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.
