questions about septic systems

[MotoSook]

BTW. I found some nice brochures online on septic system care when I did a Google search. I don't have a link but iirc the best one I found was from a state health department.

For reference: my parents raised 5 kids in that house and the motorize system kept up. We have 5 kids and we haven't had any problems with the system at the new house. Since we have been here a year I called the local company to come pump it and the guys said he'd take my money but he didn't think it needed it after just one year. He said if the toilet slows and drains start gurgling then its filling up. So there are warning signs but I still wouldn't go more than 2 years without pumping it out.

[MMARSH]

I'm getting a septic certification and pump out tomorrow. Hopefully no issues or I'm walking.

Had the home inspection today and got some bad news. Both furnaces had a recall and the original company is out of business. 5k to replace them Everything else was fine. The property is bank owned and a great house in a desirable neighborhood. All the homes are horse properties( or horsepower property in my case, when the shop is built) mountain views and great motorcycle riding right out my front door. I'm stealing this house so the bank won't pay for anything,any repairs are coming qout of my pocket.

[MMARSH]

I was figuring pumping the tank every couple of years. Better safe then sorry. Thanks for all info. It really is a ****ty subject..

[plumb4u2]

Originally Posted by MMARSH

I'm getting a septic certification and pump out tomorrow. Hopefully no issues or I'm walking.

Had the home inspection today and got some bad news. Both furnaces had a recall and the original company is out of business. 5k to replace them Everything else was fine. The property is bank owned and a great house in a desirable neighborhood. All the homes are horse properties( or horsepower property in my case, when the shop is built) mountain views and great motorcycle riding right out my front door. I'm stealing this house so the bank won't pay for anything,any repairs are coming qout of my pocket.

you seem to love this property and seem to be getting good deal on it, I would not let the septic system worry you

another thing to look at is if there is septic reserve on the property (meaning enough virgin property to install more drainage down the road if need be)

This is a big issue in my area with much older houses that have had repairs made to the system and now there is no more room for addition fields
unfortunately this is not disclosed to new buyers and they get stuck when it fails

[cmccuist]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I almost bought a waterfront "fixer-upper" a couple years ago that was an absolute bargain.

Then I learned that half of the septic system was on the neighbor's property, with no easement. The drain field was also way too close the the shoreline to meet current codes. For some silly reason, the county doesn't like drain fields right next to the Pacific Ocean. The neighbors were very friendly, and wanted us to buy the home, but I wasn't about to until I had it in writing that the neighbors across the street, away from the shoreline, would give us an easement for a new drain field.

Really nice piece of property, and a home with great potential, but I'm glad we walked away.

You made the right decision. Especially if there is no easement. I found out that everything is great until one thing goes wrong and you have to conform to a new code. I went all the way up the chain - city, county, finally to the state. I spoke with the Secretary of crap in Austin. Told him I would put in incinerating toilets and there wouldn't even be any sewage. No joy.

The ironic part of this whole sad tale is that the mayor of Brazoria lived right down the street from me and his laterals emptied out into his back yard right near the river bank.

[MMARSH]

Well....looks like the house will need a new septic tank. It has the original steel tank and was full of holes. We are at about $$7500 bucks just to replace the tank.....but it sure was nice being there today. Going to notify the bank of the issues and see what they can do.

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by MMARSH

Well....looks like the house will need a new septic tank. It has the original steel tank and was full of holes. We are at about $$7500 bucks just to replace the tank.....but it sure was nice being there today. Going to notify the bank of the issues and see what they can do.

When I bought our 16 acre "estate" (with a 6000 s.f. man barn) at a depressed market price I told myself that some repair and major cost surprise are acceptable. To find 16 acres in a similar setting then build with cost me 3x+ as much as the sale price. Fortunate we have only had small costs in a year. I plan to retire here so long term I can't lose. I'm sure you've considered such thoughts. Good luck. I'm sure you've also considered all the factors that cost the bank money to hold on to it over selling to you with the repair at their cost. Leverage.

[flipper35]

Rid-X may be a gimmick but at $14 for a four month supply I can live with it.

We have two adults, a 9 year old and a two year old. The people that put the new system in when they added on had a family of eight.

[johnsjmc]

I grew up in a home with a septic tank. and have owned 2 myself. The first one I bought had a sudden tank failure.The steel tank originally installed in 1946 had a baffle at the outlet to prevent solids from the sludge cap getting into the leaching field. The baffle rusted out and the sludge filled the bed. The whole system needed to be replaced. Here I needed to truck in several dump trucks of certified soil( sand to allow fast drainage0 to allow the new bed to fit on my residential lawn. The system could have been saved if we had replaced the tank before the baffle broke but finding it before failure would be just luck. The second home I bought with a little more care. The sleazy real estate agent offered to have the tank pumped out as a house warming gift. Ha Ha I insisted on being there when it was serviced. Despite it being a concrete tank the bed was also ruined, but because of infrequent maintenance not specific breakdown like my earlier steel tank. This time the pumping company knew there was a problem as soon as opening because the liquid level was too high, if I wasn't there I would have not discovered the ruined system until several weeks later when it refilled and wouldn't empty. The seller lowered the price equal to 75% of the lowest bid for a complete system replacement. ($18000). This time I had plenty of land 3 A. but had to move the bed to be over 100 ft from our well.
I wouldn,t be afraid of a septic system but they need to be pumped out about every 5 yrs around here .They also need to be inspected by someone who knows whats going on at time of purchase. I would even try to get a seller to warranty them after sale if possible.

[carreradpt]

Lived with a septic for 18 years in Washington State. House built in 87, I bought in 92. 2Concrete tanks and the drainfield. Septic certified for single family, I think 5 members. Our soil was very porous and our property did not flood. Had it pumped every 5 years and the system worked perfectly, never an issue. We were very careful to not put the wrong stuff in the toilets and kitchen sinks. Rid x is a gimmick.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by MMARSH

Well....looks like the house will need a new septic tank. It has the original steel tank and was full of holes. We are at about $$7500 bucks just to replace the tank.....but it sure was nice being there today. Going to notify the bank of the issues and see what they can do.

Did they test the rest of the system or just pump the tank? How was the rest of the system?

I'm very surprised to see a steel tank on a house built in '88. Was it re-built on a lot where there was an older house? Could this septic system be older? Is the piping PVC?

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by dad911

Did they test the rest of the system or just pump the tank? How was the rest of the system?

I'm very surprised to see a steel tank on a house built in '88. Was it re-built on a lot where there was an older house? Could this septic system be older? Is the piping PVC?

Unfortunately all the houses in this neighborhood were built with steel tanks. The tank didnt get pumped because as soon as we saw all the holes in the top of it we stopped.

[dad911]

Just the tank replacement should not cost $7500, more like $2500. I pay less than $1000 for a 1000 gallon concrete tank.

Should still test the rest of the system, especially if there is a chance the baffles rusted and solids could have went out to the field.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by dad911

Just the tank replacement should not cost $7500, more like $2500. I pay less than $1000 for a 1000 gallon concrete tank.

Should still test the rest of the system, especially if there is a chance the baffles rusted and solids could have went out to the field.

I've gotten three quotes, all have been over 5k for just a tank replacement and risers. The rest of the system will be checked when the tank is replaced.