Septic System Installation Savings: What To Consider When Replacing Your Old System

Once you've decided to install a replacement for your old septic system, you'll wonder what to consider. You can look at the typical septic system installation costs, from permitting to design and everything in between. Either way, you'll want to come away from the experience of saving money. To accomplish this, consider the following tips.

Septic System Replacement Costs

Septic tank replacement costs vary widely depending on where you live and the type of tank you install. In rural areas, for example, it might be more expensive to install a new tank than in an urban area. The same goes for choosing between a concrete or steel tank; concrete tanks are more expensive but last longer than steel tanks.

Permitting and Soil Tests

Before installing a replacement septic tank or drain field, you'll need to contact your local building department for a permit. Depending on your municipality's regulations, this can require multiple inspections before the job is completed. In addition, depending on where you live and how your property is zoned, you may also need approval from other departments such as public health or planning and zoning. You should also ask about soil tests — these will determine whether there are any environmental concerns that would prevent the installation of a new system or require additional precautions during construction.

Design

When you replace your old system, it is important to know what type of replacement you need. The two types of septic systems are aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic systems use oxygen to break down the waste. An aerobic system will be best for areas with lots of rain or snowmelt because it will not require as much maintenance as an anaerobic one does. The anaerobic system breaks down waste without oxygen, which means that it needs to be pumped out every few years instead of every few decades like in an aerobic system.

Septic Tank Size

The size of your tank determines how much waste can be processed by your system at one time. For example, if your tank is too small for the amount of waste generated in your home, or if it's too small for the amount of water used in your home, then the system could become overloaded and stop working properly. If this happens, you could end up with sewage backups and contamination problems.

Inspection

Septic systems need regular maintenance and inspection so that they do not fail prematurely. If you're thinking about replacing your old septic system, it's a good idea to take it out for a checkup before installing the new one. A professional can take some measurements to determine if any repairs or upgrades are necessary before installation begins. This prevents costly problems, especially if there is evidence that your old system is failing or has already failed in some way.

Contact a septic installation company like Garside Sewer & Septic Service LLC to discuss options for your septic system replacement project.