How to Install a Septic System Correctly
🛑 Important Notes Before Starting
Soil Test (Perc Test): A percolation test is required to determine if your soil drains properly.
âś… STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Plan and Design the System
Hire a soil engineer or site evaluator to perform a perc test and evaluate your lot.
Design the system based on:
- Soil conditions
- Size of home (number of bedrooms)
Excavate and Prepare the Site
Clear the area of vegetation and debris.
Use excavation equipment to dig:
- A pit for the septic tank
- Trenches for the drain (leach) field
Install the Septic Tank
Use a precast concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene tank.
Set it level on a compacted gravel or sand base.
Ensure it's accessible for future maintenance (install risers if needed).
Connect the inlet pipe from the house and the outlet pipe to the drain field.
Install the Drain Field
Lay perforated pipes in trenches over a gravel bed (12–24 inches thick).
Pipes must slope gently (~1/8" to 1/4" per foot).
Cover the pipes with more gravel, then a geotextile fabric to prevent soil infiltration.
Backfill with native soil.
Connect the System
Seal all joints and connections with watertight fittings.
Install a distribution box if required, to evenly distribute effluent to multiple trenches.
Add cleanouts for maintenance access if needed.
Backfill and Final Grading
After inspection, backfill the system carefully.
Grade the area so that surface water drains away from the tank and drain field.
Avoid heavy machinery over the system to prevent damage.
Post-Installation Maintenance Tips
Pump the tank every 3–5 years.
Avoid putting grease, chemicals, or non-biodegradable items down the drain.
Don’t plant trees near the drain field (roots can damage pipes).
Limit water usage to avoid overloading.
🛠️ Tools & Equipment Needed
Excavator or backhoe
Shovel, level, tape measure
PVC pipes and fittings
Septic tank
Gravel and fabric
Pipe glue/sealant
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSTALLATION CHECKLIST
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