Septic System

Dave M · 07-24-2015, 04:17 PM

My nephew is buying an older house. He is having the house inspected.
He would like to have septic system checked out. Are there any suggestions
from the forum on this. Do the persons who pump out septic systems a person to contact.

Thanks Dave M

winnipiseogee · 07-24-2015, 07:13 PM

My brother had his septic very expensively fail a year after he bought his house so what you are thinking is exceptionally smart.

Unfortunately I'm not sure what they can find out without digging it all up. My understanding is that its very hard to see just how filled up the septic is.

Anyway I highly recommend Lamprey Septic. They are awesome.

thinkxingu · 07-24-2015, 07:31 PM

Our septic inspection did two major things: it told us the condition of the leaching field and septic tank/components. Essentially, we were told that with regular maintenance (pumping every couple years) and being careful with what we put into it (no oils, greases, paints, bleaches, etc.) that we still had lots of life in it. The system was installed in 1967.

Good luck!

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

TheProfessor · 07-24-2015, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave M

My nephew is buying an older house. He is having the house inspected.
He would like to have septic system checked out. Are there any suggestions
from the forum on this. Do the persons who pump out septic systems a person to contact.

Concord DES has a copy of all septic systems since the 1980's or thereabouts.
Get a copy and take to a septic designer. Find out who constructed/installed septic system and speak with them.

There have been various designs of septic systems. From a 55 gallon drum to a 1200 gallon concrete double/triple chamber.

Any part of the system can fail. I view too many newer systems where the homeowner lets trees grow on top of the leach field.
Trees near the tank. Trees near the lines going from house to tank and such.

If this is a pump system find out when pump was changed.

A lot of variables involved.

SAMIAM · 07-25-2015, 07:18 AM

I second Lamprey's......they can track the history of the system and tell you exactly what condition it's in. Best of all they are completely trustworthy.
We use them commercially and for our home as well. They'll never let you down day, night or weekend in an emergency.

Dave M · 07-25-2015, 07:19 AM

thinkxingu, who did your inspection.

Thanks Dave M

fatlazyless · 07-25-2015, 08:24 AM

www.alslaconiasepticnh.com was super-duper, and would use them again.....in other words....thought the price was fair ....believe it was $200 to pump out a 1000-gal tank.

Just in case you were wondering where does this yucky messy septic pump-out go from here ..... believe it goes to the Meredith Water & Sewer Dept, where the septic truck unloads it into the town sewer system, but could be I am incorrect, and it gets trucked someplace else? Where does it all go?

Joebon · 07-25-2015, 08:56 AM

JB & Sons tested for us when we bought our house.

songkrai · 07-25-2015, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

www.alslaconiasepticnh.com
Just in case you were wondering where does this yucky messy septic pump-out go from here ..... believe it goes to the Meredith Water & Sewer Dept, where the septic truck unloads it into the town sewer system, but could be I am incorrect, and it gets trucked someplace else? Where does it all go?

Lamprey tells me he has to truck to Tilton. That's why he had to purchase a large tanker truck.

thinkxingu · 07-25-2015, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Concord DES has a copy of all septic systems since the 1980's or thereabouts.
Get a copy and take to a septic designer. Find out who constructed/installed septic system and speak with them.

There have been various designs of septic systems. From a 55 gallon drum to a 1200 gallon concrete double/triple chamber.

Any part of the system can fail. I view too many newer systems where the homeowner lets trees grow on top of the leach field.
Trees near the tank. Trees near the lines going from house to tank and such.

If this is a pump system find out when pump was changed.

A lot of variables involved.

This was for our home in Merrimack, NH. Where is the house you're asking for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave M

thinkxingu, who did your inspection.

Thanks Dave M

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Kamper · 07-26-2015, 05:59 AM

When the tank is inspected, it needs to be drained first. The inside is what gets inspected.

If you ever feel a need to have the outside of a tank inspected, after you own the house, you might as well have a new one ready to install at the same time. The digging is going to cost a lot and if the tank is bad you can't leave it exposed until a new one is delivered.

Good luck!

DesertDweller · 07-28-2015, 11:49 AM

We used Lamprey as well. We got lucky in that the previous owner must have gotten it pumped out prior to us buying it. When they did the inspection and pulled the lid off of the tank he put his probe in and there was virtually no solids. Was also helpful in that we marked off everything so that future pump outs/inspections would be easier.

Kamper · 07-28-2015, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesertDweller

... Was also helpful in that we marked off everything so that future pump outs/inspections would be easier.

I measured from two permanent features to where my access is. You should try that and right it down or make a diagram to keep with your documents. Mine is 15feet from nearest driveway corner and 12.5 from the next nearest corner.

Another technique is to bury a brick over the access, flush with the ground level. Sometimes though, these get moved by people (kids) who don't know what the brick is for.

dmjr · 08-08-2015, 02:31 PM

I use Lampreys at my home which he has taken care of for the past 25 years.

upthesaukee · 08-08-2015, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamper

I measured from two permanent features to where my access is. You should try that and right it down or make a diagram to keep with your documents. Mine is 15feet from nearest driveway corner and 12.5 from the next nearest corner.

Another technique is to bury a brick over the access, flush with the ground level. Sometimes though, these get moved by people (kids) who don't know what the brick is for.

I have my septic tank measured and drawn, as well as our well, and the drawings are on the wall of our mudroom, behind the door.

I live here... I am always Upthesaukee.

correira99 · 10-09-2015, 11:27 AM

I had Lamprey inspect the system for a house I bough 5 years ago and they said all was fine.

Unbeknownst to them, I had to have it replaced as roots were growing in, pipes were crushed and lines were blocked.

I have done my research so please realize without getting a camera down in there, digging stuff up and getting in there, the inspection won't be able to tell the entire story 100%

07-24-2015, 04:17 PM	#1
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Septic System My nephew is buying an older house. He is having the house inspected. He would like to have septic system checked out. Are there any suggestions from the forum on this. Do the persons who pump out septic systems a person to contact. Thanks Dave M

07-25-2015, 07:19 AM	#6
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	who thinkxingu, who did your inspection. Thanks Dave M

07-25-2015, 08:24 AM	#7
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,734 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,005 Times in 733 Posts	www.alslaconiasepticnh.com was super-duper, and would use them again.....in other words....thought the price was fair ....believe it was $200 to pump out a 1000-gal tank. Just in case you were wondering where does this yucky messy septic pump-out go from here ..... believe it goes to the Meredith Water & Sewer Dept, where the septic truck unloads it into the town sewer system, but could be I am incorrect, and it gets trucked someplace else? Where does it all go? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

08-08-2015, 02:31 PM	#14
dmjr Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 274 Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts	I use Lampreys at my home which he has taken care of for the past 25 years. __________________ DMJR Moultonborough, NH

07-24-2015, 07:13 PM	#2
winnipiseogee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 297 Thanks: 67 Thanked 152 Times in 79 Posts	My brother had his septic very expensively fail a year after he bought his house so what you are thinking is exceptionally smart. Unfortunately I'm not sure what they can find out without digging it all up. My understanding is that its very hard to see just how filled up the septic is. Anyway I highly recommend Lamprey Septic. They are awesome.

07-24-2015, 07:31 PM	#3
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,203 Thanks: 1,167 Thanked 2,046 Times in 1,269 Posts	Our septic inspection did two major things: it told us the condition of the leaching field and septic tank/components. Essentially, we were told that with regular maintenance (pumping every couple years) and being careful with what we put into it (no oils, greases, paints, bleaches, etc.) that we still had lots of life in it. The system was installed in 1967. Good luck! Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

07-25-2015, 07:18 AM	#5
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,673 Times in 584 Posts	I second Lamprey's......they can track the history of the system and tell you exactly what condition it's in. Best of all they are completely trustworthy. We use them commercially and for our home as well. They'll never let you down day, night or weekend in an emergency.

The Following User Says Thank You to SAMIAM For This Useful Post:
Sue Doe-Nym (07-25-2015)

07-25-2015, 08:56 AM	#8
Joebon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 142 Thanks: 23 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	JB & Sons tested for us when we bought our house.

07-26-2015, 05:59 AM	#11
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,302 Thanks: 67 Thanked 171 Times in 127 Posts	When the tank is inspected, it needs to be drained first. The inside is what gets inspected. If you ever feel a need to have the outside of a tank inspected, after you own the house, you might as well have a new one ready to install at the same time. The digging is going to cost a lot and if the tank is bad you can't leave it exposed until a new one is delivered. Good luck!

07-28-2015, 11:49 AM	#12
DesertDweller Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV and Moultonborough, NH Posts: 366 Thanks: 24 Thanked 85 Times in 71 Posts	We used Lamprey as well. We got lucky in that the previous owner must have gotten it pumped out prior to us buying it. When they did the inspection and pulled the lid off of the tank he put his probe in and there was virtually no solids. Was also helpful in that we marked off everything so that future pump outs/inspections would be easier.

The Following User Says Thank You to Kamper For This Useful Post:
upthesaukee (08-08-2015)

10-09-2015, 11:27 AM	#16
correira99 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Meredith for fun, NYC for work Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I had Lamprey inspect the system for a house I bough 5 years ago and they said all was fine. Unbeknownst to them, I had to have it replaced as roots were growing in, pipes were crushed and lines were blocked. I have done my research so please realize without getting a camera down in there, digging stuff up and getting in there, the inspection won't be able to tell the entire story 100%