If your existing septic system has reached the end of its useful life, you’ll need a replacement. If you’re developing a raw piece of land, you’ll need a septic system appropriately sized for the property. In both cases, an experienced septic system company should be brought in to handle the installation and maintenance of your new septic system.
Before installing a new septic system, there are several questions you should ask your septic expert.
Question 1) What Caused the Previous Septic System to Fail?
If you’re installing a new septic system because your previous one broke down, the first question to ask is what caused the failure? If your septic expert was responsible for decommissioning your previous system or responded to the initial system failure, they should be familiar with your situation. If so, confirm that the new septic system won’t be compromised by the same factors.
Eventually, every septic system will fail due to wear. It should give you decades of reliable performance before that happens, and if your old system didn’t, you should determine why. It could be due to sizing issues, overuse issues or even issues with the property itself, like overgrown vegetation.
If these factors can be identified up front, your septic expert can implement the appropriate solutions and ensure your next system works as it should.
Question 2) What Type of Septic System is Best for My Property?
While traditional septic systems are still in widespread use, there are other wastewater technologies to choose from, including aerobic treatment units (ATUs). An ATU circulates oxygen into a separate treatment tank which fuels aerobic bacteria living in the tank that is responsible for breaking down solid waste.
Aerobic septic systems process solid waste more efficiently and therefore output higher quality effluent. This may be relevant for properties with septic-related challenges, such as a high water table, unstable soil conditions, or a small installation area. ATUs protect water quality and are therefore recommended when environmental standards would be difficult to meet with a traditional septic system.
Before installing your new wastewater system, ask your septic expert if an aerobic treatment unit may better serve your needs.
Question 3) What Maintenance Will My New Septic System Require?
Your septic company should brief you on what to expect from the system in terms of maintenance. For the most part, you won’t have to worry about directly performing any maintenance as that’s best left to the experts.
However, it’s good to know how often your new septic system will need maintenance, so you don’t lose track. In general, septic systems require a pump out every few years, and this is the best thing you can do to preserve the life of your septic tank. In addition, your new septic system should be inspected if there are signs of concerning performance issues, or if you’re unsure about the state of the current system.
Keep in mind that if you opt for an aerobic treatment unit, it will require a bit more maintenance than a traditional septic system.
Question 4) How Will I Know If My Septic System Needs Maintenance?
Many septic system issues sneak up on property owners. With the septic tank out of sight and mind, it may be neglected for years while clogs or leaks worsen. This is why it’s important for property owners to recognize the signs of septic system distress.
Those signs include reduced drainage efficiency, backflows into the property, dense vegetation growth around the septic tank area or foul odors. If any of these are present, it’s time to schedule an inspection with your septic company.
Even better – ask your septic expert if they can install smart septic monitoring technology for your system. Smart monitoring technology like Septilink provides real time performance updates. This includes pump cycling, water level and other essential metrics. If the system’s performance falls outside of acceptable bounds, it will send an alert to an app connected to the monitoring technology. If there are any reasons to be concerned about the system’s performance, you’ll be alerted before they result in downtime.
Question 5) Do You Offer a Warranty with a New Septic System Installation?
Reputable septic companies will provide a warranty with their work, for the parts and for labor. Be sure to ask about the length and coverage details for the warranty, but the standard length for septic system warranties is typically a year.
Warranties are an essential layer of consumer protection for new septic system installations. As such, you should verify that one is included with your system. If not, it raises questions about the crew’s quality of work.
If You’re Partnered with a Reputable Septic Company, You’ll Know Exactly What to Expect
When getting a new septic system installed, you will likely have questions before and during the installation process. If you’re working with an experienced septic company, you’ll get the answers you need. Your new septic system will be a long-term investment for your property, so trust the job to a team that prioritizes transparency and professionalism and stands behind their work.
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