Septic system life expectancy questions and answers - set#2.

This article series describes the typical life expectancy of septic systems and various common septic system components.

Septic System Component Life Expectancy FAQs

These questions and answers about the life of a private septic system (tank and drainfields, absorption beds, etc.) were posted originally at SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY - be sure to read that article.

Photo: depressions that mark septic absorption bed (leach field) trenches may be more visible under light snow cover.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2017-04-21 by (mod) -

Sure Larry we have some nice articles on that: use the search box just above to search InspectApedia for SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS

On 2017-04-21 by larry

best way o held septic last longer

On 2019-02-13 by (mod) - dangers of home-made septic tanks & systems

Watch out: A cinder block septic tank sounds to me like a homemade system and possibly one that's unsafe at risk of collapse.

If someone Falls in such a tank it's an ugly and quick death. If you're referring to a terracotta grainfield that to sounds old enough that none of your system has any predictable forward useful life. We don't actually know the condition of the system only your description of the materials.

If I were buying a house I wouldn't try to make a seller do anything. The risk is that you force someone to do a halfway job or to take shortcuts.

If in fact the seller agrees to provide you with a functional working septic system then you would be probably better to obtain an allowance and have the work done yourself under your own supervision.

You can avoid the risk of shortcuts taken by a seller, and avoid the risk of a legal dispute in the future, and it make sure that the contractor doing the work is accountable to you not to someone who is no longer present

On 2019-02-13 by Jim Toms

I have a contract on a 68 year old home. I discovered the seller replacing the distribution box and in doing so broke the cinder block septic tank
The seller won't say why the box was dug up and replaced?

I saw the box and new septic tank before it was covered. At that time I saw they connected to new distribution box to 2 68 year old tetra cottar drain fields. on line ran under a driveway the other ran down hill under 75 year old oak trees.

Bottom line: SHOULD I MAKE SELLERS PUT IN NEW DRAIN FIELD TO TODAY'S CODES?

On 2019-02-13 by Jim Toms

Should a 68 year old Terra cottar drain pipe be replaced on a 3 bed room house. 3rd room was added 3 years ago and the house is being marketed
as a 3 bedroom.

On 2019-02-09 by (mod) - Standards for Septic tanks made of "plastic"

Russell

Septic tanks made of "plastic" may be take to include polyethylene septic tanks and fiberglass-reinforced plastic or FRP septic tanks.

Some pertinent standards for plastic or FRP septic tanks include the following:

ANSI/AWWA D120-02 Thermosetting Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Tanks.

ASTM D 1248 – Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable;

ASTM D 1693 – Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics;

ASTM D638 - Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics;

CSA International - B66-00 Prefabricated Septic Tanks and Sewage HoldingTanks;

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials – IAPMO PS 1-98 Material and Property Standard for Prefabricated Septic Tanks.

ASTM D790 - Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials

Norwesco, a large manufacturer of plastic septic tanks (and other tanks) notes that their tanks are approved by both IAPMO™
and CSA™.

Watch out: because these tanks are light, when empty, if they're not properly installed (including anchoring) the tank can (in wet weather) float up out of the ground, causing obvious trouble.

On 2019-02-09 by Russell

Is there a standard of quality on plastic septic tanks?

On 2018-11-30 by (mod) - He said the structural integrity of the tank is fine

Well since your site expert can see the system and I cannot I'm certainly inclined to trust his opinion.

The critical thing is that the tank cover is safe and that there's no risk of collapse and someone falling in.

On 2018-11-29 by Dan

The septic guys were out today. He did agree that there is some exposed rebar on the ceiling of the tank, however he does not recommend replacing the tank.

He said the structural integrity of the tank is fine. Just thinks they didnt set the rebar correctly when they made the lid. The rest of the tank looks great. Any thoughts?
Sean

On 2018-11-27 by (mod) - Septic tank running over and backing up after huge rain.

Can,

Unfortunately if your septic system fails and backs up in wet weather than the system is genuinely in trouble and is going to need repair or replacement.

It's not going to suffice to observe that you don't see a problem in dry weather since what that means in essence is that part of the time you're contaminating the environment that is whenever the weather is not try.

Also if it's failing now it's going to continue to get worse so that eventually it will work at any time. You need some on-site diagnosis.

On 2018-11-26 by Ken

Septic tank running over and backing up after huge rain. Will it dry out once grown dries up?

On 2018-11-26 by (mod) -

Keep us posted, Sean.

On 2018-11-26 by Anonymous

Thank you for the info. I have someone coming out on Thursday to investigate replacing the tank. If only there was a warranty on a septic tank...

On 2018-11-26 by (mod) - deteriorating septic tank cover

Sean

If it's a Concrete tank in the cover is deteriorating it may have been a bad concrete mix. You should get clear exactly where the problem is lie. That is is it really just a cover or is the entire tank in danger of collapsing. To make that assessment you'll probably have to have the tank pumped and inspected.

Watch out if the cover over your septic tank is not absolutely sound, someone could fall in - which means a quick and nasty death.

So the smart thing would be to rope off or keep people away from the area.

On 2018-11-25 23:30:39.604683 by Sean

Great article, thank you! I have a system with a concrete septic tank that is 15 years old. I am told the ceiling of my tank is deteriorating and the entire tank needs replaced. How is that possible?

On 2018-11-18 by (mod) -

Dora

I'm not sure what kind of system we're discussing. If you are referring to an aerobic septic system normally the pump would be on.

On 2018-11-17 by Dora L Ayala

Does the pump have to be on the run button there are 3 cycle run mute test

On 2018-11-18 by (mod) - Does the pump have to be on the run button

Dora

I'm not sure what kind of system we're discussing. If you are referring to an aerobic septic system normally the pump would be on.

On 2018-11-17 by Dora L Ayala

Does the pump have to be on the run button there are 3 cycle run mute test

On 2018-09-20 by (mod) - remaining life for a septic system built in the 1940s

There is no reasonable probability that a septic system that was built in the 1940s and has not been touched since, and that continued in use, would continue to be functional. Even if the tank were concrete and in good condition you would assume that the fields failed.

Pumping the septic tank will never fix a failed absorption bed or drainfield.

On 2018-04-06 1 by Paulette Jenkins

A home that was built in 1942 with a septic system. No record of being maintained, no records at Heather department either. Current owner has never cleaned out pumped septic ever. I think I should not purchase this house. Someone tell me how long they last. N what expense to fix replace. If had too.

Or if I had it pumped out after many years would that take care of the problem. Or look for a different house.

On 2018-01-23 by Ashley

We are looking to buy a home in Pa that has a sand mound septic installed with a huge drain field. I think the inspector said it was 30x80. It has 3 tanks 1500 in the first two total and then 500 for the water.

The inspector said if the system was ever to fail we could only put holding tanks on the property since the perk test failed with the last system and there is no room.

This is our first home with a well & septic so what is the normal lifespan of a sand mound? Its very nerve wracking because we like the house but not the idea of it possibly failing & then needing holding tanks.

On 2017-11-16 by joe

Wondering, if a leachfield has not been used for 55 years, septic tank gone 55 years as well, is there any issue with just leaving it and building at, near, or over it>??

On 2017-10-20 by (mod) - typical septic tank and d box costs vs vield costs

Thanks for the comment LO

On 2017-10-20 by Lo

Rita,
Depends on what is not working. Septic tank and Distribution box can cost $8500.

If it is drain or leach field, it can cost $40,000.

So, read the Septic inspector report carefully. You can even ask the inspection company how much it cost to repair?

On 2017-10-05 by Rita

Septic inspector said septic the end of life. Seller want to give $4500 for repair is it good or bad ? septic was from 1960

On 2017-09-27 by (mod) - If the septic area gets swampy you have a problem

If the septic area gets swampy you have a problem - a failed septic field. A septic field that is wet cannot treat the sewage effluent.

That means that sewage effluent, inadequately treated, is discharging contaminants and pathogens into the environment, the ground, the nearby aquifer, lakes, streams, wells.

If the water source is coming from outside the septic fields then the fields still are not working and cannot work when wet or "under water". But in this case sometimes you can fix the field by installing an intercept drain to keep surface or subsurface runoff away from the soakbed area.

Adding dirt atop a wet drainfield hides the problem but doesn't fix it - unfortunately. That's because burying the field under more soil cuts the oxygen available to the existing installation - no oxygen means no aerobic bacteria means that a substantial portion of the effluent treatment no longer takes place.

On 2017-09-27 by Loretta

We purchased a home in May that was built in 1965. The septic tank was inspected and pumped, but the leach field was not inspected.

We knew where the leach field was, and that area was always greener during the summer than the rest of the meadow, but we had no surface water.

One of the neighbors did tell us that the area 'gets swampy' sometimes. And then he said "but it's OK". We are now at the end of September, after having a few rains, and we notice there is almost constant surface water in a low part of the leach field. The water has no odor that we can detect, but it did look like it had an oil film on top of it.

Do we or don't we have a problem? Because it has no odor, we're wondering if it's just because the rain has puddled. But with the oil film, we aren't sure.

Is there an 'easy' and/or 'inexpensive' solution? Can we just bulldoze some additional dirt on top of it? We really don't want to have to dig it up ourselves (yuck!) in order to install some up-to-date leach field solution.

On 2017-09-23 by Anonymous

Any reviews on the Eljen septic systems?

...

Continue reading  at SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Articles on the life expectancy of a septic system

• SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY
  • BIOMAT FORMATION & SEPTIC LIFE
  • PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  • SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
  • SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
  • SEPTIC SYSTEM AGE
• SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY FAQs-2 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---