Many people install septic tanks when their homes don’t have access to traditional sewer lines. However, many Newcastle residents don’t know how plumbers install septic tanks or how they work.
So, how is a septic tank installed in Newcastle, OK? Champion Plumbing is here to teach Newcastle homeowners more about septic tanks and the installation process.
Champion Plumbing is Newcastle’s reliable plumbing company. Our team specializes in top-quality plumbing and can handle everything from septic tank installation to residential pipe repair and everything in between. If you need an experienced plumber in Newcastle, OK, contact the experts at Champion Plumbing.
What Is a Septic Tank?
Septic tanks are viable alternatives to traditional sewer systems and collect waste from residential properties. They are buried, sealed reservoirs that filter, distribute, and collect gray and black water. Septic tanks settle solids, allow grease to rise, and filter liquids into another space called a leach field, giving homeowners a safe place to store waste without municipal sewers.
Many rural and small-town properties use septic tanks when they don’t have access to traditional sewer lines. However, Newcastle residents can’t just install a septic tank on their property. They must receive a permit (usually from the U.S. Department of Health) before they can start the installation process.
Installing a septic tank without a permit will lead to harsh legal penalties and fines. In fact, the county could even condemn your house if you don’t go through the proper process. You must receive a permit before starting your search for a residential septic tank.
The Septic Tank Installation Process
So, how is a septic tank installed?
Installing a septic tank is much more complicated than just digging a hole and placing the tank inside it. It consists of several steps that require immense precision and attention to detail. Follow the guide below to learn how professional plumbers install septic tanks.
Step One: Property Inspection
Before installing your septic tank, professionals inspect your property to ensure it’s large enough for the tank. Septic tank sizes range, but most are relatively big and consist of several parts. These parts include:
- An access hatch
- Distribution box
- Drain field
- Septic tank
- Sewer pipe
Installers also evaluate your property’s topography and soil type to ensure they can support the tank.
Step Two: Set up the Layout
Once the plumbers determine your soil and topography will support the tank, they use laser levels to map the tank’s runs. They try to establish the runs along your property’s contour line to ensure optimal waste transport. Most tanks install about 15 feet away from your residence, but the distance varies depending on the local codes.
Step Three: Dig the Tank Pit
Next, plumbers dig a large pit to install your septic tank. Pit sizes vary depending on the type of system you want to be installed, but most reach between eight to 10 feet deep.
Installers try to make the pit as level as possible to ensure the soil supports the tank. An uneven base increases the chances of septic tank issues, so ensure your installers make the pit level.
Step Four: Dig Leach Field Trenches
After establishing the septic tank pit, professionals dig the system’s leach field trenches. Leach fields remove impurities and contaminants from wastewater once it leaves the tank. They act as the tank’s secondary filter and ensure sanitary disposal.
Installers dig several trenches that run adjacent to the septic tank while removing any rocks or materials that might damage the pipes later on.
Step Five: Septic Tank Installation
After digging the pit and leach field trenches, technicians place the septic tank into the pit. They use a laser to ensure everything is level before installing the drain lines.
Although drain lines come in many forms, many have a filter fabric covering along the top that prevents dirt from penetrating and clogging the lines. The bottom half doesn’t have a covering to ensure property drainage. Always ensure the fabric side faces up when installing septic tank drain lines.
Plumbers also slope the drain lines to ensure everything flows properly before connecting them to the septic tank.
Step Six: Septic Filter Installation
Next, plumbers install the septic tank’s filter. The filter consists of hard plastic to screen large solids, preventing them from entering the lines. You only want liquids to flow through the drain lines to prevent clogs and other issues that could jeopardize the system.
Septic tank filters require cleaning every three years. Simply remove the filter, dispose of the soil, and clean it before placing it back into the tank.
Step Seven: Inspection
After professionals install the filter and the rest of the septic tank, an inspector will stop by to evaluate the system. Inspects assess various aspects of the septic tank, including:
- The tank’s slope
- Connections
- Plot map
- Permit
If the inspector passes your septic tank, they sign everything off before leaving your home.
It’s important to note that the technicians won’t cover the septic tank until the inspector approves the system.
Step Eight: Cover the Tank
After the inspector approves the septic tank, the technicians will cover the tank while removing any substances within the soil that could damage the system. They fill in each hole and smooth the soil to prevent the area from standing out. Your plumbers will also tell you how to get all the required documentation from the county before cleaning the space and leaving your property, completing the installation process.
Although some people install septic tanks themselves, it’s best to hire a professional plumbing company to handle the process and ensure the best results.
Contact Champion Plumbing for Top-Notch Septic Tank Installation in Newcastle, OK
Next time you wonder, “How is a septic tank installed?” call Champion Plumbing. Our team will teach you everything you need to know about septic tanks while providing unmatched installation services that guarantee superior results. From plumbing air vent installation to septic tank maintenance, Champion Plumbing is Newcastle, OK’s source for all its plumbing needs.
Give Champion Plumbing a call at (405) 504-3649 today!
