How Do You Add To Sewer Thats Lower Then The Septic Tank? (TOP 5 Tips)

Can you add a septic tank to an existing sewer line?

Adding a Septic Tank and Connecting to Existing Sewer Lines. The simplest way to add to your septic tank while remaining connected to existing sewer lines is to simply add an additional septic tank. This gives your home a larger wastewater capacity, and gives your septic system more time to treat the wastewater before draining.

Can a leach field be higher than septic tank?

Uphill areas, areas that are higher than the elevation of the septic tank are not a first choice to contain the drainfield or leaching beds. Unless a septic pump or effluent pump system are installed (you’d find wiring, and perhaps alarms) the drain field is going to be at or below the elevation of the septic tank.

Can a septic system be expanded?

ENLARGING THE SYSTEM The increase from three to five bedrooms will require more septic tank capacity (usually 1.5 times), and that will involve replacing the current tank or adding an additional tank in series. The drainfield or other soil treatment component (mound, at-grade) will need to be enlarged by two-thirds.

Can you add to an existing leach field?

The simplest way to add to your septic tank while remaining connected to existing sewer lines is to simply add an additional septic tank. This gives your home a larger wastewater capacity, and gives your septic system more time to treat the wastewater before draining.

What is the alternative to a septic tank?

Mound systems work well as alternatives to septic tanks when the soil around your home or building is too dense or too shallow or when the water table is too high. Although they are more expensive and require more maintenance than conventional systems, mound systems are a common alternative.

How long will a leach field last?

Under normal conditions and good care, a leach-field will last for 50 years or more. Concrete septic tanks are sturdy and reliable but not indestructible.

Can you add a bedroom to a septic system?

In particular states, it is only required that you increase the size of your septic tank if you add another bedroom to your home. This is so because the addition of another bedroom usually includes another bathroom in many occasions which can cause a septic tank overflow if not properly accommodated for.

Do I need to upgrade my septic tank?

Under the new rules, if you have a specific septic tank that discharges to surface water (river, stream, ditch, etc.) you are required to upgrade or replace your septic tank treatment system to a full sewage treatment plant by 2020, or when you sell a property, if it’s prior to this date.

How do I find my septic tank outlet pipe?

The outlet pipe should be approximately 3 inches below the inlet pipe. Inlet Baffle: The inlet baffle is installed on the inlet pipe inside the tank.

How far should a septic tank be from a house?

Most importantly, a septic tank must be at least seven metres from a house, defined as a ‘habitable property’. Septic tanks are built underground and release wastewater slowly into the surrounding environment. For this reason, they must be a set distance away from a home.

How is plumbing from house connected to septic tank?

The septic tank is connected to the house by a single main drainage pipe also called inlet pipe. The water waste from your home goes through it and into the septic tank where solid and liquid waste are separated from liquid.

Can you put anything over a septic field?

To maintain the integrity and longevity of your drainfield, you should never put anything heavy on top of any part of it. You shouldn’t even drive over the drainfield, as the vehicle can crush the drainfield lines. Heavy items cause soil compaction.

Can you have a septic tank without a leach field?

The waste from most septic tanks flows to a soakaway system or a drainage field. If your septic tank doesn’t have a drainage field or soakaway system, the waste water will instead flow through a sealed pipe and empty straight into a ditch or a local water course.

Can you add dirt on top of leach field?

Never add additional soil over the drain field unless it is a minimal amount used to restore an area that may have been eroded or pulled up by removing another plant. Try not to be overly zealous when tilling the soil for planting. Remember that the drain lines may be as close as 6 inches from the soil surface.

How to Add to an Existing Septic Tank

The size of your septic tank is often determined by estimating the amount of water used by your property. It is possible, though, that you may need to upgrade your septic tank as you make changes to your property. To accommodate an additional bathroom, for example, modifications to your current septic system may be required. How to Install a New Septic Tank in an Existing Septic Tank Calum Redgrave is the photographer that captured this image. -close/iStock/GettyImages

What Is a Septic Tank?

A septic tank is a compartment beneath the earth through which effluent is channeled. The presence of a sufficiently big septic tank is vital for water safety. A septic tank that is too tiny will not be able to hold the wastewater in place. This retention is critical to the process of purifying the water in order to ensure that it may be safely dispersed into the surrounding earth. Smaller-than-expected septic tanks run the danger of blocking pipes and causing minor floods as well. If you’re planning major home modifications that will have an influence on your household’s water use, you’ll want to take your septic tank into consideration.

Septic Tank Usage When Adding a Bathroom

One of the most common reasons for updating a septic tank is the addition of a bathroom, which is sometimes located in a basement or crawlspace. This increases the value of your home while also allowing you to make greater use of your basement space. You’ll need to connect the excess wastewater to your septic tank in order for it to be properly treated. If you’re adding a basement bathroom that will be connected to a septic tank, you should examine whether your home’s septic lines are sufficiently deep.

You’ll need to think about what kind of toilet you want to put in before you start.

It is critical that you consult with your local government before making any alterations to your septic tank.

Adding a Septic Tank and Connecting to Existing Sewer Lines

The most straightforward method of increasing the capacity of your septic tank while keeping connected to current sewer lines is to simply add another septic tank. This increases the wastewater capacity of your house while also providing your septic system with extra time to process the wastewater before it is drained. For those who are planning to install an additional septic tank, first establish the best location, which should be between your existing tank and your drain field (sometimes called a septic field line).

A hole of appropriate size should be dug with an excavator.

Connect the two septic tanks together using a 4-inch pipe.

Insert the opposite end of the pipe into the outlet hole of your old septic tank once you’ve lowered your new septic tank to the ground.

The pipe should dangle approximately 2 inches over the interiors of the two tanks. Filling the hole surrounding your new septic tank with earth will then be an option for you. A vibrancy soil compactor may be used to determine the compactness of your soil.

installing drain piping on steep slopes

In this section, you can ask questions and express your opinions regarding sewage or septic pipe lines on steeply sloping premises.

InspectAPedia does not allow any form of conflict of interest. The sponsors, goods, and services described on this website are not affiliated with us in any way. Installing or replacing sewer lines on steep hills is a challenging task. This article discusses the construction of drain lines on steep slopes between a house and a septic tank, as well as the maintenance of drain lines. For this topic, we also have anARTICLE INDEX available, or you may check the top or bottom of the page. Use the SEARCH BOX to discover the information you’re looking for quickly.

Guide to installing the replacement sewer pipe line at Steep Sites

Using real-world examples and photographs, we demonstrate how to diagnose and replace a clogged sewage line in an actual case study. Septic or sewage line blockage and backups may be prevented by having the proper drain line slope installed. In this section, we will talk about

Septic pipe installed in a zig-zag pattern on steep hillsides
Septic pipes with a U-turn on steep hillsides

Septic pipework running parallel to the fall line of a slope Designing steep septic systems for sewer or septic pipe repair or new installations

When it comes to a drain waste pipe, what is the right slope or pitch to use? When wastewater travels at the proper pace via a drainpipe, the water transports solid waste, such as feces and toilet paper, as well as water, to a septic tank or sewage mains for disposal. Generally speaking, plumbing rules and wastewater piping guidelines state that building drains should be pitched at a rate of 1/8” to 1/4” of slope for every foot of linear length or distance. Problems associated with steep dips between the home and the septic tank include: A steep building site, such as the one depicted in our page top photograph, can result in a significant drop in elevation between a building main drain and the septic tank inlet opening (or sewer main connection), resulting in waste piping slopes that exceed the recommended limits for slope in the waste piping.

If waste passes through the sewage line at a rate more than 2 fps, there is a possibility that water will leave sediments behind in the pipe, resulting in recurring obstructions.

ZigZagging Drain Line Piping Down a Slope

When it comes to a drain waste pipe, what is the right slope or pitch? When wastewater travels at the proper pace via a drainpipe, the water transports solid waste, such as feces and toilet paper, as well as water, to a septic tank or sewage mains for treatment. Building drains should be pitched at a rate of 1/8″ to 1/4″ of slope per foot of linear run or distance, according to plumbing rules and wastewater piping recommendations. Difficulties with steep dips between the home and the septic tank include the following: However, on a steep building site such as the one depicted in the top photograph of this page, the elevation difference between a building main drain and the septic tank inlet opening (or sewer main connection) may be so great that the slope of the waste piping will exceed the recommended limits for the slope.

A wastewater flow rate of 2 feet per second is desired when establishing a building drain line for wastewater.

Through the event that waste flows in a septic or sewage drain line at a slower rate than the required rate, there is a possibility that the listless flow will deposit sewage in the pipe, causing it to get clogged.

Straight-run Drain Line Piping Down a Steep Drop Slope between House and Septic Tank or Sewer Main

According to my observations, many waste line contractors simply establish a straight sewer line from the home to the septic tank or from the house to the sewage main, regardless of the building slope, as long as we have at least 1/8″ per foot, ideally 1/4″ per foot, or more, of water pressure. Drain lines with a lower slope or those are practically flat are more likely to clog. On a related note, if you’re building a drain line that may be too steeply sloped and you won’t be able to readily correct the problem, make sure to include extra cleanout access ports.

Experience in Installing Steep Sewer Drain Line Piping

It is my opinion that if the whole pipe run is steeper than what is generally specified, it is possible that you will never see a clog occur. The sewage line dips on a slope between 2″ and 3″ per foot over a 40-foot run between the home exit line and the septic tank entrance baffle at the property depicted in these images and in the other photos in this series on sewer line replacement, as seen in the other photos in this series. In order to avoid leaving particles behind while flushing the toilet, this house-to-septic tank drain pipe should be placed in the “risk zone.” However, after managing this property for more than two decades, we can confidently state that we have never had an issue with too-rapid drainage clogging the waste line.

Since we replaced the old clay plumbing with plastic piping, we have not experienced any sewage obstructions.

The black line on the right-hand pipe portion indicates to the installer when the pipe sections have been completely connected together.

The only issue we experienced with the line was when the previous clay line was smashed and subsequently became clogged with mud and other debris.

Installing SepticDrainfieldPiping on Steep Slopes is a Different Matter Entirely

Please understand that we have examined the installation of solid plumbing between a building and its septic tank or sewage main in this articleand that higher slopes may be acceptable in some circumstances. However, the possibility of a “OK” for steep drain pipe does not apply in any manner to the perforated piping put in a septic drainfield gravel trench, which is a different story. Those looking for help on installing a septic system on a steeply sloping or rolling site should check out the following articles:

For further information, see AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ATUs, and HOME – some of these systems can be used on steep slope locations. Or SeeHOOT Aerobic Systems Drip Disposal Design and Installation Guide for more information. Alternatively, see “Guidance for the Design, Installation, and Operation of Subsurface Drip Distribution Systems as a Replacement for Conventional Title 5 Soil Absorption Systems for the Disposal of Septic Tank Effluent,” published by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in 2006 and refining Massachusetts regulations 310 CMR 15.240, 15.242, 15.247, and 15.280-15.289

Or “Guidance for the Design, Installation, and Operation of Subsurface Drip Distribution Systems as SYSTEMS DE DOSAGE For hilly sites where the drainfield must be located either uphill or downhill from a septic tank or structure, PRESSURE is a term that refers to pressure dosing systems that may be beneficial for disposing of sewage. GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS – Other gravelless systems are capable of handling mild bends required to follow rolling slope lines
However, some gravelless systems are not. A system that will be required when the elevation of a structure or a septic tank is lower than the elevation of the drainfield or sewer main is Septic pumps, sewage ejector pumps, grinder pumps, effluent pumps, sump pumps, septic pumping stations, and septic pump alarms Installation of septic drainfields on steep or rolling terrain is described in STEEP SLOPE SEPTIC DESIGNS, which is part of the SEPTIC DESIGNS section.

Reader Q A – also see the FAQs series linked-to below

@hello there, dude. Sweep turns with a wider radius (e.g., 2 45s) will often flow better than sharper turns. On a corner where the toilet waste flow is present. If trenching provides for 4″ deeper depth, is it preferable to construct the 90° corner with a 1° drop rate as normal, or is it preferable to make the corner with two 45° corners while lowering the 4″? Thanks@Ted, Start by consulting with your local building or health department to see what type of design would be considered suitable in your nation and neighborhood.

We have a shortage of service personnel for upkeep, and I believe that a sprinkler system would be more beneficial to our grounds.
Thanks@Ted That doesn’t appear to be a concern in my opinion.
@inspectapedia.com.moderator, Yes, without a doubt, that is not hygienic.

Thanks@Ted, In a situation when you are just transferring a cleared fluid, there should be no particulates left behind in the wastewater stream.
That is a very other issue.
What if it’s been sitting in a septic tank for a while, breaking down as if it were going to a leach field instead?

That would be the material that would be sent to the aerobic tank.

You may be required to utilize a grinder sewage pump and force main; we are in the process of establishing a traditional tank close to our home.

What is the maximum percent drop per foot for the effluent line in terms of percent drop?

@Ted.

Thank you very much.

It goes without saying that such lines must have the proper pitch in order to reach the final position of the septic tank.

You should verify with your local building authority to find out exactly what is required to be placed at a 4 foot depth in your area.

My issue is, can I dig a smaller trench and then descend vertically to the requisite four-foot depth before finishing?

Thank you for the information, it was really useful.

What would be the best configuration for the septic tank and pipes when the designated drain field area is 500 feet away from the house?

The slope before and after the hill is rather level, descending very gradually in the direction of the drain field before becoming steeper.

A construction site located in a swale below the city sewer lateral service point has been identified as a potential concern.

(Let’s pretend it’s 8 feet below the surface) Is there an alternative to the brute force strategy of bringing in hundreds of cubit yards of fill and compacting it to raise the elevation of the construction site?

A septic tank is just 18 inches away from the building foundation, which is a little near.

Solids dropping vertically have the potential to adhere to and clog the pipe; however, employing 45-degree elbows instead of 90-degree elbows can help to mitigate this danger.

I would begin by having the tank examined to identify which items are most important in this order of significance.

A sound septic tank, as opposed to one built of brick or rusted steel; how well the baffles and protection from groundwater leaks are maintained; and how well the baffles and protection from groundwater leaks are maintained.

The quality and capacity of the drainfield are important considerations.

Is this a reasonable drop?

This is an ancient septic tank that I was allowed to utilize because of a grandfather clause.

What is the length of the pipe drop when the septic tank is 120 feet away?

How steep do the pipes have to be from one drop box to the next?

Does the length of the pipe, in addition to its angle of incline, have a limit in terms of length?

Please let us know if this is the case!

Verne, you have an issue with a septic or wastewater system that has too much downslope.

The difficulty with longer segments of excessive slope sewer plumbing is that the liquid waste will occasionally overtake the solid waste in the line, causing the system to back up.

One of the most valuable aphorisms I can share, at least in the context of the building construction and mechanicals fields, is that it is extremely uncommon to come into a situation that has never been experienced before.

According to one of the solutions described on this page, the sewage line is made even longer by zig-zagging across the steeply inclined areas of the land.

I’ll leave the graphic specifics to your imagination, so go ahead and go creative.

Let’s put the question to your septic installer and see what she has to say about it.

STATIONS FOR PULLING OUT SEWAGE Hello, I have a question concerning the installation of a toilet in a cabin that is around 300 feet from the main home, septic tank, and field.

Is too much slope a concern in this circumstance, given the considerable distance that the effluent must travel to reach the tank?

Do you think that building a sewage pump would make any difference in this circumstance, considering that the septic tank is located downhill from the toilet?

There should be a thorough inspection of the whole sewage line (perhaps using a sewer camera), and any slope issues should be addressed.

It’s always filled, no matter how long you wait.

Is it necessary to have the angle coming out of the house re-done?

What type of valve is used to connect the pump to the drain field?

Alternatively, seeSEWER / SEPTIC LINES for STEEP SITES FAQs- questions and answers that were originally placed at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, consider the following:

Steep Slope Septic System Articles

SEPTIC CONSULTANTS, DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS

SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES-home
SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS-home
SEWER / SEPTIC LINES at STEEP SITES

STEEP SLOPE SEPTIC DESIGNS
SEPTIC CONSULTANTS, DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS
SEPTIC CONSULT

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INSPECTION OF SEWER AND SEPTIC LINES AT STEEP SITES An online encyclopedia of building environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, and issue preventive information is available at Apedia.com. Alternatively, have a look at this.

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES:ARTICLE INDEX to DRAIN SEPTIC SEWER PIPES

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All You Need to Know About Adding a Basement Bathroom

Image courtesy of fotosearch.com Incorporating a basement bathroom can increase the value of your property, but installing toilets and sinks in a below-grade setting requires more than just a basic understanding of drainpipes and sewage lines. Because the gravity assist that works for trash removal upstairs will operate against waste flow belowgrade, transporting garbage to the sewer line is a difficult task. However, there are a variety of solutions that fall under the category of do it yourself.

Find dependable local contractors for any home improvement project+

Belowground Water and Waste Pipes

Moving belowgrade bathroom waste to a sewer, septic, or sanitation line is not a difficult task for some homeowners since their sewer lines are deep enough to accommodate additional fixtures that benefit from gravity-assisted waste disposal. A phone call to the public works department will provide the general depth of the sewage pipe. Owners of residential properties should have easy access to precise information on their septic systems. Contact a plumber or plumbing professional to establish flow rates and if the system will be able to remove waste from basement fixtures properly.

This will avoid sewage backup in the basement.

Aboveground Solutions

There are a variety of methods for transporting bathroom or basement wastewater to sewage or septic systems. The “upflushing toilet,” freestanding sewage-ejector systems, and composting toilets are examples of aboveground alternatives. Aboveground solutions are ones that do not need the homeowner or installer cutting through an existing basement slab, resulting in cheaper installation costs for the homeowner or installer. Upflushing toilets are available in a variety of styles and configurations, but all have a pumping mechanism that is concealed within or behind the toilet.

Although upflushing toilet systems are pricey, the money saved on installation expenses makes them a worthwhile investment.

“Upflushing toilets sit on top of the floor, you don’t have to break the concrete, and servicing them is easy,” he says. It takes approximately a half hour to tie everything together, and retrieving unintentionally flushed stuff is rather simple.”

Macerating and Composting Toilets

Some upflushing toilet systems are equipped with a macerating or grinding mechanism that breaks down waste into tiny pieces prior to pumping, hence reducing the likelihood of blockage. An upflushing toilet system consisting of a toilet bowl, toilet tank, and macerating unit, the Saniplus macerating toilet from Sanif is available. Located in the bathroom or behind the wall, the macerating device (which also contains an electrically driven motor and pump) has the capability of pumping waste twelve feet vertically and/or 150 feet horizontally, depending on the configuration chosen.

Composting toilets are also a potential option for below-grade conditions, but they are only intended for the disposal of toilet waste and nothing else.
The MS10 Composting Toilet by Envirolet is powered by electricity, is self-contained, and sits on the floor.
They eliminate water loss and do not require the use of chemicals in the composting process, making them a more ecologically friendly option.

Composting toilets can cost upwards of $1,000 to install.

Sewage-Ejector Systems

A freestanding or aboveground sewage-ejector system is another waste removal alternative that does not necessitate the drilling of holes through concrete foundations. These systems are normally contained within an enclosure, with the toilet (which is typically not included) mounted on top of the enclosure. Mini septic tanks are what these systems are essentially. This collection tank holds waste from the toilet, sink, shower/bath, and washing machine. It also contains the pump that transports the trash up and into the home’s drainage pipes.

It costs roughly $600 to purchase the Up Jon system from Zoeller; however, it does not come with a toilet.

Belowground Options

Belowground sewage-ejector systems are the least expensive alternative, but they are also the most difficult to set up and maintain. It is intended for these tank-and-pump sets to be installed in a hole in a basement floor, allowing floor fixtures to drain into the tank by gravity. The size of these units varies, but they are normally twenty inches in diameter and thirty inches deep on average. According to industry standards, the capacity of a holding tank ranges from thirty to forty gallons.

In the past, you’d have to buy the pieces individually and assemble the whole thing yourself.” Basically, all you have to do now is drop it in the ground and tie it down.” A below-ground system should cost around $400, according to industry estimates.

Cutting through a concrete slab to excavate the unit’s installation hole and any drainage pipes from extra basement fixtures will put the homeowner back a significant amount of money.

“It may easily go into the hundreds of dollars in terms of installation,” explains Sturm. If you flush anything down the toilet by mistake, it may be a very messy task to get it back out.

How Your Septic System Works

Underground wastewater treatment facilities, known as septic systems, are often employed in rural regions where there are no centralized sewage lines. They clean wastewater from residential plumbing, such as that produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains, and laundry, by combining natural processes with well-established technology. A conventional septic system is comprised of two components: a septic tank and a drainfield, often known as a soil absorption field. It is the septic tank’s job to decompose organic matter and to remove floatable stuff (such as oils and grease) and solids from wastewater.

Alternate treatment systems rely on pumps or gravity to assist septic tank effluent in trickling through a variety of media such as sand, organic matter (e.g., peat and sawdust), constructed wetlands, or other media to remove or neutralize pollutants such as pathogens that cause disease, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other contaminants.

Specifically, this is how a typical conventional septic system works:

All of the water that leaves your home drains down a single main drainage pipe and into a septic tank. An underground, water-tight container, often composed of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene, serves as a septic system’s holding tank. Its function is to retain wastewater for a long enough period of time to allow particles to sink to the bottom and form sludge, while oil and grease float to the surface and produce scum. Sludge and scum are prevented from exiting the tank and moving into the drainfield region by compartments and a T-shaped outlet. After that, the liquid wastewater (effluent) exits the tank and flows into the drainfield. The drainfield is a shallow, covered hole dug in unsaturated soil that serves as a drainage system. Porous surfaces are used to release pretreated wastewater because they allow the wastewater to pass through the soil and into the groundwater. In the process of percolating through the soil, wastewater is accepted, treated, and dispersed by the soil, finally discharging into groundwater. Finally, if the drainfield becomes overburdened with too much liquid, it can flood, causing sewage to flow to the ground surface or resulting in toilet backups and sink backups. Finally, wastewater percolates into the soil, where it is naturally removed of harmful coliform bacteria, viruses, and nutrients. Coliform bacteria are a kind of bacteria that may be found in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals, with humans being the most common host. As a result of human fecal contamination, it is a sign of this.

The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority has built an animated, interactive model of how a residential septic system works, which you can view here.

Do you have a septic system?

It’s possible that you’re already aware that you have a septic system. If you are not sure, here are some tell-tale symptoms that you most likely are:

You make use of well water. In your home, the water pipe that brings water into the house does not have a meter. In the case of a water bill or a property tax bill, you will see “$0.00 Sewer Amount Charged.” It is possible that your neighbors have a septic system

How to find your septic system

You can locate your septic system once you have confirmed that you have one by following these steps:

Taking a look at the “as constructed” drawing of your house

Making a visual inspection of your yard for lids and manhole covers
Getting in touch with a septic system service provider for assistance in locating it

Failure symptoms: Mind the signs!

A bad odor is not necessarily the first indicator of a septic system that is failing to work properly. Any of the following signs should prompt you to seek expert assistance:

Water backing up into the drains of homes and businesses
It is especially noticeable in dry weather that the drainfield grass is bright green and spongy. The presence of standing water or muddy soil near your septic system or in your basement
A strong stench emanating from the area surrounding the septic tank and drainfield

How Sewer and Septic Systems Work

Many residents in rural regions who live in close proximity to one another and where a sewer system would be too expensive to create opt to build their own private sewage treatment facilities. Septic tanks are what these are referred to as. It is a simple matter of digging up the yard and placing an enormous concrete or steel tank there to collect waste. The tank may have a capacity of 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters) of liquid. Wastewater enters the tank from one end and exits the tank from the other end of the tank.

Anything that floats rises to the surface and produces a layer known as the scum layer on the surface of the water.
In the middle, there is a layer of water that is relatively transparent.

Wastewater enters the septic tank through the sewage lines in the home, as indicated in this illustration: Naturally occurring gases (generated by microorganisms breaking down the organic material in the wastewater) are produced by a septic tank, and these gases are not pleasant to smell.
Instead, the gases rise through a vent pipe; if you look at the roof of any house, you will find one or more vent pipes sticking through.
It is this water that drains from the septic tank and into the drain field.

Above is a schematic depicting an aerial perspective of a house, together with its septic tank, distribution box, and drain field: A typical drain field pipe has a diameter of 4 inches (10 centimeters) and is buried in a trench that is 4 to 6 feet (about 1.5 m) deep and 2 feet (0.6 m) broad, with a depth of 4 to 6 feet (about 1.5 m) and a width of 2 feet (0.6 m).

The amount of water that can be absorbed by the earth determines the size of the drain field.

In most cases, the only thing that powers a septic system is gravity.

It is a mechanism that is fully passive. “The grass is always greener on the other side of the septic tank,” you may have heard someone say. Actually, it’s the drain field, and the grass is indeed greener because it is taking use of the moisture and nutrients available in the drain field to thrive.

Adding a Bathroom to Your Basement: Design & Drainage Considerations

The addition of a bathroom to basement quarters not only makes life a bit simpler, but it also increases the value of your home in the long run. If you’ve converted your finished basement into a second bedroom, game room, or gym area, a basement bathroom allows you to take advantage of that space without having to trek upstairs when the urge to pee strikes. Building a bathroom in the basement may appear to be a logical home renovation project, but it is not something that should be undertaken lightly.

If you take care of those concerns before you begin, your project should go off well.

Nonetheless, becoming familiar with the project’s specifications will make it simpler to collaborate with your contractor in order to get the bathroom design you desire.

Design considerations

The first thing you should do is get in touch with your local building authority. You should be aware that with any construction project, particularly one in a basement, zoning rules and deed limitations will need to be taken into consideration. Aim to position the new bathroom as near to the existing plumbing and electrical wiring as feasible in the best case scenario. Often, placing your basement bathroom exactly below the bathroom on the floor above is the most effective solution. Utility hookups will be easier and less expensive as a result of this.

Alternatively, would you want a half-bathroom with only a toilet and a sink, or would you prefer an entire bathroom with a bathtub or standing shower?

For those who do need a place to clean up, try an economicalcornershowerinstead of a bathtub.
It is vitally necessary to have a high-capacity ventilation fan to suck off moisture.
In order to handle overflows, a floor drain and access to an outside wall for the dryer vent will be required.

Drainage considerations

Make touch with your local building authority as soon as possible. You should be aware that while undertaking a construction project in a basement, zoning rules and deed limitations will most likely apply, which you should research. The new bathroom should ideally be installed as near as feasible to the existing plumbing and electrical lines. It is frequently preferable to locate your basement bathroom right below the bathroom on the floor above. Utility hookups become less difficult and less expensive as a result of this.

Alternatively, would you want a half-bathroom with only a toilet and a sink, or would you prefer an entire bathroom with a bathtub or stand-up shower.

If you really need a place to clean up, a corner shower is a more cost-effective option than a bathtub.

In order to remove moisture from the air, a powerful ventilation fan is required.

Another alternative is to include a laundry room into the basement space while constructing a bathroom, although this would add additional complexity to the overall project. An overflowing floor drain, as well as access to an external wall for the dryer vent, will be necessary.

Plumbing depth—If your current plumbing drain is deep enough to allow for adequate drainage, bathroom building will be very straightforward. If this is the case, you’ll need to investigate some alternatives to traditional gravity-fed toilets
If this is not the case, Measurement of pipe size— If your present pipes are too tiny, your plumber will need to install larger pipes in order to accommodate the basement drains.

Depending on the depth of your sewage line, your basement bathroom plumbing may be able to operate on gravity in the same way that your aboveground plumbing works. Obtaining information on the depth of your sewer pipe can be accomplished through your local public works agency. If you have a septic tank, you’ll need to determine whether or not your home’s septic lines are deep enough using the information you’ll most likely already possess. There may even be plumbing stubs accessible already if your property was constructed with the aim of adding a basement bathroom.

Even if your drain lines are sufficiently deep, there are certain additional concerns to keep in mind.
To prevent sewage from backing up into your toilet when connected to a public sewer line, you’ll need to install a backwater valve.
There will be more work to be done if your drainage lines are not deep enough to generate adequate fall in your yard.
However, for some homes, this will not be enough to generate adequate fall, but this does not imply that you should abandon your idea.

Basement toilet options

You have a variety of options for commodes for your new bathroom, depending on the plumbing that is already in place. Toilets with pressure-assistance— Despite the fact that your drainage pipes are theoretically too deep for gravity-fed plumbing, the fall in the basement is still not as great as it is on the higher levels of your home. Instead of putting yourself at danger of clogging your pipes with regular plumbing, invest in a pressure-assisted toilet, which employs air pressure to move waste through your pipes.

A series of pipes runs up through the basement wall and out through the basement ceiling, where they connect to the sewer or septic tank line.
There is a macerating feature in some of these types that grinds waste down to prevent blockage.
New versions are powered by electricity, which eliminates the need for these issues.
They’re similar to miniature septic tanks in that they only store waste for a short period of time.
Because aboveground models are installed on the ground surface, there is no need to excavate for them.
This tank may also be used to collect water from your sink, bathtub, or shower.
These devices consist of a tank and pump that are installed in a hole beneath the basement floor.

Installation is more difficult for underground models than for aboveground ones, owing to the fact that they require excavation.

They use little to no water and convert your waste into compost that can be used to grow ornamental plants.

Bathtubs and showers are being installed.

It is possible that you may need to tear up the floor and excavate in order to install the plumbing.

You may also link your shower to your upflush toilet or sewage-ejector system as an alternative option.

If you’re planning on placing your basement bathroom against an aboveground outside wall, take advantage of the chance to bring natural light into the space.

In addition, pick bright ceiling lighting as well as lights for the vanity area to illuminate the space.

Your basement bathroom may be just as nice as your main bathroom if you choose the correct layout, fixtures, and accessories.

If you overlook any of the characteristics that distinguish belowground bathrooms from aboveground bathrooms, you might end up with a costly disaster on your hands.

However, if you have prior building knowledge, you may be able to do this project on your own.

Hire a professional plumber to do the task as quickly, easily, and reasonably as possible so that you can use your basement bathroom as soon as feasible. For more information on adding a bathroom to your completed basement, please call Black Diamond PlumbingMechanical now.

Should I Convert From A Septic System to a Sewer System

Every residence disposes of wastewater in one of two ways: either through a septic tank or through a sewer system. Despite the fact that each has its own set of pros and disadvantages, homeowners are rarely in a position to pick between the two options. As cities grow, however, sewage lines are beginning to be extended into new areas, giving present residents the choice of connecting to the public sewer system for the first time. For homeowners with older or failing septic systems, this is a fantastic chance to save exorbitant replacement expenses; however, homeowners with modern septic systems have a tough decision about whether or not to convert their systems to biosolids.

Before any major decisions are made by a homeowner, it is critical that they grasp what a sewer and septic system are and how they vary from one another.

Septic Vs Sewer: What’s The Difference?

Identifying the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of wastewater systems can aid in determining whether or not to switch from a septic to a sewer system. Due to the fact that sewage lines link to public sewer systems, they are often only available in metropolitan settings. Septic systems are an alternative for residences located in rural locations where there may not be a sewer system to which they may be connected.

Advantages of a Public Sewer Line

Once a residence is linked to the public sewage system, the owner normally does not have to worry about anything other than paying a monthly charge for wastewater disposal. Maintenance and repairs, as well as the resolution of any issues that may arise, are the responsibility of municipal water departments. Because sewer lines are normally designed to handle more wastewater than septic systems, they are less prone to clogging than septic systems. And, while you should always be cautious about what you flush down your pipes, sewage systems are often more resilient than septic tanks in terms of withstanding misuse.

In addition to the financial burden, scheduling these cleanings can be a constant source of frustration.

This is a worry shared by many prospective house purchasers, who insist on the connection of properties with septic systems to the municipal sewer system as a condition of the sale.

Advantages of a Septic System

Despite the fact that septic systems require a little more upkeep and attention, they provide a number of advantages over traditional sewage lines. Given that they do not transport wastewater a significant distance before being treated at a water treatment plant, they consume less energy overall and have a lower environmental effect. Additionally, the bacteria in septic tanks decompose and treat wastewater on a local level, considerably minimizing the likelihood of leaks occurring between the residence and a local treatment center.

There is no monthly charge to pay, and any disruptions to the municipal sewer system have no influence on the septic systems in place in the homes that are affected.

The installation of a septic system gives a great deal of freedom and security for those who do not wish to be dependent on the municipal sewer system.

How Hard Is It To Convert To A Sewer System

Following your choice to convert, you may be asking how to connect to the city’s sewer system. Although it may seem complicated, connecting your house to the public sewer system is a pretty straightforward operation that takes no more than a few days to complete and only causes minor disruptions in wastewater service. However, there is a significant amount of labor-intensive work needed, which may be fairly expensive. The pricing is typically the most important factor to consider. Installing public sewer lines requires a significant investment in infrastructure on the part of local governments, and as a result, the service is not supplied for free.

Fees can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars based on the accessibility of the nearest sewage line, as well as the permits required to complete the construction and inspections to establish the household’s projected wastewater production.

When Should You Convert To A Sewer System?

A new tank can cost up to several thousand dollars to build if your present septic system is in need of repair or replacement. This is equivalent to the cost of connecting your home to the municipal sewage system. The changeover is generally a good idea in such situation, especially if you have plans to improve your home in the future, such as installing a pool or listing the property on an estate agent’s website. The switch to public sewer, on the other hand, isn’t very advantageous if your septic system is in good operating shape or was recently installed because there isn’t much of a short-term gain.

If you do want to connect to the city sewer line from a septic sewer, make sure to properly decommission your septic tank first before proceeding.

If children or animals are able to pry off the lid of an old, abandoned septic tank and fall into the poisonous contents, they can pose a possibly catastrophic harm to their lives.

In addition to building a new sewer line to connect your house to the public sewage system, a contractor can drain and either remove or disable your existing septic system, depending on your needs.

Are you thinking about connecting to the city’s public sewer system? Do you have a septic tank that is no longer in use? Consult with the experienced plumbers at Express SewerDrain for their recommendations! Topics:Sewers

Finding out Where Household Plumbing Waste Goes

Sewage is frequently considered to be toilet waste. In addition to bath water, kitchen waste, washing machine waste, dishwater waste, and even pool water are included in sewage waste. Sewer networks are used to transport trash from our homes to a sewage treatment plant for treatment. It is processed in this facility so that it may be recycled. Many sewer systems are capable of converting sewage into potable water that may be reused or recycled back into our streams and rivers. Most municipal sewage systems are maintained and administered by local governments, who clean and collect home trash, and make minor repairs to sewer systems, such as corroded pipes, frames, and covers.

Pump stations and lift stations are used to transport wastewater from a lower to a higher elevation.

Our City Sewer Systems

The sewage system lines are channeled into bigger pipes until they reach the wastewater treatment facility. These sewage treatment facilities, which are powered by gravity, are often found in low-lying locations, where sewer lines wind their way downwards until they reach the treatment plant. Afterward, the trash is transferred to a sand container, where it settles at the bottom of the container due to the presence of sand, ashes, and gravel. The gravity pull causes sewage to flow through the pipes of each structure and into a sewer line that transports the waste material to a sewage treatment facility via bigger containers.

Septic Tanks in Rural Areas

Sewage treatment systems (septic systems) are self-contained, underground sewage and wastewater treatment systems that are typically found in heavily populated rural regions. The fact that these rural regions are larger and the dwellings are spaced out far enough from one another makes them more cost-effective than sewer systems, which process and dispose of wastewater on site. Located deep in the earth on site, a septic treatment system is a waste treatment and disposal solution for domestic waste.

Pumping a septic tank is necessary to remove the sludge that accumulates in the tank and provides an environment for anaerobic bacterial activities.

Wastewater is carried by septic tanks to a septic tank, where beneficial bacteria breaks it down and filters it before it is discharged into a sewage field.

Waste Disposal Options

When it comes to treating wastewater at a sewage treatment plant, don’t ever imagine that you’ll be limited in your options when it comes to dealing with waste from your own house or business.

Always check with your local public works department to see if there are any rules in place that prohibit the use of traditional sewage systems in your area. The following are four of the most typical garbage removal systems:

A sustainable home sewage treatment system consumes no energy and is an excellent choice for septic tank improvements and new building projects. Environmentally friendly sewage systems are ecological systems that have been constructed with long-term sustainability in mind. They are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and beneficial to the environment. New technologies use sewage as an energy and nutrition supply, rather than as a waste stream. This type of sewage system uses environmentally friendly technologies to cleanse water and recycle it.

“ECO” systems are considered to be the best waste treatment choices.

Environmentalists prefer non-electrical sewage treatment facilities over electric sewage treatment facilities.

This is the process by which trash is broken down by chemicals into effluent, which is then disposed of at permitted landfill sites.

Scum and sludge that have accumulated in the tank are filtered and removed at this point.

Gravity drainage is the term used to describe wastewater that departs a house when drainage pipes are at a downward slope.

Gravity drainage, which is caused by a difference in elevation and is used to eliminate unwanted water, will allow for a consistent flow of water without the need for electricity.

Whenever the wastewater enters the tank, it is filtered before being returned to the environment.

When it comes to preventing central drain entrapment in residential and commercial pools, this is the best solution.

Subterrene gravity pipes generate raw sewage, which is managed by sewage collecting systems at this location.

Sewer and drain cleaning services and needs are available from Pat Plumbing, Heating and Air, and our plumbing professionals can assist you. Technical support staff is standing by to assist you and to answer any queries you may have.