Septic Tank to Sewer System Conversion

Many people did not have the option of choosing a septic tank over a sewer system when they bought or built their house. Moving into an established neighborhood or subdivision, the choice had previously been made for them. However, there are problems that can arise from being on a septic tank – frequent need for pumping, over-draining into the yard or “leaching area,” and back-ups in the plumbing are common complaints. But as the local area surrounding neighborhoods develop, publicly maintained sewer systems are expanding and are accessible to homeowners who wish to convert from their septic tank to the sewer system.

Making the decision to convert to a sewer system is not a choice that should be made lightly. Septic to sewer conversions can be quite expensive. Unless a citywide mandate has been released making a conversion necessary, homeowners will be expected to pay the cost of the conversion. A septic to sewer conversion can cost anywhere from $3000-$10,000, and there is also a monthly fee that must be paid as the sewer system is a publically maintained system.

While the upfront cost may be overwhelming, the sewer system is designed to work indefinitely. A septic tank requires regular pumping to stay in good working order, and the leaching area must also be designed and cared for regularly. Both the septic tank and leach area must be replaced every 20-30 years, which requires a lot of work and also a lot of money at the time. For some, it comes down to deciding on when they want to put up the money to take care of the waste issue of their home. For many, though, converting to a sewer system is a no-brainer. A sewer system generally increases the value of a home because of the maintenance free aspect, and that is usually music to the ears.

Posted on behalf of Metro Septic and Plumbing