Everything You Need to Know About Septic Tank Installation

August 20, 2020

Everything You Will Need to Know About Your Septic Tank Installation

Move out of the city and live life your way. Enjoy fresh air and wide open spaces with peace and quiet in a tight knit community with just a few neighbors you can rely on. That’s the rural life, and along with the “good life” comes alternative methods for daily living. When it comes to your water and sewer needs, you likely will not have access to sewers that are supplied to city dwellers by local governments. When you move to the country, you may have to depend on a septic system, so it’s a good idea to educate yourself about septic tank installation beforehand.

Before Buying or Selling a Home, Your Septic System Should be Inspected

The septic tank systems attached to your rural home need yearly inspections. You need to know the condition of your septic tank so maintenance and repairs will happen in a timely manner to protect your investment. The cost to install septic tank and leach a field is not cheap.

Be advised of the need to have a septic tank inspection if you are buying or selling a home. If you are a buyer, you never know how the septic tank system has been maintained. Protect yourself from being stuck with a septic tank system that will need to be replaced; a new septic tank installation could cost you thousands of dollars.

Obtaining a septic tank inspection is necessary for those selling a rural home as well. Having a septic tank inspection that reveals the excellent maintenance you have adhered to over the years will be a strong selling point.

The expense of a new septic tank installation will make both buyers and sellers cringe. A good report from a septic tank inspection will make everyone sigh with relief.

Leave Septic Tank Installation to the Pros

A septic tank installation is complicated and should be left to the Pros. The process is way more involved than digging a hole and placing a tank in the ground. The soil type and topography have to support a septic tank system. The type of soil and the lay of the land are analyzed and corrected accordingly. The correct materials and installation process are customized according to the unique qualities of your land.

First, septic tank installation pros will make sure the yard is large enough for all the different aspects of a septic tank system. You will need the land space for the:

Access Hatch
Distribution Box
Drain Field
Septic Tank
Sewer Pipe

Once your septic tank installation is completed, wastewater will travel through all of the above septic system parts. The septic tank is the command center where collected bacteria, fats, grease, and other solids are separated. Clearer water then flows to the next components to the distribution box.

Secondly, soil types will be inspected and identified. Septic tank installation professionals excavate portions of your property to check the soil types and topography. Different layers of ground present different conditions for water flow.

Test pits are dug to discover the varied layers of soil and how water can pass through the different layers presented. The process is called hydraulic loading when water flow rates are calculated through each soil type. The filtration testing with hydraulic loading reveals how quickly water is absorbed into the soil.

Additional challenges that a septic tank installation pro must consider are layers of bedrock, high water tables, culverts, easements, river areas, and more.

The proper ventilation for new septic tank installation is a must. A septic tank pro will ventilate your system through a vent located on your roof. Without the correct ventilation, poisonous gasses will build up as waste moves through your septic system. If you ever smell foul odors from your septic system, call a septic tank professional immediately to find out why the ventilation system is not working.

You will Need to Monitor your Septic Tank System

City dwellers have little need to think about wastewater and where it goes, but those of you in rural areas with a septic tank system will have to monitor it frequently.

Walk around the drain field area. The ground should never be wet or even damp. Damp ground is a tell-tale sign water is not draining correctly from your septic tank system.

The area around the septic tank should also be inspected. Look for puddles of water nearby or very green grass growing near it. These are signs of using too much water or the sign of a much larger plumbing issue.

Septic Tank Pumping is Crucial for Your New Septic Tank Installation

A new septic tank installation cost can get expensive, so you will need to protect your investment with regular maintenance. Septic tank pumping is crucial to extend the life of your septic tank.

Even when you are very careful about what goes down the drains in your home; your septic tank system will need to be pumped every three to five years by a professional septic tank company. This is because sludge will build up in the bottom of your septic tank. The more sludge that builds up in the tank, the less your septic tank system will be able to move wastewater along. A septic tank pro will pump out most of the sludge so the system can do its job. Septic tank pumping will ensure the system is working efficiently and will extend the life of your septic tank system.

What to Know About Septic Tank Installation Cost

“So how much does a new septic system cost anyway?” you may ask. That is a loaded question as many factors will affect the cost of a new septic tank installation.

Generally, you can expect to pay from around $3,280 - $5,040 for a 1,250-gallon system able to support a home with 3 or 4 bedrooms. If you need a septic tank installation with alternating pumps the average cost will be around $9,571 on average and can go as high as $15,000.

Factors that will affect the price of a new septic tank installation are:

Materials Used for the Septic Tank

• Concrete (average cost $750-$2,050)

• Fiberglass (average cost $1,600-2,000)

• Plastic (average cost $830-$1,900)

Septic Tank Installation Cost

• Conventional types are widely used and the least expensive with an average costs of $3,500-$10,000.

• Alternative types are in the mid-range with an average cost between 6,000-$15,000.

• Engineered types are the most expensive with an average cost range between 12,000-$15,000.

Additional Cost Factors for a Septic System Installation

• Soil testing $1,000 to $2,000

• System design average of $600 depending on location and complexity of system

• Land clearing costs – average around $950

• Installation and connection of pipes and tank $25 to $33 per linear foot of excavation, installation and backfill

• Inspection and testing for building permits $250 to $450

• Pump alarm will cost around $750 – alarm for high water or pump failure

• Landscaping costs after your new septic tank installation

As you can see, there are many factors that affect the price of a new septic tank installation. Not only should you leave a septic tank installation to the pros, you also need their expert advice and experience to install the most efficient and affordable septic tank system that will serve the needs of your family for years.

Need a New Septic Tank System? Give Herrington’s a Call!

Indeed, enjoy the good life with a home in the country, but make sure you protect yourself with septic tank inspections when buying or selling a rural home. A septic tank installation is best left to the pros as many complicated factors are involved for successful applications. Knowing about the septic tank installation cost will motivate you to care for your new septic tank system. You will also have a better understanding about the costs involved with a new septic tank installation. You will need to have the septic tank pumped on a regular basis and monitor your septic tank system often.

Call Herrington’s when you need a new septic tank system installed. We are a full-service septic tank installation company with a complete understanding of all the aspects concerning a septic tank installation. We know how important a good septic tank system is for your home and offer the most competitive prices around.

Contact Herrington's Today!

< Older Post Newer Post >