws and usually the number of bedrooms is usually the deciding factor. Get one bigger than required. I originally installed an 800 gallon tank fo ra 2 bedroom house then put on an addition and 800 gallons was not enough.

 

[johnk]

If I'm thinking correctly the larger tank size will allow the solids to break down better before dispursing them into the secondary chamber which disperses the Brownwater into the leach field. I only have a seasonal cabin and I put in a 1500gallon 2 chamber septic. FWIW. I'm no expert just stating what I think I know..

 

[Bird]

Maybe where you're located, there's something we just don't know, but like the other guys, two 250 gallon tanks sounds great for a fifth-wheel with occasional use, but not for a house. Just for my parents' little one bath, single wide mobile home, we used two 500 gallon tanks. For a house like you've described, I sure would have expected a minimum of two 750 gallon tanks.

 

[saltman]

I have been looking for a septic tank here in CA. Mine is for a small cabin that I only visit on the weekends. I have been looking on the internet and have not been able to find a two chambered tank that is less than 750 gallons and the 1,000 gallon tank is almost the same price so that is what I plan on getting.

 

[BubbaJr]

When we built our 3 BD, 2-1/2 Ba, 2300+ SF house in 2001, the county mandated that we install a 2500 gallon tank and a 1500 linear foot leach bed. We have heavy clay soil here, so that may make a difference in what is required. They also put in a distribution box so I can change between the two leach fields so one side can recover while the other side is in use. Not a pleasant job, but one that needs to be done.

 

[Shemp]

I'm down here in Texas. Colorado county to be exact. Thanks for all the replies. I was thinking that it was way too small.