Your Septic System Installation or Replacement questions, answered
Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
How much do septic tank systems cost?
Conventional septic tank systems cost $3,500 to $8,500 to installthe systems people are most familiar with. These conventional systems are primarily gravity fed and use anaerobic bacteria to break down solid waste in the tank.
The system consists of a septic tank, a drainfield, and 3 feet of native soil beneath the drainfield. A septic tank is a large, underground container that treats wastewater from rural homes that are not connected to a municipal sewer system. A drainfield, also called a leach field, is the area of land where the wastewater is dispersed and treated. The drainfield is made up of a series of perforated pipes buried in the ground and surrounded by gravel or sand which filter the wastewater.
How does a septic tank system work?
A traditional septic tank system works by collecting waste in the septic tank, then letting gravity separate the waste into scum, sludge, and effluent.
Scum is lightweight waste like grease, oil, and fats that float to the top.
Sludge are heavy solids like bones and soil that settle on the tank's bottom.
Effluent is the clear liquid wastewater left after the scum floats and the sludge settles.
Bacteria in the tank breaks down the solid waste on the bottom, while the effluent liquids travel out of the tank into the drainfield.
What is an alternative septic system?
An alternative septic system is designed to deal with homesites with limited space or poor soil, when a drainfield is not a viable option. The most common alternative septic systems include:
Chambered system – Uses a series of buried plastic chambers to treat wastewater.
Constructed wetland system – Uses plants to absorb nutrients in the wastewater and help filter out the solids.
Drip distribution system – Uses a series of drip emitters to evenly disperse the treated effluent wastewater from the septic tank to the leach field.
Evapotranspiration system – Uses a drainfield lined with watertight material. As the effluent enters the drainfield, it evaporates into the air, never reaching the groundwater.
Choosing the right system depends on where you live, the condition of your soil, and your budget.
How do you maintain a septic tank system?
Septic tank maintenance is easy and inexpensive and comes down to these 4 essentials:
Inspect and pump regularly – Schedule professional pumping services every 3 to 5 years.
Use water efficiently – The less water you use, the less water enters the septic system. Reduce water usage by taking shorter showers and washing clothes only when you have a full load.
Properly dispose of waste – Everything you flush down the toilet or pour down the sink eventually ends up in your septic system. Avoid flushing anything but toilet paper and don't pour chemicals or grease down the drain.
Protect your drainfield – Do not park or drive over your drainfield to prevent damaging the system. Plant trees far away to keep roots from growing into the septic.
How many years does a septic tank last?
A concrete septic tank can last for 20 to 30 years with proper maintenance, depending on the tank material. Concrete tanks are the most expensive but the longest lasting tanks available. Other factors that can impact the lifespan of a septic tank include the quality of the tank, the soil conditions, and the usage.
Heavily used septic systems tend will likely need repairs or replacement sooner than rarely used systems. A septic tank in a household of 1 or 2 people will almost always last longer than one used by a large family.
What questions should I ask a septic tank installer?
Before you contract with a septic tank installer near you, ask these important questions:
Is your company licensed, bonded, and insured for septic work?
Are you a member of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)?
How many years have you been installing septic systems?
Does your estimate include permits, inspections, and site prep?
What type of tank do you recommend for my property and soil conditions?
What size tank do you recommend for my household?
What guarantee do you offer on your labor?
How do I choose a septic tank installer?
HomeGuide has a great list of septic tank installers near you to choose from. When making your final list of installers to contact, don't forget to:
Get estimates from 3 or more septic companies with years of septic system installation experience in your area.
Select from septic companies that are members NOWRA.
Check out the recent company reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Request everything in writing, including a detailed estimate, contract, and warranty information before starting the project.
Confirm that the installer has the right permits and follows all local municipality laws and building codes.
Reviews for Chicago septic tank system installers
Recent success stories from people in the Chicago area.
Michael B.
THE BEST OF THE BEST!! You only need Alberto and his crew for all your plumbing needs! I will never need to look for another plumber again! We were in a mess with a sewer backing up into the downstairs bathroom/laundry room which happened during the coldest zero and subzero weather! And we had water and debris backed up and were unable to fully use our facilities. What a mess!! Cleaning up was horrible! Well, I left a message on this Homeguide site in the wee hours of the morning, and in no time I received a call from Alberto with All Plumbing Services. He was at a job near my home and was able to come out within hours. We had an estimate by another plumber for $11,000 and I didn't know where to start, as we could not afford that. Alberto said for that much, he could replace my entire house's incoming and outgoing lines! He told us that he was seeing people being overcharged badly for this kind of work, and that he felt bad for people, knowing that so many are going through hard financial times. That sure helped the emotional component of having your life disrupted by something like this! We lived in our house for 39 years and never had this problem before. So Alberto came over and did a free video inspection of our sewer lines and told us where the problems were. He made a contract for us that was $4200 instead of the $11,000 from the other company!! This was a life saver! Alberto is the nicest guy, too. He is very experienced, friendly, understanding, emotionally supportive, and honest. In getting to know him, he talked about how he loved what he did in his line of work, including making his own custom made pipe lines, making his own threads. You can see his pictures on this site. And he spoke often of his mentor, who he values every day he goes to work. His mentor was a man of high integrity and great knowledge of plumbing. He always told Alberto, "Always be honest. As long as you are honest with people, you will always have customers." Well, how true. And Alberto was very honest with us. We are so glad to know him! So before the work was started, he went to our Village Hall and got all the legal paperwork done for doing the job and for setting up and inspection with the health dept. who has to inspect and approve the work being done. It was no problem as Alberto is licensed, bonded, and insured, with the state of Illinois. He does work all over Illinois and even in Indiana. He also is contracted to service all the Dunkin' Doughnuts in the area! Alberto says he does not usually charge as much money as most plumbers because he doesn't see the need to charge more than what things should actually cost. Now that's a rare person right there!! So the work was started and completed in record time, and just in time for the inspectors to come by. They told him "Nice work!!" And the Village was quite surprised at the total cost of the job. They said there was another home close by that got charged $45,000!!!! They, themselves, saw how reasonable Alberto's company was. I'm telling you, are we blessed. So as it turns out, the obstruction in the sewer line had more to do with the part of the line nearest the city part of the sewer. There was some clogging near the house and the need to replace some sewer line which cracked and leaked, but not as bad as we thought. The biggest obstruction was near the street, way down away from the house. There was huge tree roots that were growing there that finally interfered with our free flow. This house was built in 1971, and we've lived here since 1985. This was our first backup! Even in the 1990's when we had 24 inches of rain in 24 hours that flooded Naperville, we only had puddles in our yard and no drainage troubles! So there is this neat roto-rooter machine that Alberto used to break up those thick roots. It forces water out at such a high pressure that it could cut your hand off! So it got those roots cleared out very well. That's another thing we appreciated so much. Alberto always told you what was being done, and when, and kept you informed every step of the way. And if he foresaw a problem that would add to the cost, he told you ahead of time. We couldn't have asked for more. His team is hard working. It was near freezing and wet and muddy everywhere. But his crew did their job with so much effort and nothing stopped them! I am beyond impressed! Thank you, Alberto. And thank you, Alberto's crew!! I know you work HARD!
All Plumbing Services
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