Septic System Replacement
 

I have a 26-30 year old septic system serving a lakefront cottage. No problems at this time but I’m wondering if I should start thinking about proactively replacing it or at least getting the design and permitting in place so to avoid a scramble should it unexpectedly fail. How have others handles this type of situation?

Not a bad take at it. Unfortunately these things tend to fail at the wrong times. Lead times for those that do this stuff is long so at the minimum I would have an inspection done. Won’t hurt


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If its working well and has been properly pumped over the years, it may still be fine for many more - especially if its a weekend/seasonal place that has been lightly used over its life. The shoreline protection act really limits what you can do - and the solutions within your lot constraints are often expensive.

Theoretically a septic system can last a very long time "if" it was designed correctly to begin with "and" it is cared for EACH year.

Garbage Disposals will place stress on a septic system (unlike a sewer line). It is common for folks to immediately install a garbage disposal when they move into a home that does not have one. If you don't have a sewer line then this is ill advised. "Most" non garbage disposal homes do not have a septic system which has been designed for use with a garbage disposal.

Another hint for septic system owners: Pump the system out once per year regardless of actual use each year (i.e. four months seasonally versus twelve months year 'round). Annual pump outs could make the system last a lifetime.

Regulations and actual locations for septic systems have been changing over the last 50 years and there's no reason to believe that things won't continue to become tougher as time progresses. It has also become a very expensive proposition to do a design and install a new septic system.

26 to 30 years isn't that bad. strict regulations have been in effect for over 40 years so as long as it's been serviced regularly it should be fine.
You should have it inspected first and see what they say.
Mine is almost 40 years old and works the way it should.
It is a second home for me, so I pump it every 5 years with no issues.

I had my entire system inspected by Lamprey Septic. It's over 30 yrs. old and passed with no problem.

30+ years ago there was a lot less consideration of slope, soil type and the settling tanks were smaller. Shorefront systems never failed, they just leached into the lake. The OP doesn't say seasonal, STR or year round use. Short term renters who are on a sewer at home may dump all sorts of things into the system. There are designers, inspectors and builder/installers. There is a temptation to think that somebody who "does it all" may do it all to you, while different perspectives from different contractors may be a better solution.
Flushing dye through the system may sound like a good idea, but it is unlikely to be definitive if the system isn't being used routinely.

Septic systems
 

I STRONGLY support TheTimeTraveler's post, especially the comment about pumping EVERY YEAR. Many systems have filters between the house and the tank(s), so it is important to have these checked every year, too. If your State approved (stamped) septic design shows a filter, it better be there when the pump-out service arrives or else they could refuse to pump the system. Also, if the filter is on the Plan, but not physically installed, this could create a problem at the time of a sale. (This could prove very expensive, possibly the loss of a sale.) Pumping every year is, to me, well worth the cost, especially when nothing wrong is found. And, garbage disposals are Enemy #1 of a septic system.

Lots of good thoughts/advice in this thread. Thank you! I pump the tank and D-Box every year. It’s a seasonal house and we tend to use the outdoor shower for the majority of the time the house is open so that takes some pressure off the system. There was a garbage disposal when I bought the house in 2009 but I immediately removed that not wanting to take a chance. I don’t know if the septic system was designed to handle a garbage disposal but I it doesn’t matter now that it is gone. We do have a clothes washer that we try to limit use of. The septic design process/permitting would be about $6-7,000 and probably another $30,000 to $40,000 for install. The comment about these failing at the worse possible time is spot on. And unfortunately the lead time to get a contractor is long. Not a good a good combination. Perhaps the middle ground is to get an inspection. How accurate are these inspections?

My system is about 15 years old and gets most of its use during summer months. If that was all there was to it I could see it lasting a very long time but I worry that the area around it has a lot of trees. Roots seek out the nutrients and can infiltrate the pipes. I had this happen to my sewer line at a rental I own last year and now I worry about my septic which has many more trees around it.

$200-$300 for annual pump out is cheap insurance. We have also had our system inspected (cost was similar $200-$300). Inspector recommended removing a tree that was close by as the root system WILL seek out moisture.

Having a new system designed/approved can be a good idea as it locks you in for that particular design for a period of time. IIRC it was something like 5- 8 years? If requirements should (will?!) change you will have a design already approved.
This is how the inspector explained it to us.

If you have an oldc system, c hances are the rest of your plumbing is old too. Replacing fixtures with low or restricted flow puts less water through the system. Same with new toilets that flush with 1+8 gallons instead of 5. An outhouse and a thunder jug still work just fine, and "In ths land of fund and sun, we don't flush for number one. If you do it and it's brown, go ahead and flush it down." Water conservation is important.
For the outdoor shower, where does that drain to? How far from the lake, what kind of soil? What kind of soap are you using?

Sorry, but I don't leave remnants of my bowels in the toilet, ever! :emb:

I'm with Time Traveler too. Get it serviced/inspected regularly, and they'll let you know before it fails. Lamprey is excellent

Septic 101: liquids good. Solids bad.
It is the buildup of solids that (eventually) cause problems.

We had a septic system on Cape Cod. We lived there for 20 years. There was one problem and the system was pumped. Then it failed again. Appeared that the wrong tank was pumped. When installed this system would pass for
waterfront today. I was told to use Rid X. We have another house with septic and use Rid X. Never a problem with either system.

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I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

One issue with Rid-X I have heard is it heats up the system due to the increase in biological actions. This excess heat cause fats and oil that have solidified and sunk in the tank to liquify and flow to the leach field where it resolidifies in the pipes and laterals eventually clogging same. My septic guy recommended against using it.


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I highly recommend Scott Bailey https://www.nh-bes.com/. They designed and installed the septic system for a new outbuilding. I was going to use the excavating contractor for the work but Scott and Chris were less expensive and very timely!

I was told beer was great for a septic system. I always dump any old beer down my drain.

You cant just be proactive and get permits "in place" now. Once their issued there's a time limit on them to act or they expire.

'cept my beer never hangs around long enough to get old.

If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down….

But it still goes in and out into the toilet!

I prefer that my toilet water stays clear!

I have been told the plan can be used for up to 4 years from issuance. And if the system isn't installed during the four year period updating the plan and getting a new permit isn’t that costly as much of the work done the first time around is able to be used again.