Buying House with Septic System

[WinterDeere]

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

Mine had always emptied into our septic system, and in digging up the distribution box in 2023, the septic company that had installed it in 2011 was amazed by how badly it had already eroded. The trouble is, putting all gray water and other waste into the septic system is the only "legal" route in our locale, and many others.

 

[ericm979]

Are garbage disposals a problem for septic systems? We will be composting at the new place like we did at the old so there would not be a lot of stuff going into the disposal. But it would be convenient to not have to empty the sink strainers into the compost bucket.

 

[paulsharvey]

Are garbage disposals a problem for septic systems? We will be composting at the new place like we did at the old so there would not be a lot of stuff going into the disposal. But it would be convenient to not have to empty the sink strainers into the compost bucket.

Its not so much good or bad; its levels of not ideal. The way I look at it, some food is going into the tank, and I dont worry about it; from dish washer, sink, ect. I would scrape the food in trash, but no matter what, some is going into septic. If it adds upto a cup or more per week of food, I would probably try to avoid it.

 

[WinterDeere]

Its not so much good or bad; its levels of not ideal. The way I look at it, some food is going into the tank, and I dont worry about it; from dish washer, sink, ect. I would scrape the food in trash, but no matter what, some is going into septic. If it adds upto a cup or more per week of food, I would probably try to avoid it.

Same. We don’t intentionally dump food into our disposal, we initially scrape plates into the garbage can. But we don’t sweat over the little that goes down there, or when an oblivious guest scrapes an occasional plate into the disposal.

 

[grsthegreat]

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.

A septic system will never freeze. Too much heat being produced while its working. Also, too much solids in water.

 

[grsthegreat]

Are garbage disposals a problem for septic systems? We will be composting at the new place like we did at the old so there would not be a lot of stuff going into the disposal. But it would be convenient to not have to empty the sink strainers into the compost bucket.

Ive had a garbage disposal on mine for 29 years. But not alot goes down it. 95% of junk goes into garbage can. But sometimes something slips by.

We dont use bleach either, however articles about bleach and washers on septic seen to say the product is broken down during washing and shouldnt hutt septic

But im not going to take chances

 

[JTKub]

A septic system will never freeze. Too much heat being produced while its working. Also, too much solids in water.

Yes, plus the tank should be below the frost line enough. I helped a neighbor many years ago who left his riser uncovered during a very cold winter and he all of a sudden was having a sewage backup problem. What happened was the inlet flapper check valve on his system froze shut and wouldn't allow waste water into the tank. Unfroze it and covered over the lid to his riser. No more problems.

 

[grsthegreat]

My riser had an insulated lid. I replaced the leaking concrete tank maybe 6-7 years ago. Went with a 1000 gal poly. Very pleased with results.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

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.

That is good to know as the in-laws might be going FHA, and they might care.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I love our garbage disposal, but we are on city sewer. We don't intentionally put food down it but it is super nice not having to empty a sink strainer. Just rinse it all down the sink until it starts to back and flip on the disposal. Such a luxury!

 

[JTKub]

I love our garbage disposal, but we are on city sewer. We don't intentionally put food down it but it is super nice not having to empty a sink strainer. Just rinse it all down the sink until it starts to back and flip on the disposal. Such a luxury!

If you only use them that way, you're generally ok. They become the proverbial plumber's best friend when people try to mulch/slurry up everything with them.

 

[hosspuller]

Home was built in 1965. Conventional tank and leach field. 30 years ago, I had a home inspector before we closed the purchase. He filled the tub and then let it drain. Based on the backup/slow drain, he recommended a new leach field. A new field was installed. Since then, I've pumped the tank every 3 -5 years. The hard rule here is only toilet paper and what was eaten goes in the toilet. Cooking grease is collected for the trash. Haven't any issue with bleach or such in 30 years.

PS: I did install risers on inlet and outlet to avoid digging and landscape disturbance.

 

[etpm]

Island County in WA State doesn't allow disposers in new construction and hasn't for about 20 years. Maybe more. Island County also doesn't recommend additives. The reasoning being that the additives liquefy solids that then precipitate out in the drain field. And you cannot find the typical septic additives for sale in any of the stores on either island, Whidbey or Camano. With most folks in Island County being on septic systems the health department really pays attention to septic issues.
Eric

 

[Jstpssng]

Years ago I was moonlighting for a caterer on a busy night. Things got crazy, the chef had to dump the grease off a steamship round so that he could serve it but the sinks were full of water and dishes. The only one available was the one with a pig... which quickly cooled the grease, plugging the drain. We needed the sink so I had to reach down it to drag the grease out.
I cleaned with my right hand while clutching the biggest knife I could find in my left to keep people away from the switch. If he was stupid enough to do that who knows what else he would do.

 

[grsthegreat]

Home was built in 1965. Conventional tank and leach field. 30 years ago, I had a home inspector before we closed the purchase. He filled the tub and then let it drain. Based on the backup/slow drain, he recommended a new leach field. A new field was installed. Since then, I've pumped the tank every 3 -5 years. The hard rule here is only toilet paper and what was eaten goes in the toilet. Cooking grease is collected for the trash. Haven't any issue with bleach or such in 30 years.

PS: I did install risers on inlet and outlet to avoid digging and landscape disturbance.

That test was useless. My tub drains slow if theres hair in the trap

 

[grsthegreat]

I wonder, in a finished house, how would an inspector even know sinks and tubs wernt piped into septic?

 

[sandman2234]

I am wondering just how an inspector would know "if" certain drains were bypassed away from the septic tank. A couple of mine were actually diverted to dump on the empty lot next door by the guy who built the house. I found it when the grass clogged the pipe and I had to track the pipe. Short of putting dye in the water and making sure it flowed into the tank, how else would you track to make sure the waste water actually went into the tank? On new construction, you can still see the pipes before they are buried, but once they are buried, how do you tell? Most inspections just want to make sure that there is enough flow to keep the tub empty and the sinks from backing up. Maybe run a load of laundry to check that, but how many pull the lid off the tank to check to see if the flow is coming into the tank?
David from jax

 

[paulsharvey]

I wonder, in a finished house, how would an inspector even know sinks and tubs wernt piped into septic?

Our OP specifically stated the washing machine was just piped through the wall.

If you Really wanted to know, you could easily drop a die pack, and open a clean out.

But, to your point, you absolutely can do it, Noone will likely ever know, as long as you dont pipe it to the road or something. In the end though, you have to pipe it somewhere, and its not hard to find a 2" PVC pipe, and question what it is.

This is mostly just a selling/buying issue; not a does it work or not issue.

 

[sandman2234]

I wonder, in a finished house, how would an inspector even know sinks and tubs wernt piped into septic?

You beat me to the same question!
David from jax

 

[paulsharvey]

If you want to get away with stuff on a new build, its not hard. Yes, you have all your MEPs underslab inspection, and pre-pour inspection. Nothing stops you from changing things around post inspection, pre pour. No one will ever be able to see as all your piping is under the slab, and never visible again. You could then hide and cap the gray water, as you will need to fill the DWV for the rough in inspection. Its just more trouble than doing it per code

You would pretty much have to be an owner builder, though. Plumber isnt going to do it, GC isnt going to let the owner go dig and cut and move stuff on his house, etc.