Septic Design

luvmypups · 11-21-2009, 05:07 PM

Does anyone have any recommendations for a company that does septic designs?? We have already gotten a quote from Ames Associates in Meredith and while he is very professional and highly recommended we were hoping to find someone a little cheaper.
We did get a quote from Ramsdell and Daughters out of Gilford, does anyone know anything about them ?

Sunrise Point · 11-21-2009, 08:05 PM

Charles Noddin of Belmont is one of the best around. He designed our system a few years ago and we have been very happy with it.

I am assuming that you are looking for a septic designer to develop a plan to submit to the DES and the local building department - not a septic system installer. These are two very different professions.

There are a few older threads in the Home forum...you should do a quick search for "septic" and view the previous posts.

Good luck!

upthesaukee · 11-21-2009, 11:00 PM

did my design. great job at a good price. http://varneyengineeringllc.com/

Here's his website and phone.

secondcurve · 11-22-2009, 08:31 AM

What type of costs are being quoted for a new septic design? Is NH regulated like MA or can existing systems simply be fixed?

Little Bear · 11-22-2009, 08:43 AM

Try DMC Surveyors (Dean Clark) in Gilford. 524-7655 He designed a system for me on a difficult, steep slope. Service & price were excellent.

secondcurve · 11-22-2009, 01:14 PM

Little Bear:

What was the rough cost? Is the cost more for a lake front home as opposed to a non-lake front home?

luvmypups · 11-22-2009, 01:35 PM

We got a very reasonable quote from Granite State Septic Designs out of Tilton. He quoted us almost half of what Ames Associates did, seems reputable. Our quote from Ames was $1900.00 and his was $900.00. We are well aware that Ames is the most expensive around and he is the best but just cant afford to pay that much money. Have any of you heard of Granite State Septic Designs???

ACutAbove · 11-22-2009, 08:30 PM

When you get to the point of the install, Try calling Kevin @ Getty construction.. he just finnished an island install for a client of mine and did a great job!!!

Grady223 · 11-23-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmypups

We got a very reasonable quote from Granite State Septic Designs out of Tilton. He quoted us almost half of what Ames Associates did, seems reputable. Our quote from Ames was $1900.00 and his was $900.00. We are well aware that Ames is the most expensive around and he is the best but just cant afford to pay that much money. Have any of you heard of Granite State Septic Designs???

Have not, but good luck with the project.

Little Bear · 01-04-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Little Bear:

What was the rough cost? Is the cost more for a lake front home as opposed to a non-lake front home?

I want to say the design was about $2500.00. We ended up installing a system called "Clean Solutions". http://www.thecleansolution.com/ It's been great so far.

RLW · 01-04-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Bear

I want to say the design was about $2500.00. We ended up installing a system called "Clean Solutions". http://www.thecleansolution.com/ It's been great so far.

How would that compressor work if it had to push the liquids 250' like I have to and its all up hill. My system uses a pump and pumps it through a 2" line the 250'. I'm not saying that mine is any better than any other, but just wondering about using a compressor.

Rattlesnake-Islandman · 01-04-2010, 06:56 PM

Hi I was Wondering How Much Did the clean solutions cost to install vs conventional , and was it installed on Lake front or an Island. Thanks for your Help.

ApS · 01-05-2010, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLW

How would that compressor work if it had to push the liquids 250' like I have to and its all up hill. My system uses a pump and pumps it through a 2" line the 250'. I'm not saying that mine is any better than any other, but just wondering about using a compressor.

The compressor doesn't move anything: it just pumps bubbles through an intermediary chamber that "finishes" a clearer output which then drains to an appropriately-smaller leach field.

It appears to be a combination of aerobic and the conventional anaerobic systems. Except for seasonal dwellings, it appears to be a relatively high-maintenance system with the added necessity of constant electricity.

There are several aerobic systems at my Florida location, both above ground and below ground. They are noisy outside.

If you install one on an island, be sure to have it placed downwind.

BroadHopper · 01-05-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

The compressor doesn't move anything: it just pumps bubbles through an intermediary chamber that "finishes" a clearer output which then drains to an appropriately-smaller leach field.

It appears to be a combination of aerobic and the conventional anaerobic systems. Except for seasonal dwellings, it appears to be a relatively high-maintenance system with the added necessity of constant electricity.

There are several aerobic systems at my Florida location, both above ground and below ground. They are noisy outside.

If you install one on an island, be sure to have it placed downwind.

How is that different from a $2000 stainless steel macerator? I have to pump sewer 200' up and 350' back from the house on the lake. Standard leach and septic design for 4 BR. Leach drains into a dry well in case the ground gets too saturated. Twice, NH DES put strong dye solution into my toilet to check out system. No problems.

ApS · 01-05-2010, 11:43 AM

Little Bear has linked to a system that includes an aerobic system in which a compressor runs constantly: yours is a totally anaerobic system.

An anaerobic system—should it fail—smells up the neighborhood.

An aerobic system—when it's working as it should—smells all the time.

RLW · 01-05-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

The compressor doesn't move anything: it just pumps bubbles through an intermediary chamber that "finishes" a clearer output which then drains to an appropriately-smaller leach field.

Are you saying that this system is a gravity fed system to the leach field??

ApS · 01-06-2010, 08:44 AM

Most of the information on this particular system is in the previous link.

The manufacturer promises a very clean leachate, but at the cost of relatively-frequent pumpings and having an electric compressor that must run all the time. Though the concept is a good one, I've owned only one house in New Hampshire so I'd defer to those who have the latest in NH-approved systems.

Since many of Winnipesaukee's islands don't have the space for pumping away to any great distance—and because of the need for biennial maintenance, this system may not be suitable for DES' approval in certain locations.

From the link:

The left chamber is the standard anaerobic part, the center chamber is the aerobic one, and the third is the resulting "clear" leachate. It's my guess that the leachate could be pumped away to a remote dispersal field without the additional cost of a macerator-type pump.

RI Swamp Yankee · 01-08-2010, 09:39 PM

That looks similar to a system used by a business in Wickford RI which is very close to the water. The building had constant septic problems being so close to the water with no adequate place for a full leach field. They put the whole system in the basemant (big concrete chambers) The dispersion field is small and only a few feet from the water but what came out was clean enough so that is only needed a few feet (maybe 25 feet as I recall) to leach through the soil before reaching the cove. Testing proved the water out of the dispersion chamber was almost clean enough to drink.

11-21-2009, 05:07 PM	#1
luvmypups Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 87 Thanks: 10 Thanked 15 Times in 5 Posts	Septic Design Does anyone have any recommendations for a company that does septic designs?? We have already gotten a quote from Ames Associates in Meredith and while he is very professional and highly recommended we were hoping to find someone a little cheaper. We did get a quote from Ramsdell and Daughters out of Gilford, does anyone know anything about them ?

11-21-2009, 11:00 PM	#3
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,596 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,452 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	Tom Varney in Alton did my design. great job at a good price. http://varneyengineeringllc.com/ Here's his website and phone. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

11-22-2009, 01:35 PM	#7
luvmypups Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 87 Thanks: 10 Thanked 15 Times in 5 Posts	Granite State Septic Designs??? We got a very reasonable quote from Granite State Septic Designs out of Tilton. He quoted us almost half of what Ames Associates did, seems reputable. Our quote from Ames was $1900.00 and his was $900.00. We are well aware that Ames is the most expensive around and he is the best but just cant afford to pay that much money. Have any of you heard of Granite State Septic Designs???

01-04-2010, 06:56 PM	#12
Rattlesnake-Islandman Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	clean solutions Hi I was Wondering How Much Did the clean solutions cost to install vs conventional , and was it installed on Lake front or an Island. Thanks for your Help.

01-05-2010, 11:43 AM	#15
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,937 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Downwind is best... Little Bear has linked to a system that includes an aerobic system in which a compressor runs constantly: yours is a totally anaerobic system. An anaerobic system—should it fail—smells up the neighborhood. An aerobic system—when it's working as it should—smells all the time.

11-21-2009, 08:05 PM	#2
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	Charles Noddin of Belmont is one of the best around. He designed our system a few years ago and we have been very happy with it. I am assuming that you are looking for a septic designer to develop a plan to submit to the DES and the local building department - not a septic system installer. These are two very different professions. There are a few older threads in the Home forum...you should do a quick search for "septic" and view the previous posts. Good luck!

11-22-2009, 08:31 AM	#4
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,117 Thanks: 1,325 Thanked 559 Times in 288 Posts	What type of costs are being quoted for a new septic design? Is NH regulated like MA or can existing systems simply be fixed?

11-22-2009, 08:43 AM	#5
Little Bear Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 579 Thanks: 124 Thanked 247 Times in 133 Posts	Try DMC Surveyors (Dean Clark) in Gilford. 524-7655 He designed a system for me on a difficult, steep slope. Service & price were excellent.

11-22-2009, 01:14 PM	#6
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,117 Thanks: 1,325 Thanked 559 Times in 288 Posts	Little Bear: What was the rough cost? Is the cost more for a lake front home as opposed to a non-lake front home?

11-22-2009, 08:30 PM	#8
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	When you get to the point of the install, Try calling Kevin @ Getty construction.. he just finnished an island install for a client of mine and did a great job!!!

01-06-2010, 08:44 AM	#17
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,937 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Above My Pay-Grade, but... Most of the information on this particular system is in the previous link. The manufacturer promises a very clean leachate, but at the cost of relatively-frequent pumpings and having an electric compressor that must run all the time. Though the concept is a good one, I've owned only one house in New Hampshire so I'd defer to those who have the latest in NH-approved systems. Since many of Winnipesaukee's islands don't have the space for pumping away to any great distance—and because of the need for biennial maintenance, this system may not be suitable for DES' approval in certain locations. From the link: The left chamber is the standard anaerobic part, the center chamber is the aerobic one, and the third is the resulting "clear" leachate. It's my guess that the leachate could be pumped away to a remote dispersal field without the additional cost of a macerator-type pump.

01-08-2010, 09:39 PM	#18
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	That looks similar to a system used by a business in Wickford RI which is very close to the water. The building had constant septic problems being so close to the water with no adequate place for a full leach field. They put the whole system in the basemant (big concrete chambers) The dispersion field is small and only a few feet from the water but what came out was clean enough so that is only needed a few feet (maybe 25 feet as I recall) to leach through the soil before reaching the cove. Testing proved the water out of the dispersion chamber was almost clean enough to drink. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"