Anyone have to replace a septic system lately?

Has anyone had to replace a septic tank/field lately? Our set-up is over 50 years old and the tank (I'm told) is only about 400-500 gallons. Even though it passed inspection (hah!) when we bought the house five years ago we've had problems from day one with water backing up in the laundry tub and drain in the below ground basement. We have it pumped twice a year and it fails inspection every time from the spetic pump company. They want to sell me a new system but I need to know what is reasonable.

It's only three people living in the house, but if my 5 year old takes a bath and the hubby takes a shower in the same day we're backing up.

Ideas?

Hopefully you won't have to rebuild the field, just a new tank. It's going to cost anywhere from $4K to $8K depending on tank size and if they have to dig a new field. Our tank failed the day we were having 30+ people over for our daughters graduation party. It backed up into the basement and the whole house smelled like poop. I thought I would die! Luckily we were renters at the time so we didn't have to pay for it, but what a horrible experience. The house we own now (100 yrs old) has a farmer-built septic system put in way before there were any regulations. 18 years later, so far, so good. It too passed inspection when we bought the place. I think the inspector flushed the toilet a couple times and said "good to go". In our county, if the septic tank isn't up to standards you can go after the previous owner up to 2 years after purchase. Unfortunately it was just over 2 years when we discovered the tank was "homemade". We're just living with it for now, but will have to reveal it when it's time to sell the place, unlike the previous owner. We get it pumped out every 3 years just to avoid any backup problems. I cringe every time I think of that graduation party many years ago.

Good luck, I hope you can get away with just a tank replacement.

I'm thinking the $4/8K range is a good guess if you need a new tank and leach field. Locally the minimum tank size to be installed is 1000 gallon. A good rule of thumb is 100 feet of leach field per bedroom although maximum size required is 300 feet, generally.

If you are near a body of water (and you don't own all of it) a filtering system is required. Lakes, ponds and streams all count. Supposedly one can drink the water after it passes through the filter. I've never heard anyone admit to doing this but the water tests potable for human consumption. The extra cost is diminished by less leach field being required.

I would guess the problem with your system is the leach field. Most septic systems are emptied of liquid by the absorption of waste water into the ground (leaching). If the ground is saturated the liquid has no where to go except backing up into the house. If the exit path is blocked by tree roots or collapsed/broken pipe this will keep the liquid from flowing out. It will seep out over a period of time but with guests arriving in a few hours you really don't want to take a chance.

Fifty years ago using 100 gallon of water per day was a large amount. Quite a bit of the waste water was simply thrown onto the yard. Most of the time the leach field consisted of a 55 gal drum or two with the top and bottom removed and filled with rock. After installing, a metal cover was placed over the top to keep it from filling in with dirt before levelling the dirt around the area.

Five years ago we had to replace the septic system here. We put in a 1K tank and 200' of leach field. We have 4 bedrooms but only two people live here full time. Our ground is good black dirt that acts like a sponge. After a period of heavy rains the toilet is reluctant to flush properly because the ground is saturated but is no problem a few hours after it stops raining. So far it's never overflown. We haven't had the tank pumped yet. Then again, 95% of the time it's just the two of us. The cost was $6K.

A friend just had hers go out. They've had the property for a while. She called the previous owner and when she's called them back, they won't answer. In the company digging, they found the septic tank was just a hole in the ground where I seriously doubt it ever met standards. She was told it would be around 7 or 8 thousand for the new tank and lines.
Hope you can find one cheaper.
Lynn

Have you talked to the health department yet? In this county you have to get a permit fromthem for anything. Maybe if you talk to them now you'll get help ful advice, At least the HD people should be telling you what's required, instead of a septic installer who has a money incentive to sell work to you.
Even a small tank should work for awhile-if pumped and cleaned- if the field is old and clogged (likely after 50 years) it just won't let anything leach out. like gk said.

We lived in the country until one year ago - hence the name Countrymom. Three years ago, the septic had to be replaced. I agree with gk1153. I think the problem, as you described it, is your leach bed. Once you purchase a home, by the way, the previous owner isn't responsible for anything that can go wrong. Lucky you.

Here in Ohio, two tanks are now required by law. And the price will probably be between $7-8K. There are other fees involved too - inspection, gas lines, permit - but whoever does the job should be responsible for those contacts and fees. Ask them. Be sure.

Be sure to check to see if the company who does the septic also regrades your yard. If you have flowerbeds in the way, start moving them now. The process makes a mess that you won't believe.

The company who installed our new septic, didn't regrade the yard. Nor did they put lids on the accesses. All they did was fill in the holes after the system was inspected. I had to hire someone to grade and seed. It took two years for the yard to look decent again. And I had to pay the people who regularly pump the system to put on new access covers.

I'm sorry you have to do this. Living in the country had so many perks, but the septic sure wasn't one of them.

IMO the tanks do not mean much except regarding the cleaning of them. If the leach field is adaequate a 400 gallon tank would need clearing 2.5 times more often than a 1000 gallon tank. The enzymes in the tank break down solid waste and allows the liquid to pass through to the leach field. All solid waste isn't broken down in a timely manner. That's why pumping out is needed occasionally. However, Public Health Department rules must be followed and most have a minimum requirement for tank size. The contractor took care of any fees. We didn't receive an extra bill.

The company who installed the system here also provide clean out service so the access covers were included in the cost. The access "holes" are 4" PVC pipe rising half a foot above ground level. We planted ornamental grass around them to hide them from passersby.

Having the ground over the leach field leveled and seeded when the job is finished would be an exercise in futility. The displaced dirt needs a few years of rain and weather to compact or settle. If grading and seeding was done immediately a few years later one would have indentations to mow over as opposed to hills. Either way is a b#$%h. It's been five years and every time I mow over the leach field my back complains of the bouncing and jarring it has to endure. I need to get out there with a tiller and dig up the area, level and seed. I've got the desire and ambition but I can't seem to have both at the same time. *grin*

After you get it done the peace of mind you experience makes it worth the cost.
Gary

We bought out house 30 years ago, we have only had our tank pumped out twice in that time. We are very careful not to put grease down the drain and Dh will not have a garbage disposal, even tho they say many of them are ok. We have the laundry room in the basement and there is a 55 gal drum where the washing water dains. I think all of these arrangements has saved us from any back- ups.
When we lived in Fl where the water table was high, we had several back ups, usually when we had a houseful of company. We could see water bubble up in the yard sometimes and the grass was always greener over that drain line. We probably are just very lucky.
Best of luck with your search for a reasonable solution.