What is a Perc Test?

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Drain Field
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A “perc test” is a measure of soil’s ability to allow water to flow through it.  Perk is short for “percolation” and is sometimes spelled “perk”.  Before installing a septic system, a perc test is performed to determine the rate at which the soil where the drain field will be installed can absorb water.  This information is used to determine the minimum size of the leech field or in some circumstances, whether a traditional gravity fed septic system can be installed on the site.

Most jurisdictions require a perc test to be performed before a permit will be issued to install a septic system.  The exact procedure for the test varies by jurisdiction, but essentially it consists of digging or drilling one or more holes, filling the holes with water, and timing how long it takes for the water to be absorbed.  The type of soil and the local water table both influence the percolation rate.

Local ordinances specify the number and size of the holes and how much water should be poured into them.  The ordinance will also specify the minimum rate at which the soil should absorb water for the property to pass the perk test and qualify for a septic system permit to be issued.  If the property cannot pass a perc test, an alternative sanitation system will need to be installed instead of a traditional gravity fed system.

The results of the perc test are also be used for planning the drain field installation. A larger drain field would be specified for property with a passing, but relatively low perc rate compared to a property with a much higher perc rate.

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Failed Perc Test Options

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Sewer-Septic Service and Installation
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Before you can be issued a permit for a septic system on your property, a percolation test (perc test) is usually required by local regulations to determine the suitability of your property for a septic system. A perc test measures the rate at which the soil absorbs water which is critical for proper operation of a traditional septic system.

If your property cannot pass a perc test, it’s not the end of the world.  You have plenty of alternatives any your septic professional will be happy to help you sort them out.  First of all, don’t be angry or upset with the engineer who did the test or the local building authority for requiring the test in the first place.

These tests are required as much for your protection as to protect the environment.  Installing a traditional septic system on unsuitable property would be a waste of money and a cause of endless headaches.  A system installed in ground that won’t perc will constantly back up which not only causes problems inside your home, but will also ruin the septic system.

Once you are over your initial disappointment, consult with your sewer septic professional or an engineer to discuss alternatives.  In some cases, there are techniques for improving the perc rate of a piece of property, but these can take time to be effective.  A better solution is usually offered by an alternative type of septic systems.  Gravity fed systems are the most common, but there are numerous alternative septic systems including mound systems, sand filter systems, aerobic treatment systems, and others.  Each system is best suited for certain soil types and one or more of them will work on your property.

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Hooking Up To An Existing Septic System

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Septic System
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If you own a piece of property that has a septic system on it and you are planning to build a home and hook up to the existing septic system, you should do some homework before you begin construction.  In fact, it would be wise to do some checking before you even design the new home or decide where to put it.  Don’t just assume that you will be able to hook up to the existing system.

This comes up frequently when people own lakefront property, vacation property or hunting land that has had a small cabin, trailer, or other dwelling on the property for years.  When the property owner decides to replace the old dwelling with a new, larger home they assume that they can to tear down the existing structure, build the new home in the same location, and hook up to the existing septic system.

Unfortunately, that may not be the case and it’s best to find out before you build the new home rather than after.  If the septic system has been on the property for years, it is possible and even likely that it no longer meets code and you will need to bring the system up to code.  For all practical purposes, this probably means installing a modern new system in a different location on the property.

If you get lucky and the septic system meets code, have the septic tank pumped and the entire septic system thoroughly inspected by a sewer septic professional to make sure the system is in good working order and is capable of handling the anticipated load of your new home.

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Septic Considerations for Buying Land to Build On

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Septic System
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If you are buying land or if you already own a piece of property and are getting ready to build on it, one of the first things you should do is take into consideration how you are going to handle wastewater.  If there is sewer service at the property, in most cases it makes sense to hook up to the municipal sewer system.

If there is no municipal sewer service at the property, check with the county or city building department where the property is located to find out what types of waste water treatment and disposal systems are allowed by local building codes and consult with a sewer septic professional about your options before you start to build or even before you start grading the property.

A gravity fed septic system is usually the least expensive and most durable option, but the drain field takes up a lot of space.  In addition, placement of the home and the septic system is very important for proper operation of the system.  You will want to have the septic system designed and the drain field laid out before you finalize where to put the house to avoid placing the house where the drain field should go.  You also want to be sure to install the septic tank where there is easy access for periodic inspection and septic tank pumping.

Failure to properly plan for the septic system and drain field can cost you a bundle.  A typical gravity fed septic system costs about half as much as a system using pumps to move the wastewater.  Sometimes, simply moving the house a few feet one way or another will be enough to allow for the use of a more economical gravity fed system.

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Root Control for Sewer Lines

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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One of the most common causes of clogged sewer lines is root infiltration.  A sewer line clogged by roots is a serious problem that needs immediate attention.  A clogged sewer line can result in raw sewage backing up into your shower and tub drains, sink drains and toilets.  Yuk!

Roots from almost any type of plants, shrubs or trees can cause sewer line back-ups, but tree roots are the most common offender.  Trees usually have the deepest and most extensive root system and they can penetrate into tiny cracks in sewer lines.  Once the tree roots have found their way into the sewer line, they will continue to grow and can cause the crack to expand, allowing entry of more roots.

Eventually, a mass of roots will form inside the sewer line which will collect grease, oil, hair, and other debris.  Ultimately, a severe clog will form and stop up the pipe.  No amount of plunging or liquid drain cleaners will clear one of these clogs.  Instead, its time to get an experienced plumber or sewer septic professional involved.

Modern video camera inspections will confirm that tree roots are the cause of the blockage which can be cleared with professional heavy duty cutting heads or by using high pressure hydro-jetting.  However, both of these techniques are only half of the job.  Unless you eliminate the root problem, more roots will grow and the clog will soon return.

One alternative is to replace the damaged section of sewer pipe which may be necessary if the pipe has been seriously damaged by the root infestation.  If the pipe is still structurally sound, your sewer septic professional will be able to apply a chemical treatment that will inhibit root growth for years without killing the tree.

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Bacteria in Your Septic Tank

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Septic System Maintenance, Septic Tank Pumping
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One of the most important elements of your septic system is the billions of bacteria that live in your septic tank.  These naturally occurring microscopic bacteria do a lot of the work necessary for your septic system to operate properly and for the vast majority of septic systems, they do it without the need for any help from the homeowner.

The first step in the treatment process of a septic system occurs in the septic tank.  Household wastewater accumulates here and is held for a day or two to allow solids to settle to the bottom of the tank and greases and oils to rise to the top to form the sludge layer

The bacteria in the tank go to work digesting the solid materials and converting about half of these materials to liquids or gasses.  The liquid effluent flows into the drain field where further treatment occurs.  The non-digestible solids and the sludge layer remain in the tank.

As long as the accumulated non-digestible solids and the sludge layer are removed from the tank periodically by septic tank pumping, the system should operate for years without the need for any human assistance.

Pouring bleaches or strong chemicals down the drain can kill off large numbers of the beneficial bacteria in the system, but it is very difficult to kill all of the bacteria and the bacteria colony will quickly recover, usually within a few hours.  There is no need to add any bacteria, enzymes, or other septic system treatments.  The best thing a homeowner can do for the bacteria in their septic system is to do nothing at all!

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Common Causes of Septic System Failure

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Most septic systems do their work quietly, largely ignored by the homeowner.  Other than periodic inspection and septic tank pumping, septic systems are designed to work without any intervention from the homeowner.  A homeowner who has their septic tank pumped every few years and does not abuse the septic system by flushing large amounts of solid materials and chemicals down the drain or overloading the system with wastewater can expect the system to provide good service for many years.

It’s usually not until a problem arises with the septic system that most homeowners pay any attention to the septic system.  When a problem arises, it is a serious matter and needs to be resolved quickly by a sewer-septic professional.  Not only will a septic system problem cause sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets to back up inside the home, but it can result in contamination by untreated sewage.

Septic system wastewater contains viruses, harmful bacteria, and other microorganisms that are removed through the treatment process.  When the treatment cycle is interrupted or incomplete, diseases can be spread by the contaminated wastewater.

Common reasons for septic system malfunctions include a blocked wastewater drain line, build-up of solid material in the tank, blocked septic tank outlet, clogged drain field lines, and damage to the drain field due to root infiltration or the soil becoming too clogged with solid material to allow the effluent to properly percolate into the soil.

Calling a sewer septic professional at the first sign of trouble can often stop a minor problem from becoming a serious problem and can prevent contamination by untreated sewage.

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Sewer vs. Septic Systems

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Sewer-Septic Service and Installation
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Every homeowner on a septic system and prospective homeowner should understand the difference between a septic system and a sewer system.  Septic and sewer are both wastewater disposal and treatment systems.  Every time you flush the toilet, wash dishes or clothes, or take a shower, all that water and waste that goes down the drain has to go somewhere and that somewhere is either a septic system or a sewer system.

With a septic system, each home has its own wastewater treatment and disposal system typically consisting of a septic tank and a drain field.  Waste water is treated by natural biological activity in the septic tank and in the soil under the drain field. The treated wastewater is disposed of by allowing it to leech into the soil under the drain field.

A septic system can only be installed on property that is large enough to accommodate the septic tank and drain field.  In addition, the soil must allow water to percolate (seep into the soil) at a sufficient rate to dispose of the treated water.

A home connected to a sewer system uses a large diameter pipe called a sewer lateral to route waste water to the large municipal sewer lines usually located in front of the property.  The municipal sewer lines transfer the waste water to a municipal wastewater treatment facility where it is treated and disposed of.

If you own a home or are considering buying a home with a septic system, you should understand that the system will need to inspected and the septic tank pumped out every three to five years.  Sewer line repairs are only needed if there is a blockage or if the sewer lateral is damaged.

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Should You Convert From Septic To Sewer?

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Sewer-Septic Service and Installation
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Many homes that were originally build with a septic system now have the opportunity to connect to a municipal sewer system.  These homes were usually built in an area where there was no sewer service at the time, but over the years the local municipality has expanded its infrastructure making sewer service available to these homes.

In some cases, local ordinances require that homes be connected to the sewer system, but in most cases the choice of whether to convert an existing home from a septic system to a sewer system is left up to the homeowner.  Septic to sewer conversions have some advantages, but there is the up front cost to consider.

Sewer systems are considered permanent wastewater disposal solutions.  Other than clearing a blocked sewer lateral or repairing a collapsed or damaged sewer lateral, sewer connections require very little maintenance.

Septic systems can work for years, but they require periodic pumping and inspection.  Any septic system will eventually need to be replaced, but they can work for 30 years or more before replacement is necessary.   If the property is not large enough to accommodate a replacement drain field, an expensive alternative septic system or connection to a municipal sewer system will be required.

Connecting to a sewer system usually increases the value of a home and can also increase its marketability which is a big plus in today’s housing market.  A home with an old or failing septic system is not very attractive to potential buyers.

The primary disadvantage of a sewer conversion is the cost which varies widely, but can be anywhere for $5,000 to $15,000.  Your sewer septic professional can help you determine if a septic to sewer conversion makes sense for your home.

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Costs Involved in Converting From Septic to Sewer

January 9th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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If you are considering converting your existing septic system to sewer service, you should be aware of the costs involved before you take the plunge.  There can be some advantages to connecting your home to a municipal sewer system rather than a septic system, but there is usually a significant up front cost to making the conversion.  Costs vary widely depending on your area and the particular circumstances of your situation.

If there is a municipal sewer line that runs near your property, you have the option of connecting to the municipal sewer system or continuing to use your septic system.  Connecting to the sewer line involves having a sewer lateral installed by an experienced plumber or sewer-septic professional.  The sewer lateral is a large diameter pipe that runs from your house to the municipal sewer line.  The costs vary depending on the distance and difficulty of construction, but are typically between $2,500 and $5,000.

Once your home is connected to the sewer system, your old septic tank should be pumped out and filled with dirt or sand.  The lid is usually crushed and used as part of the fill for the tank.  The cost of abandoning the septic system is around $1,000.

Most municipalities will also charge a connection fee for the initial connection to the municipal sewer system and there will also be permit fees and inspection fees.  Connection fees vary widely depending on the municipality but expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.

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