Septic riser questions...

[jpcjguy]

Hi all,

So looking add a riser to my septic because accessing it takes a ton of digging an makes a huge mess. About to redo the patio in stamped concrete and a screen porch.
I don't want the cover exposed because it is right by the patio but would like to have a riser with maybe a foot of dirt or something so that when it needs to be inspected/pumped it is just some light digging. Can I still drive over it with my zero turn then?
Anyone done this?
One picture shows the pipe from the house and the tie in from the detached garage half bath 250 feet away.....

 

[cgrutt]

I added one and we placed it about 6" below a bluestone slab on a walkway. No problem supporting weight of stone and foot traffic but not sure if driving a zero turn or other equipment over it would be a good idea. Check with manufacturer.

 

[gmcgeo]

Light traffic and mowers will be fine, make sure the Lid is rated for below grade

 

[kbuhagiar]

Would flush-mounted lids really detract that much from the appearance of the patio?
I would reconsider having the risers buried, IMHO it would defeat the whole purpose for installing risers.

 

[TxSteve]

If you know where it is, I'm not sure it's worth it. You have the septic vacuumed what, once every 4 years? That's the schedule I use on a60 year old system. (Every election year - easy to remember ). Digging a hole every 4 years isn't bad.

That said, get some PVC tube oversized to the opening the correct length you want, drill and install 4-6 bolts/nuts thru it so they extend outside a couple of inches around it close to the tank, place it on top and put a bag of cement around the outside to cover the bolts. Cap it and cover the concrete with dirt.

 

[jblnut]

I’d surface mount it and put a movable planter or something like that over it so you know where it is but it’s isn’t visible if it bugs you.

 

[larry4406]

We use the risers and lid shown in the attachment at the day job.

I have same at our house. They are benign in appearance. We have some that are set near flush to ground.

Not sure of the ability to drive a zero turn over.

I would not commit to digging up and yard repair every 4-5 years.

 

[manwithtools]

Driving over it with a zero turn depends on diameter of the riser cover and weight of the mower. My cover is 30" in diameter and my ZTR weighs 1700 lbs. I "mow" over the cover, but I never drive on it. I make sure the wheels straddle it.

 

[jpcjguy]

Thanks all for the feedback. I did call polylok (https://www.polylok.com/all-products/precast/risers.html) and the lady said their covers can handle mowers and such - not vehicle traffic.

 

[CraigStu]

I am with jblnut. Surface mount it and disguise it. I have the green plastic caps surface mounted. I drive next to them and let the overhang mower deck cut the grass. I do have to use the weed eater every other mowing though.

 

[Hooked]

I placed a riser on our tanks then formed a circular recess to match the size of one of those round concrete pads. It's obvious but no big deal to us. Easy to pop the pad out and unscrew the cap for access.

 

[reader2580]

I have one of those green plastic septic tank riser covers. I run a 1,200 pound riding mower over it with no issues in ten years of owning the house.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

My parents house tank was 6-8 ft deep. They put in PVC pipes and put the concrete caps 6" below the ground. We never worried about driving over it occasionally with cars or pickup trucks. No problems in the last 50 years.

 

[scooby074]

Here the risers need to be at surface and bolted closed. The green plastic ones similar to whats posted above are whats used. I mow over mine with the Kubota ZT no problems. I wouldnt drive a car on them however.

Maybe you could design the patio to have the lid end up in a flower garden instead of under the stone?

 

[Mike65]

When we were going to buy our retirement house we wanted to get a septic inspection. The septic had trouble finding the cap since is was buried so far down. Once they found it they put one of the green risers on it with the bolted down cap. Ours is about 1 foot above ground & I move around it.