Replacing just the leach field?

[Hobby_Man22]

I guess 40-50 years ago they didn't have anything else? I don't get how a system can work fine for 50 years and now oh we're not allowed to replace it with the same thing. Of course that goes for a lot of things I suppose. Lol

I would agree, but based on what he posted

It reads as all.

Assuming you can pass a perc test they will install a conventional system, but I mean I guess you have to get lucky with your timing for when your septic decides to take a dump. Right now I doubt you would pass with all the rain we've had.

 

[racecougar]

These statements are rather contradictory. You have a whole page of discussion on the premise that the State is requiring all systems to be replaced with aerobic...

Around here conventional systems have to be replaced with aerobic systems now. Not sure why since the conventional leach bed system lasts like 50 years. The tanks are concrete they aren't going anywhere. It's like 20k for an aerobic system and maybe like 7k to replace a leach field.

I guess 40-50 years ago they didn't have anything else? I don't get how a system can work fine for 50 years and now oh we're not allowed to replace it with the same thing. Of course that goes for a lot of things I suppose. Lol

...then page 2 kicks off with, "well no, if your ground passes a perc test, all is well."

Assuming you can pass a perc test they will install a conventional system...

WHY?

 

[Hobby_Man22]

These statements are rather contradictory. You have a whole page of discussion on the premise that the State is requiring all systems to be replaced with aerobic...






...then page 2 kicks off with, "well no, if your ground passes a perc test, all is well."



WHY?

No yall added all the other red tape. My question was simply will a contractor install a new leach field with no permit?

 

[dcg9381]

My question was simply will a contractor install a new leach field with no permit?

The answer to that is it depends on where you live. Here they will not do it as septic is very regulated. Elsewhere, I've heard of people rolling their own.

 

[Jackfre]

The problem with skipping a permit on septic is that you are messing with the Environmental folks, meaning water quality, etc. Now, I’m in CA so a far cry from TX in regulations, but a friend with unpermitted work on his house had some fine citizen dropped a dime on him to the county. A visit resulted in him having to replace a perfectly functioning septic. Why, well it is buried and they cannot see it and that group has no wiggle room. I’d check this out carefully prior to moving forward.

 

[welder4956]

Will companies install a new leach field without a permit? Around here conventional systems have to be replaced with aerobic systems now. Not sure why since the conventional leach bed system lasts like 50 years. The tanks are concrete they aren't going anywhere. It's like 20k for an aerobic system and maybe like 7k to replace a leach field.

Your contractor should know whether a permit is required for the leach field replacement. In our area a permit is required anytime an existing leach field is exposed.

 

[TractorJeff]

Popular misconception about septic systems. A properly functioning/sized tank never needs pumped if you are mindful of what you put into it and the tank being pumped really has nothing to do with extending the life of the leach field.

Yes, every 2 to 3 years, it needs to be pumped, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT MINDFUL OF WHAT THEY DUMP IN THE SINK OR FLUSH!
Back in the 70's, it was the Disposable Diaper craze, recently it has been Sani-Wipes!

 

[billspit]

I was told the key was to do a perc test in the summer time when it's dry as a bone.

Now days I think they mainly look at the soil, not fill the excavation with water and time it.

 

[bb29510]

mama house has never been pump, it was built is 72, mine was built in 2001 and never pump

 

[Hobby_Man22]

mama house has never been pump, it was built is 72, mine was built in 2001 and never pump

All those $400 pump outs bought yourself a new system

 

[AC-WC]

Will companies install a new leach field without a permit? Around here conventional systems have to be replaced with aerobic systems now. Not sure why since the conventional leach bed system lasts like 50 years. The tanks are concrete they aren't going anywhere. It's like 20k for an aerobic system and maybe like 7k to replace a leach field.

In Indiana....IF you dig to repair you will have to get a permit/new system. You can find a service that comes in and basically injects air and small plastic beads in the field. It cost me $3500 but much cheaper than a new field/system (was quoted $20-30,000). It is all legal/code because they did not touch the structure of the field. Just made it percolate like originally. With a new field and the new code you will also pay the county every 2 yrs to 'inspect' the system (scam for $) forever. Mine had backed up due to biomat buildup. You can google leach field repair to see if anyone in your area has the equipment. NOTE-many do not. They make more money building new systems. The closest to me had to drive 2 hrs to get to me and I'm just outside Ft. Wayne.

 

[bb29510]

when i did mine the county told me 500 gallon tank and 120 feet of line, so when i got it intsalled, i got 1500 gallon tank and 1000 feet of line. my whole front yard is the field. but in 2001 that was only $1800

 

[Garcky]

After my 96 year old parents died in 2021, their farm had already been sold, but the sale was still in escrow. So, as the executor of their will, I had to see the sale through to closing. Aside from all of the other complicated legal **** involved, the septic system inspection resulted in a failure to pass inspection. The sale was in danger of falling through, which would have complicated things even more.

What to do? Maybe it could have been fixed with a new leach field. Maybe not. I'm not stupid. So I asked the septic tank company how much it would cost to replace everything - tank, leach field, and all. The buyers couldn't decide what had to be done. The quote was $25,000 for the whole shebang, so I just said, "Get 'er done!" It simply was not worth killing the sale over. Buyer was happy. The sale closed OK.

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get on with it.

 

[tester19]

Right you can Frac your leach field like posted above. Does exactly the same thing as Fracking in the Oil field. Opens up the leach field and improves it's permeability. This allows the fluid to flow or "Perc" into the soil. The plastic beads are the proppant to help keep the channels open after the pressure has been released.

Nice because if it works you don't need to replace the leach field and it does not require digging up the old leach field.
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[kwb]

To answer the OP's basic question -
Q: Will a contractor replace without a permit?
A: Not a reputable one. Will someone? - Sure, you can get anything done without permits.

Put yourself in a reputable contractor's spot for a minute - they have worked to build up a name, get the needed credentials from the alphabet soup of agencies, invested in all the tools, and pay their people and is how they feed their family. You call them out of the blue and ask them to risk all of that for <1 week of cashflow to benefit someone they don't know or have any good reason to trust that you aren't there to report to the agencies if something did go wrong.

In cases of working around permitting and engineering, the adage of "if you want something done right, do it yourself" is probably your best bet. It is also in your best interest to work fast and out of public view and have everything put back the way it was ASAP. Neighbors are the leading causes of "surprise" inspections.

 

[reader2580]

There are not too many people who have $25,000 available to just have a whole new septic system installed. Locally, there are 3% loans available for septic system repair or replacement, but under $20,000 the loan term is five years and ten years over $20,000. A $20,000 loan over five years means having $360 per month in available cash flow to cover the payments.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

To answer the OP's basic question -
Q: Will a contractor replace without a permit?
A: Not a reputable one. Will someone? - Sure, you can get anything done without permits.

Put yourself in a reputable contractor's spot for a minute - they have worked to build up a name, get the needed credentials from the alphabet soup of agencies, invested in all the tools, and pay their people and is how they feed their family. You call them out of the blue and ask them to risk all of that for <1 week of cashflow to benefit someone they don't know or have any good reason to trust that you aren't there to report to the agencies if something did go wrong.

In cases of working around permitting and engineering, the adage of "if you want something done right, do it yourself" is probably your best bet. It is also in your best interest to work fast and out of public view and have everything put back the way it was ASAP. Neighbors are the leading causes of "surprise" inspections.

Yep I live by one of those. Always wants to know what's going on.

 

[bb29510]

so from what i see, you have a tank, then it hooks to a divider, I think that what its called, a box with multi inlet and then the leech field which is pvc with holes wrap in filter fabric bedded in pea gravel. at least that is what my is. the leech field on mine is at 32 inches, and all that is in the pvc is water

so how does a leech field fail, I dont know, maybe you could camera one end and see or see if the divide box is clogged

so the tank is a two tank system first for solids and then it goes over the wall and when one gallon water goes in, one gallon goes out. so if a system doesnt work, it light not be the equipment but the soil

if its the soil you could do a wisconic mound, which is change to soil to a sandy mount on top of the leech , if your in a clayey soil scrape the top off and add sand

 

[reader2580]

Governments are regulating septic systems much tighter here in Minnesota than in years past. Septic contractors are required to have a license from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to do any septic work. I can't imagine any septic contractor locally would risk their MPCA license by not getting a permit for replacing a leach field.

I have a copy of the permit application for replacing the septic system for my house in 2011. The application and required data is twelve pages! The contractor had to provide all kinds of data on the soil plus drawings of the septic mounds and other parts of the new system.

 

[bb29510]

the county here wants everybody on city sewer, $50 a month is a hunk of income for the city sewer. so septic tanks are going bye bye if they have their way

 

[Walkers]

When I am eventually put in this position I will just rent a hoe and get after it. Truck in your own AB. As you said, it’s not rocket science.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

the county here wants everybody on city sewer, $50 a month is a hunk of income for the city sewer. so septic tanks are going bye bye if they have their way

Sure wish they would drop a line in down my road. We only have gas

 

[reader2580]

the county here wants everybody on city sewer, $50 a month is a hunk of income for the city sewer. so septic tanks are going bye bye if they have their way

You have to access to city sewer in order to hook up. I would prefer $50 per month over dealing with septic. I have done one repair to my septic system that would have paid for nearly five years of $50 per month sewer. If I have to have my septic system replaced again the cost would cover at least 30 years of city sewer.

 

[dcg9381]

the county here wants everybody on city sewer, $50 a month is a hunk of income for the city sewer. so septic tanks are going bye bye if they have their way

Around here, septic is $15k-$20k. Conventional (if you can put it in). Non-conventional? Pumps don't last forever.
I'd definitely go sewer if I had the option.