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Septic Systems - How To Make Sure Your System Does a Great Job

Did you know that approximately 25% of all US households use septic tanks? 

Or that a septic tank is installed in one of three new homes built today? 

If you're buying or building a new home with a septic tank, here are some easy maintanence steps and tips.

Top Tips For Maintaining Your Septic System

Tip #1 - Reduce Water Usage

A typical septic system is built to support about 50 gallons of water usage per day, per person.  If your lot is rated for a 3 bedroom system, the assumption is that there will be 2 persons in each bedroom - ie, the septic system is planned to support normal usage by 6 people in that household.  A 4 bedroom system is planned to support 8 full time residents. 

Too much water usage can overflow the system.  Any leaks or drips in the kitchen or bathrooms should be fixed as soon as possible.   If you live in an older home, consider replacing old fixtures with today's standard low flow, or even ultra low flow fixtures. 

Tip #2 - Reduce Solids

A garbage disposal is not usually recommended with a septic system.    Dispose of sanitary products in the trash, not down the toilet. 

As you can see in this diagram, solids generally settle to the bottom of the tank.  Too many solids can fail to break down suffciently, or require more frequent pumping of the tank.  They can also reduce the capacity of the tank. 

Tip #3 - Don't Dump Oil or Grease

Pouring oil or grease down the drain can clog up the pipes leading to and from the septic tank.  Septic systems are designed to handle a certain amount of greases, such as natural by products of dishwashing.   However, when cooking meat, homeowners should dump the grease into a container and dispose of in the trash instead. 

Tip #4 - Periodically Inspect and Pump the Septic Tank

Don't worry - you don't have to do this yourself!  Scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of local Raleigh area septic tank service companies.

A septic tank service visit should include a full inspection of the tank itself.  Here's a general guideline for how often a septic tank should be pumped. 

Currently, most North Carolina septic tanks are at least 1000 gallons for a 3 bedroom system, with increasing sizes as the number of bedrooms the system is approved for increases. 

Even if there is only one resident, it is still recommended that the septic system be inspected and pumped every 3-5 years. 

Tank Size
(gallons)Number of Full Time Residents 12468

Estimated Septic Tank Pumping Frequency (Number of Years)
1,000	12	6	3	2	1
1,250	16	8	3	2	1
1,500	19	9	4	3	2
Adapted from "Estimated Septic Tank Pumping Frequency," by Karen Mancl, 1984. Journal of Environmental Engineering. Volume 110.

Tip #5 - Questions to Ask When Calling a Septic Tank Service Company

Here are some of the questions you'll probably want to ask:

1. What is the cost of a pump out?
2. If the septic tank is larger than 1000 gallons, will the extra gallons cost extra?
3. Does the cost include digging to uncover the septic tank lids (if necessary)?
4. Does the cost include dumping fees?
5. Will you inspect the inlet and outlet baffles, and does this cost extra?
6. If the septic tank is very far from road access, what is needed for the truck to get accessbility to the tank?
7. If I have a pump system instead of a conventional system, is emptying the pump tank part of your regular service? (The pump tank should be pumped, rinsed, and then pumped dry again).

Tip #6 - What Details Should the Septic Tank Service Company Provide for Me?

  The septic tank Pumper should provide you with a receipt detailing the service that was provided. This receipt should include:

1. Name, address, phone number of the Septic Tank Service Company
2. Name of the certified Pumper
3. Approximate number of gallons that were pumped
4. Number of compartments pumped
5. Condition of the tank baffles
6. Condition of the septic tank
7. Details on any work done to baffles or access lids. If scum and sludge layers were measured, they should be recorded on the pump receipt
8. Details on any work done on the septic tank or pump tank
9. Any other service work done

Tip #7 - Limit Weight Over the Septic System

When you purchase your home, you should receive a copy of the septic system layout, so that you're aware of the location of the tank and nitrification field.  You'll want to avoid planting trees or parking vehicles over the system.  However, planting grass or other small foilage over the tank is not a problem, nor is normal foot traffic. 

Septic Tank Service Companies in the Raleigh/Triangle Area

These are just a few of the companies that serve the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham area. 

McFarland Septic Tank Service

3415 Arthurs Way
Durham, NC 27705

919-383-1015

Ivey's Septic Tank Service, Inc.
1122 Brookhollow Road
Efland, NC 27243

 919-732-5592

JC Johnson Septic Tank Pumping Service

3200 Forrester Bend Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278

919-732-3737

Lyons Septic Tank Service

804 Church St
Morrisville, NC 27560

919-467-9673

Click here to find more companies. 

For further details, we recommend checking the Better Business Bureau or asking for referrals.   Watch for follow up articles on types of septic systems and other questions.

Water and Sewer or Septic and Well - How Much do They Cost? What Questions Should You Ask Your Builder?

Need help finding a lot or neighborhood in the Triangle?

Stanton Homes offers a free lot inspection to help you find the fit that works well for your budget - and provides a full cost analysis of site work, permits, fees, and sewer and water costs.  Contact us today to find out more.

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5 Steps to Buying a Lot

Copyright 2008 by Stanton Homes.  All information current as of posting date.  Please consult a certified septic installer or service company for further questions.   

When purchasing a lot, there are two important septic system questions that need to be answered. 

First - does the lot perk?  If the answer is yes, great! 

Second, how many bedrooms is the lot rated for?  You'll want to make sure the rating supports the number of bedrooms you want to build.

But what if you've already purchased a lot that is rated for a 3 bedroom septic system, but want to build a 4 bedroom home?

There are several options that may allow you to build a four bedroom home when your septic system permit only allows a three bedroom home.

First, and probably least expensive, what do you plan to use that fourth bedroom for? 

If that extra bedroom is planned to be an office instead of a bedroom, a few small changes may need to be made in order for your home plan to be approved by the county.

In general, a bedroom has an egress window (a window you could open and escape out of in case of emergency), a closet, and a door, and may also be adjacent or close to a bathroom.   But if your builder converts the bedroom to an office by removing the closet and expanding the doorway to either a wide opening without a door or possibly even a pair of French doors, this could allow you to gain approval to build the floor plan. 

If the fourth bedroom is upstairs, your builder may be able to convert it to an open bonus room or loft.  You'll still have the living space, but it may need to be much more open than originally noted in the plans. 

 

A second option is the use of a panel block septic system instead of a standard septic system. 

This system can expand the capabilities of a standard system to support at least one extra bedroom. 

But it can also add 25% to 75% to the cost of installing a septic system, depending on how close the original plan came to supporting that fourth bedroom.    It does need to be approved by the county, and a lot of factors can come into play, such as soil type and requirements that vary by county. 

Each case is unique.  In order to make a decision and go over the available options, bring a copy of the septic system permit with the system requirements to a trusted builder or septic subcontractor.   

 

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