Services

What We Do

  • Septic systems new and repair
  • pump septic tanks
  • septic tank replacement
  • perk test
  • alternative systems
  • Engineered systems
  • soil profile
  • site evaluation
  • basement and foundation excavation
  • drive ways
  • water lines
  • Help with the permitting process

Learn More About Our Complete Septic Tank Services

Septic Systems for Existing Homes and New Lots

It is very important to consider the septic system when buying a house or buying a lot to build a house. The septic system is often the most forgotten and most important detail to take into consideration before the purchase. Without a good septic system your new home could become a nightmare. Septic systems are indeed a long term wastewater disposal system and with proper care it will last many many years. Take a moment to consider some very important septic system information.

Existing Homes

Always do your homework! The last thing a homeowner needs is a failing septic system. Take some time to obtain as much information about the septic system as possible before closing on your potential new home. Most of the time the county will have records on the septic system. When it was installed, any complaints on the system and if any repairs have been done to the system.

Septic systems do not last forever and at some point, it will need to be repaired or replaced. I hear things like "we never had a problem with it even though backs up when it rains." This is not normal and it is not designed to ever back up! 

This can be due to many factors. One example is that there is not enough room for laterals or laterals are up hill from the tank. Even seasonal water tables can cause a lot of headaches.

Take a look where the laterals are and see if the yard is higher than the tank. If so, we can fix this problem so sewage does not wake you up during a rainstorm. We find a lot of septic problems on older small lots when the city or county requirements were different and the septic system was never updated. Take a look and see if you have room to add an extra lateral if needed. Just because your property passed a county inspection, that does not mean the system is in great working condition. We have seen too many times, new families of four or more move in and the system fails the
next month.

It's a good idea to check the water usage of the previous owners and how many people lived there. A septic system on a house with only two people may work well, but a family with more may not. Try to find out if the system had proper maintenance and how often the tank has been pumped. A tank is like a filter, it needs cleaning periodically depending on use. A septic system can last for many years with proper care and maintenance. Look for stripes with bare spots. They indicate possible problems as well.

Especially if the house has been vacant for a while. Unfortunately, some homeowners move out in order to let standing sewage dry up. If the lateral field is all dark green, this too can indicate a problem. Make sure that downspouts, sump pumps and runoff are diverted away from the laterals as much as possible to ensure there is proper drainage and prevent rain from pooling on the laterals.

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Purchasing a Lot

When buying a lot be sure to start with where is the septic system going to go. Is the lot plenty large enough to accommodate the septic system? Are you going to have any other structures such as outbuildings or swimming pools? The cost of a septic system can drastically vary, so before buying a lot you may want to contact your local health agency and determine the size of system required for the soil and size of house.

Systems can range from $4,000.00 to $30,000.00+ so this is a very important decision. This can be a deal-breaker for many new homeowners. Most people spend more time and money on kitchen cabinets rather than a place to go when nature calls. Be very careful of the last lot in a subdivision. These lots are very susceptible to septic problems. I hear all the time "I got a great deal on this lot, it was the last one so we hurried and bought it."

It could be well worth contacting a qualified septic contractor to look at a house or lot before buying it. This could save you a septic nightmare.