I talked to a guy about installing one on my land today and was suprised that he said that only 2-250 gallon tanks would be enough for the system. The wife and I plan on building a house later on closer to retirement but wanted to go ahead and put one in for our 5th whel trailer. I figured go ahead and get it set up for the house later on down the line. The house that we've been looking at is about 3700 sq. ft and would have 3 1/2 bathrooms. the majority of the time it would be only us but you never know when a child is going to come back home to live and possibly bring their family with them. It just seems to me that 500 gallons is kind of small. He saying that since the soil is real sandy that it will disperse(?) quiker and better so that a larger tank will not be needed. Any thoughts?? Thanks.
Who knows about septic systems??
- Thread starter Shemp
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Onthesauk
Silver Member
Can't tell where you're located but here in the NW, septic tank size is code based on the number of bedrooms. And yes, sounds way small to me too.
Rowdius
Silver Member
The rules will vary greatly depending on where you live, so I cannot answer that question, but 250 gallons sounds too small to me.
Most codes go by the number of bedrooms in the house, not size. Just the same, I would install the largest tank I could afford now, to save upgrading later. Personally I have a little over 1000 gallons, divided between two tanks. (Two tanks, or at least two comparments is code just about anywhere that has a code.)
Most codes go by the number of bedrooms in the house, not size. Just the same, I would install the largest tank I could afford now, to save upgrading later. Personally I have a little over 1000 gallons, divided between two tanks. (Two tanks, or at least two comparments is code just about anywhere that has a code.)
Greyfields
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I want to say 3 bedroom homes are closer to the 1000 gallon tank size. Of course, soil type is important as well. You can compensate for poor soils by upping the size of the tank because the tank is cheap relative to the drain field portion.
How good the soil is to disperse the fluid that come out of the tank has little impact on how big the tank should be. The tank holds your solids that don't flow away until you pump them out. If the tank is too small and the solids wash or overfolw into your drain tiles your system can be destroyed at great expense. Don't ask me how I know. As was mentioned most tank sizes are dictated by the local laws and usually the number of bedrooms is usually the deciding factor. Get one bigger than required. I originally installed an 800 gallon tank fo ra 2 bedroom house then put on an addition and 800 gallons was not enough.
johnk
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If I'm thinking correctly the larger tank size will allow the solids to break down better before dispursing them into the secondary chamber which disperses the Brownwater into the leach field. I only have a seasonal cabin and I put in a 1500gallon 2 chamber septic. FWIW. I'm no expert just stating what I think I know..
Bird
Rest in Peace
Maybe where you're located, there's something we just don't know, but like the other guys, two 250 gallon tanks sounds great for a fifth-wheel with occasional use, but not for a house. Just for my parents' little one bath, single wide mobile home, we used two 500 gallon tanks. For a house like you've described, I sure would have expected a minimum of two 750 gallon tanks.
saltman
Silver Member
I have been looking for a septic tank here in CA. Mine is for a small cabin that I only visit on the weekends. I have been looking on the internet and have not been able to find a two chambered tank that is less than 750 gallons and the 1,000 gallon tank is almost the same price so that is what I plan on getting.
BubbaJr
Platinum Member
When we built our 3 BD, 2-1/2 Ba, 2300+ SF house in 2001, the county mandated that we install a 2500 gallon tank and a 1500 linear foot leach bed. We have heavy clay soil here, so that may make a difference in what is required. They also put in a distribution box so I can change between the two leach fields so one side can recover while the other side is in use. Not a pleasant job, but one that needs to be done.
2manyrocks
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You should be able to find out the mininum size required by your local codes by calling whoever inspects septic systems in your county. Your
TedLaRue
Gold Member
Botabill said:
Botabill's post is right on the money. Tank size corresponds to the time allowed for the sewage to decompose, and is based on occupancy of the house.
The leach field size/type corresponds to the soil percolation rate.
Around here the Health Dept. has to approve of your septic system and the installer has to be licensed. The approval requires results of a percolation test of your soil and a map of your leach field and any local streams, etc. But it's self-reported and they usually don't check the perc-test. The licensing exam isn't that difficult, either.
Build to your local requirements. You'd be foolish to under-build your own septic system.
Rara Avis
Veteran Member
If you are designing from scratch...make sure you separate your Washing Machine output from the rest of your septic system...It will pay dividends by providing a LONG LIFE to your septic field...
dangier_VA
Silver Member
Shemp,
A lot of good information in the previous posts. I would put a 1000 gal tank in. Pretty much the standard here in Virginia. Your leach field is sized for the number of bathrooms vs percolation rate. This is on a normal gravity septic system. If you need a pumping system-that's much different. Your local codes will dictate the requirements. You may also have to have an engineer's stamp of approval.
David
A lot of good information in the previous posts. I would put a 1000 gal tank in. Pretty much the standard here in Virginia. Your leach field is sized for the number of bathrooms vs percolation rate. This is on a normal gravity septic system. If you need a pumping system-that's much different. Your local codes will dictate the requirements. You may also have to have an engineer's stamp of approval.
David
firedog
Gold Member
Good responses so far.
In addition, the tank size is calculated on the # of bedrooms (which is based on # of people) and the drain field is calculated on the soil type. So sandy or sandyloam would reduce your drain field (square foot of trench bottom) but should not affect the tank sizes.
Also, in Texas, most coastal counties have gone to strictly aroebic systems for new installations. And since 97' you'll need to have a maintenance contract with someone to check/maintain your aroebic system if the county population is over 70K, under 70K you can do it yourself (with training, of course).
In addition, the tank size is calculated on the # of bedrooms (which is based on # of people) and the drain field is calculated on the soil type. So sandy or sandyloam would reduce your drain field (square foot of trench bottom) but should not affect the tank sizes.
Also, in Texas, most coastal counties have gone to strictly aroebic systems for new installations. And since 97' you'll need to have a maintenance contract with someone to check/maintain your aroebic system if the county population is over 70K, under 70K you can do it yourself (with training, of course).
tommu56
Elite Member
dangier_VA
I put a 1250 galllon bruser tank in so that I could back fill with native soil
check nesweco web page.
What about the drain field that is just as important as tank?
tom
I put a 1250 galllon bruser tank in so that I could back fill with native soil
check nesweco web page.
What about the drain field that is just as important as tank?
tom
SnowRidge
Elite Member
One other thing that may be important. Here things are starting to get tricky. What everyone said about the number of bedrooms defining the septic system size is correct, but there is a kicker. The building inspectors determine how many bedrooms you have, not the architect or what the plans say.
If a room over a certain minimum size has a closet, they call it a bedroom, even if its design purpose is something else. Put a closet in your study, it's a bedroom. Put a closet, or what the building inspector might consider a closet, in your workshop, it's a bedroom. Imagine designing your dream home with an attached workshop, complete with a small materials storage room, and finding out that you will have to put in a much more expensive septic system because the county says your workshop is a bedroom. The end result may well be a three or four bedroom house that requires a five bedroom septic system.
Here at least, it is vital that someone planning to build a house out in the country that will require a septic system check with both the septic authorities, who work for the state, and the building and zoning people who work for the county before even designing the house or purchasing a set of plans.
If a room over a certain minimum size has a closet, they call it a bedroom, even if its design purpose is something else. Put a closet in your study, it's a bedroom. Put a closet, or what the building inspector might consider a closet, in your workshop, it's a bedroom. Imagine designing your dream home with an attached workshop, complete with a small materials storage room, and finding out that you will have to put in a much more expensive septic system because the county says your workshop is a bedroom. The end result may well be a three or four bedroom house that requires a five bedroom septic system.
Here at least, it is vital that someone planning to build a house out in the country that will require a septic system check with both the septic authorities, who work for the state, and the building and zoning people who work for the county before even designing the house or purchasing a set of plans.
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shaley
Platinum Member
I'm a licensed onsite engineer in VA. I can't speak for Texas regs but here is a link to a Texas designers guide. Looks like 1000 gal for a 3 BDRM home is required.
http://theurbanrancher.tamu.edu/construction/septictank.pdf
http://theurbanrancher.tamu.edu/construction/septictank.pdf
MarkV
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The nation of Texas does things a bit different than other places from what I’ve seen. Even here in the rural hills of Georgia where building permits are not required you still have to have a septic system approved and inspected. Here the Health Department are the people in charge of septic systems and you have to have there sign off before a building permit, if required, is issued or power is turned on.
The tank sounds way small to me, as others have said. Here requires 1000 gals minimum for a 2 bedroom house and it goes up 500 gals per bedroom after that.
I’d sure be checking what the local requirements are so that you don’t have to add a new system when you build.
MarkV
The tank sounds way small to me, as others have said. Here requires 1000 gals minimum for a 2 bedroom house and it goes up 500 gals per bedroom after that.
I’d sure be checking what the local requirements are so that you don’t have to add a new system when you build.
MarkV
Bird
Rest in Peace
Shemp said:
You definitely want to start by contacting your county officials. Laws and regulations are always changing, but . . . in the early 90s, a brother-in-law hired an unlicensed installer to put in his septic system. The guy did a good job, but the county's inspector went after both the installer and my brother-in-law. Brother-in-law had 10 acres, and at that time, at least, Texas law was that no inspection, permit, etc. was required if you have 10 acres or more; you could do whatever you wanted to do. Brother-in-law's daughter works for a wealthy civil attorney and he finally got the county to back off. Brother-in-law gave me a copy of the state law; unbelievable; not a pamphlet or brochure, but a big, thick book.
