Buying House with Septic System

[ejnichol]

If you have a salt based water softener system, do Not run the backwash discharge into your septic system if at all possible.

The salt kills the good bacteria which consumes your tanks waste.

The salt also eats away at your concrete septic tank, skimmer and baffles if your system uses concrete tank and fixtures.

Also want to add something several septic people have told me. Your bowel movement contains all the good bacteria your tank needs. No need to add anything to your system in the way of additional additives. Avoid anything going in except fresh fecal matter. No bleach, oils, salt or chemicals.

 

[paulsharvey]

I'm also new to septic and am curious about driving over the field. Should I avoid driving my 1800 lb UTV over it? How about my 4000 lb tractor? I've been staying off of it except with the mower but I'm curious how paranoid I should be. I also would like to level it a bit since it makes up the main part of my lawn and is a bit rough in spots. Any issue dragging a landscaping rake over it with the UTV?

In general, you should avoid crossing the drain field regularly with anything heavier than a riding mower or Zero turn. The tank, if you dont know the type, same. A concrete lid "should" be fine; But you never know if its a poly tank with poly riser and poly lid, or maybe the concrete lid has a crack.

On the drain field; two things your worried about; 1) crushing that thin perf pipe; 2) gradual compaction.

If I needed to get to the other side, yeah, id go across; but i would do it often. As a smarter method, if I Had to drive a truck across; maybe lay some 2x12s in the wheel path to spread the load over a greater number of Sq Ft.

Cranes, power trucks, delivery trucks; tree trucks; absolutely dont. Roofing material delivery, ect. Also, dont park cars on it.

The UTV, your likely less PSI than a riding mower. I wouldn't park on it, or drive over it weekly, but a seasonal dragging, I would not worry about.

 

[paulsharvey]

"Mound systems have been referred to as "turkey mounds", lol. I have seen some in the front yard due to I suppose lot size?"

Likely forced by well placement, either theirs or their neighbors.

 

[California]

I got on the backhoe and dug a separate leach line for the washing machine, which is in the barn. Just 20 ft of perforated pipe in gravel. No septic tank.

10 years now and it works fine. There isn't a difference in the grass above it, but I expect the adjacent Redwood tree likes it.

And a question - down in the apple orchard there are two huge walnut trees at the point where slopes converge and the ground gets muddy. I wonder if Grandpa planted those to try to dry out that region by taking up some of the ground water. Likely?

 

[JTKub]

I got on the backhoe and dug a separate leach line for the washing machine, which is in the barn. Just 20 ft of perforated pipe in gravel. No septic tank.

10 years now and it works fine. There isn't a difference in the grass above it, but I expect the adjacent Redwood tree likes it.

And a question - down in the apple orchard there are two huge walnut trees at the point where slopes converge and the ground gets muddy. I wonder if Grandpa planted those to try to dry out that region by taking up some of the ground water. Likely?

Tons of older homes in my area have a separate "system" for their sinks and laundry waste water. It ain't right, nor is it legal, but I don't blame them. I'd do it too if I had the infrastructure for it.

 

[ponytug]

If you have a salt based water softener system, do Not run the backwash discharge into your septic system if at all possible.

The salt kills the good bacteria which consumes your tanks waste.

The salt also eats away at your concrete septic tank, skimmer and baffles if your system uses concrete tank and fixtures.

Also want to add something several septic people have told me. Your bowel movement contains all the good bacteria your tank needs. No need to add anything to your system in the way of additional additives. Avoid anything going in except fresh fecal matter. No bleach, oils, salt or chemicals.

Actually, that might not be the case generally. The Wisconsin DNR did a study a while back and found no difference in septic system performance between homes with the salt from the water softener regeneration cycle added to the septic, and those that infiltrated the softener regeneration water separately.

I could see that if you have clay, or clay like, soils in your leach field all that extra sodium might not be especially helpful, especially if your soils don't get much rain. YMMV.

All the best, Peter

 

[ericm979]

I'm also new to septic and am curious about driving over the field. Should I avoid driving my 1800 lb UTV over it? How about my 4000 lb tractor? I've been staying off of it except with the mower but I'm curious how paranoid I should be. I also would like to level it a bit since it makes up the main part of my lawn and is a bit rough in spots. Any issue dragging a landscaping rake over it with the UTV?

The guys who put in the new conventional leach field at our house in Oregon said to keep all equipment and livestock off it, to prevent soil compaction.

The answer you get may depend on the soil characteristics, in addition to the type of leach field.

 

[BackRoad]

As Mr. WinterDeere mentioned, on our last house sale, we as the seller obtained the septic certificate before the 1st open house.

They found an issue with the distribution junction box, which we paid to resolve before the house was listed.

But the septic certificate is like having a "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval". Septics can be one of the costlier buyer inspection failures, and often found late in the 9th inning.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I have learned so much about septic systems in this thread, again, thanks for all the insight! We are definitely going to have an inspection if it goes that far. I am far more confident in my ability to manage a septic system after reading this thread.

 

[paulsharvey]

As much as it can be frustrating to a home seller; stuff like the survey, septic certificate, foundation, and roof, that will pretty much 100% be required, really should be done by the seller.

Reason being; the sale falls through, they still have the survey, certificate, ect. If the buyer gets it, and sale falls through, what use is a survey of someone else's property?

Maybe there is a way to sell the survey, septic/roof certificate back to seller is sale falls through.

When we sold; we provided the survey, septic certificate, and copy of the reroof permit (like 3 years old). Buyer #1 paid for foundation and general inspection. We then paid for foundation tie downs, and a water heater, based on those, and then it fell through. 2nd Buyer actually offered Buyer 1 50% of the cost for copy of inspection reports, but Buyer #1 was too butt hurt to get some of her money back

 

[sandman2234]

The only things that go into my septic tank are the three toilets. I've never even had mine pumped out.

I had mine pumped in order to do some work on the inlet pipe. There was very little sludge in the tank after 19 years.(less than a foot) The guy pumping said I didn't need it pumper, till I explained why I was doing it. Mine was pumped b4 closing when I purchased the house. No issues with septic tanks, if you realize how they work. Check to see if bleach is ever used, as a little will kill a septic system. Best to put bleach cleaners in a separate tank.
David from jax

 

[California]

When Covid came, everybody bought antibacterial hand wash. At the ranch I put a note in each bathroom "The sewage system relies on bacteria to decompose the sewage. Please be kind to our little friends. NO anti-bacterlal soap down any drain!"

I allow bleach (rarely) in the barn washing machine that drains to its own leach field. Never in the house.

 

[ejnichol]

Lot of nuance to the issue Peter, like salts effect on aerobic bacteria vs anaerobic bacteria predominant in most septic systems. Observed concrete damage alone steers many to avoid salt introduction.

 

[workinonit]

That's why nothing at all goes in mine except what is supposed to. Not even a lot of excess water.

 

[paulsharvey]

That's why nothing at all goes in mine except what is supposed to. Not even a lot of excess water.

I dont really care about your house, but around here, you're not getting a CO (certificate of occupancy) unless all of your waste water is going into a system (septic or sewer). Its not a matter of me saying a washing machine drainage to grass is bad, but it won't pass a plumbing or building final.

As strict as VA Loans are (even stuff like interior paint, window screens, ect), i doubt you can get a VA Loan with sink, dishwasher, or washing machine not tied into the septic.

If your doing conventional, or cash, or owner fiancing, that doesn't matter

 

[lman]

I've got an Amish guy that is waiting for me to get tired of taking care of my 25 acres and they will pay cash with no certifications. They are buying up a lot of small farm properties around here and pay good with few questions. Of course he lives close and knows how I take care of the place and it would be for one of his children.

 

[Oaktree]

It is mildly distrubtive, as yes, you (they) do need to dig up the tank access lids, but its 2 holes about 36" in diameter. I actually dug them up myself, and separated the grass, and put the dirt in the tractor bucket, so I could back fill and lay the grass back on top, to avoid it looking bad

A few years ago I had a riser put in over my tank. Septic guy had been suggesting it for years. The older I get, the less appealing it became to dig down to the lid, then refill & replant grass. Not something you'd need to worry about, but I'd been hesitant to do so thinking the tank might freeze in winter, but so far no problems.
No more digging, and always easy to tell right where the tank is. Wife puts a birdbath on top of the lid.

Pour your used cooking oil, hamburger grease, ect in a old soda can and throw that in trash. Im not talking about some grease on a plate or frying pan; you dont need to be that crazy; but pouring a gallon of used cooking oil down the drain is not smart. Even pouring a cup of hamburger grease a few times a week is not smart.

Dunno if this is still a thing, but my parents' house had a grease trap in the drain line from the kitchen. It was a cast iron thing probably a foot tall and maybe 8" in diameter. My father would clean it out every few years.

A quick Google search shows they still make them, though the new ones don't look anything like what we had. Seem to be targeted more towards restaurants than residential.

 

[workinonit]

I dont really care about your house, but around here, you're not getting a CO (certificate of occupancy) unless all of your waste water is going into a system (septic or sewer). Its not a matter of me saying a washing machine drainage to grass is bad, but it won't pass a plumbing or building final.

I don't care that you don't care about my house. I'm glad you don't. I didn't post it for you to care. You made some incorrect assumptions. I never said I was running water on the ground, just that I wasn't running it in my septic tank. It goes in a tank and a leach field.

 

[paulsharvey]

I don't care that you don't care about my house. I'm glad you don't. I didn't post it for you to care. You made some incorrect assumptions. I never said I was running water on the ground, just that I wasn't running it in my septic tank. It goes in a tank and a leach field.

That wasn't meant that way... What I mean is I dont care that you have sinks and washing machines discharging, (by dont care, I mean it doesn't bother me, not a negative), but that it is a problem for a buyer, a new build, or anyone that has to worry about people calling the county on you. We are talking about someone buying a house, and their loan folks very well might care about a system like that. If their loan folks care, they need to care.

It wasn't something against you or your system.

 

[ponytug]

A few years ago I had a riser put in over my tank. Septic guy had been suggesting it for years. The older I get, the less appealing it became to dig down to the lid, then refill & replant grass. Not something you'd need to worry about, but I'd been hesitant to do so thinking the tank might freeze in winter, but so far no problems.
No more digging, and always easy to tell right where the tank is. Wife puts a birdbath on top of the lid.

Dunno if this is still a thing, but my parents' house had a grease trap in the drain line from the kitchen. It was a cast iron thing probably a foot tall and maybe 8" in diameter. My father would clean it out every few years.

A quick Google search shows they still make them, though the new ones don't look anything like what we had. Seem to be targeted more towards restaurants than residential.

I think residential use of grease traps has always been limited, but not a bad idea for septic systems.

Restaurants and commercial kitchens almost always have to have them per the local sewer district to keep down fatbergs in the sewers, and prevent the satellite lines from clogging.

All the best,

Peter