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!