By If you are looking to move from the city or suburbs to a more rural area, you will likely want to buy a home with a septic system. This type of sewage system allows homes to be located further from municipal sewer systems and can save the homeowner money on utility bills. However, there are other costs associated with a septic tank, and it’s important to understand what those costs are before making a purchase.
A septic tank is a buried vessel that collects wastewater from toilets, sinks and garbage disposals on your property. It contains special compartments to separate the waste into three distinct layers. The top layer is scum, which consists of oils and grease. The middle is wastewater or “effluent” and the bottom layer is sludge, which are solid wastes. The sludge and wastewater are then dispersed into the drain field or leach field, which serves as a natural filter.
The septic tank can be made of steel, concrete or fiberglass. It’s best to choose a fiberglass tank because it is less prone to corrosion than steel. It also holds more water, meaning you won’t need to empty it as frequently. If you are considering a steel tank, it’s important to talk to your contractor about how long it will last before needing replacement.
Septic tanks are buried septic tanks near me underground and have a lid that is either left open or covered with a very thin layer of soil. You can use a septic riser, which is usually a pipe, to access the tank for inspection and pumping. This device is available at hardware stores and some online retailers and can be installed by a professional or an adept do-it-yourselfer.
Locating a Septic Tank Near Me
Finding a septic tank can be difficult because they aren’t typically located in easy-to-reach places. You can consult a map that is kept with the permit records of the tank or search for it by following a trail of sewage. It is also unlikely that a septic tank would be buried under or near a well water system and is more likely to be found underneath large areas of grass.
Benefits of a Septic Tank
There are many benefits of a septic tank, but the most obvious is that it eliminates the need for homeowners to pay a monthly or quarterly utility bill for using a municipal sewer system. It’s also more cost effective than installing new pipes to connect a home to a sewer line. Lastly, septic tanks cut pollution because they allow the waste to be filtered through the soil before it reaches the water supply. This helps nearby plants and wildlife by removing harmful bacteria.
