What is the average cost of a septic system replacement

Maintenance costs are the same regardless if the system is aerobic or anaerobic. Maintenance costs are comprised mostly of septic tank pumping by a professional pumper or plumber. The pumping frequency varies with each system, however, most systems require pumping every 3 to 4 years and many local health departments have more frequent pumping requirements.

Furthermore, as a system nears its service life, pumping frequency often increases. Using the national averages, maintenance costs are as follows:. You can dramatically lower your septic system cost of ownership if you choose an Aero-Stream septic system restoration product when your system fails. Think about this: If your system fails after 15 years and you must finance a new system, you never eliminate a monthly loan payment. You will virtually eliminate the most common causes of septic system failure while increasing the life expectancy of your septic system indefinitely and saving yourself thousands of dollars.

Understanding Septic System Repair Costs. Most regulators are risk averse and avoid breakthrough technology. On average septic system failure occurs every 15 years! Mobile homes connect to these systems the same way as any other building or home. The major difference when designing, installing, or connecting a system to a mobile home is that the placement is critical.

A tank cannot withstand the weight of the home if you move it. As a result, the tank and septic system needs to be in a location where the home will not be hauled over it. The most common system type used for mobile homes is a conventional one with a standard drain field. Families on an RV road trip often appreciate their own system so they can use the toilet, sink, and shower while traveling. Many modern RVs come with them, but you will have to check with the make and model.

You can upgrade the system if you are refurbishing an older RV. An RV plumbing system includes tanks that contain wastewater from the sink, shower, and toilet until it can be disposed of at a sewer connection, which is normally available at campgrounds. While a septic system is a simple onsite sewage solution that collects wastewater for basic treatment, a cesspool is a shallow underground pit for sanitary waste disposal.

A septic system pumps wastewater and eventually filters it out through pipes into the soil drain field. But a cesspool simply holds the waste in place inside a concrete-lined pit.

To prevent soil contamination and enjoy a cleaner, safer system for the long term, homeowners may choose to replace a cesspool with a full septic system. Prices may be higher depending on the size of the cesspool, deterioration of the surrounding soil, and the requirements for the new system.

The process should take just a few days, although installers must ensure the stability of the soil around the cesspool. The cesspool needs to be drained, the concrete liner removed, and then installers will work the soil accordingly. Once the soil is ready, the new system can be installed. The advantages of converting from an anaerobic system to an aerobic one include the cleaner effluent flowing out of the system, which minimizes the chances of groundwater contamination. If you live somewhere with a high water table, an aerobic system helps prevent water pollution.

The main downside is, of course, the higher installation costs. Additional maintenance is also involved, like checking the air injection and electrical systems. The advantages of a septic tank outweigh the disadvantages for most homeowners.

Septic systems also give homeowners independence and peace of mind knowing they can use their sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets without worrying about clogs and backups in a community sewage system. Septic systems protect the environment by removing pollutants from surface water and replenishing groundwater.

On the downside, these systems may encounter problems, especially as they age. Damage to the tanks and other sections of the systems may require repairs. If the drain field overflows, you will also need to get that fixed. Even so, the maintenance requirements of a modern system are minimal, especially if it was properly installed by a professional. In a way, all systems are customized to best suit your home and property.

Most projects involve a prefab tank available through the installer, who can then customize it throughout the installation process for the most effective distribution into the soil. The best type of system and any required customizations and tweaks depend greatly on your property. Some residences can accommodate a simple above-ground tank with no problems, while others need a comprehensive in-ground installation with a new drainage field built.

The best way to understand the estimated costs for your installation is to speak to a certified installer who can inspect your property, offer recommendations, and set budget expectations. It just depends on each individual property. Septic tank maintenance is a necessary and preventive aspect of having a septic system. Like most systems in your home, some maintenance is necessary to keep everything in the proper working order.

In this case, most maintenance is considered preventative. The most important maintenance task is pumping and cleaning the tank every three to five years. This is a pretty standard timeline, no matter which system you have.

Most maintenance does not need any material replacements, so you will only pay if something needs replacing. Think of this system as your own personal sewage system. A septic system treats wastewater on site, with an underground tank and pipe system on your property.

If your home plumbing system is not hooked up to a septic system, it is connected to the main city sewer line. Sewage connections carry the wastewater from your home and route it underground to a city or county treatment plant. Once a holding tank reaches capacity, it must be emptied, with most requiring monthly, if not weekly, pumping.

Holding tanks are a better option for tiny homes, trailers, boats, or RVs, as they are not designed for larger family homes. Unlike a holding tank, a septic tank is a full system that filters wastewater and sends effluent out into the drain field and surrounding soil.

A full septic system is more expensive but requires less maintenance and is more permanent than temporary holding tanks. Compare quotes to get the best price on your septic system installation Compare Estimates. A pump alarm may be necessary with some systems, such as a pressure distribution system.

These alarms are triggered when the wastewater level gets extremely low. If the pump continues to run when there is no water to distribute, it can ruin the pump. A septic system typically lasts between 15 and 40 years. This is usually determined by the quality of the tank and the drain field. A concrete tank is extremely durable. When constructed well, it is fairly indestructible and can easily last 40 years. The lifespan of a plastic tank is about 30 years.

The drain field can also be a limiting factor on the age of the system. The drain field type does not affect the lifespan of the system. However, the quality of the soil and drainage is a huge factor. Not doing maintenance on the system is one way to shorten the life of any system. Most homeowners with small lots opt to use an aerobic system.

Most systems, such as an anaerobic or chamber system, typically need at least a one-acre lot. Mound systems need the most space because the mound itself is usually a minimum of feet long. Heavy rain can cause problems for all types of systems because they can flood the drain field. If the drain field floods or the soil is saturated, the effluent septic water cannot effectively drain into the soil. This can cause major backups in the tank and even flooding.

A small septic system for a two- or three-bedroom home can handle about five loads of laundry per day. This does not include any other water being used and is based on using an old washer with a 1,gallon tank. The washer type is a major factor because older washers can use up to 40 gallons per wash.

New energy-efficient washers usually use 12 to 15 gallons of water. This capacity is ideal for a large five- to seven-bedroom house around 3, sq. Homes with four, five, or six bathrooms can benefit from a 1,gallon tank, usually made of fiberglass or concrete, although plastic tanks are also available. To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.

FIXR provides cost guides, comparisons, and term cheat sheets for hundreds of remodeling, installation and repair projects. Log In. Loading, please wait Password Recovery. Step 1. Step 2. Step 3. National average. Alternative Cost. Septic Tank Installation. Septic Tank Cleaning.

Septic Tank Repair. Reviewed by Adam Graham. Written by Fixr. Aug 31, What's new? Oct 29, Updated the introduction with a new average and high and low costs. Average Cost. Septic System Cost by Size The septic tank size you need varies significantly, depending on the home or building size you are servicing and the amount of waste produced. Talk to local pros to get quotes for your septic tank installation.

Find Pros. Get free estimates from trusted septic system installation companies near me. Get Free Estimates. Find the best septic system installers near me. Compare quotes to get the best price on your septic system installation.

Compare Estimates. Additional Considerations and Costs Professionals. Like all major home projects, the installation or replacement of a septic system should involve getting several bids from qualified professionals. It is important to get references and proof of insurance for your project.

The work and materials should also have a guarantee or warranty. Often an installer can provide a maintenance agreement to inspect it annually and pump it every one to three years. Your site may need soil testing as a part of the design and permitting process.

These can range from very small to quite large in scope and depend on the property size, history, and location. After the system construction, an inspection occurs, but this does not usually involve a fee.

Clog prevention. When using a septic system, be careful about what you flush down the toilet. For example, chemicals could harm or kill the bacteria in the tank and cause the system to fail. Some common household items can clog, back up, and possibly damage the system. This is not only an inconvenience but could also cause an expensive repair.

Some items include paper towels, diapers, cigarette butts, tampons, cat litter, and any fats, oils, and grease from cooking or other household activities.

Soil prep. Because of their roots, shrubs and trees may harm the system when planted near the tank or the drain field. It is important to have some plant growth over the drain field to prevent erosion. Grasses and shallow-rooted perennials are a great option to landscape over the drain field.

Large trees and trees with aggressive roots, such as elm, birch, maple, ash, weeping willow, aspen, and beech trees, can ruin the pipes of the drain field, which can cost a lot of money to repair. Steel septic tanks. Steel septic tanks were once widely used, but many installers have shifted away from putting steel tanks in due to serious safety concerns.

In many places, steel tanks are no longer allowed, and if they are installed in old houses, they need to be checked for safety hazards. As the least popular and least durable option, steel tanks installed in the last two decades may begin rusting long before they reach their lifespan of 20 to 25 years.

Rusting steel top covers are a safety hazard as corrosion can lead to collapsing covers if someone walks over them and falls into the tank.

Anyone with an existing steel septic tank should have it inspected regularly. While some homeowners may be tempted to try DIY for tank work such as landscaping and digging holes, this project is always best left to the professionals. Septic systems need to be up to code. Most states require licensed installers because mistakes in the system installation could cause waste contamination in connected water sources. Alternative septic tanks. As the name suggests, these are a newer yet highly popular option with a slightly different design compared to the conventional style.

Both use gravity to pull wastewater into the tank, but alternative systems use oxygen to break down the waste. These systems include a motor or pump that eventually pushes cleaner wastewater into the drain fields.

An alternative setup may need up to half the size of a standard drain field. Engineered septic tanks. As a more expensive system, this design is usually only used when a soil test reveals the soil is not permeable enough or too permeable for standard installations.

This should allow the drain field to last longer before it requires renewal. You can expect maintenance to be required every 2 or 3 years. Though with a larger family of 6 or more people, this may be required every year. The cost of maintenance depends on your location and the ease with which the tank can be accessed.

Typically septic systems can last 20 or 30 years and sometimes much longer before they need to be replaced. If you have grass over your drain field, is the grass growing better than in other areas? Are there plants nearby that are growing faster than other plants? If there is an awful smell accompanying the puddles, you can expect to find out that your septic system has failed. An unpleasant odor in the home can also indicate that not everything is as it should be with your septic system.

A tank that is overflowing shows that it is malfunctioning. The local board of health could potentially condemn your property if they find it unsanitary and can contaminate other properties nearby. If you do need to replace your system, the cost can sometimes be more than if you had a new system installed from scratch. This can happen because of the expense associated with the removal of the old system and any contamination. If you are fortunate, you may find that you only need to replace the pump to get your septic system working again.

Leach fields almost always need replacement when they stop working as intended. There are some parts to a septic system that may need replacement at some point.

They are as follows with their corresponding costs:. Years ago, the answer to this question would have been no; you cannot repair a septic leach field.

Today, it is more plausible you could potentially avoid the painful bill of full leach field replacement. There is a technology called septic aeration. Essentially, aeration devices that dissolve oxygen are added into the wastewater to promote aerobic digestion. A traditional septic system works in an anaerobic or oxygen-free environment, promoting a black, sludge-like layer called the biomat in the leach field.

This results in the septic system failing. Septic aeration is an easily installed process that converts the anaerobic system to an aerobic or oxygen-rich system. By adding oxygen into the septic tank, aerobic bacteria thrive and will consume twenty to thirty times more organic material than anaerobic bacteria. The aerobic bacteria significantly reduces the number of nutrients in the septic tank effluent that the biomat requires to live and grow.

Eventually, the biomat begins to die. The biomat is further reduced in size by aerobic bacteria that leave the septic tank along with water containing high levels of dissolved oxygen and feed upon it.

The system makes the biomat shrink in size until it completely disappears. In most cases, the septic problems cease to exist, and the septic system is restored to working conditions in weeks.

What you avoid with septic aeration is digging up your yard and tens of thousands of dollars in expense. You will need to find out if this kind of treatment is acceptable to the local board of health. A local septic system company should be able to provide that answer as well. Septic systems are one of the most expensive components that go into the construction of a home.

Replacing a septic system can be a very painful expense. Unfortunately, replacing a septic system does very little when it comes to the market value of your home. It has a meager return on investment. Hopefully, you have found this guide on the cost of replacing a septic tank and leach field to be helpful. About the author: The above Real Estate information about how much does a septic system cost was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field.

Bill can be reached via email at billgassett remaxexec. Are you thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!