A Guide To Abandoning A Septic Tank
It is possible that you have recently purchased an older home with a septic tank. If there is a way to connect your home to a municipal sewer system, you might want to know how to abandon your septic tank. In the past when there were no rules and regulations in place, homeowners just stopped using their septic tanks and connected to a city sewer. Now there are rules to be followed so you don't get in trouble with the authorities. Besides, having an old septic tank that is no longer needed can pose risks to the occupants of your property. That includes animals and kids. So what's the solution if you want to abandon this tank? Look for professional septic services providers to help you and know the local laws.
What permits and inspections will you need?
Your kids might try to open an old septic tank just to see what it is, which is one reason your local authorities might consider it hazardous. Local codes and rules to govern how septic tanks must be abandoned. Furthermore, these old tanks can fail and collapse when you or someone else is crossing the area. It is obvious that falling into a septic tank can be deadly. That's why you should find out the local codes you are needed to follow and then have a city inspection done to guarantee that the closed tank will forever be safe.
Getting rid of an old septic tank
Here you will require the assistance of a septic services provider. The contractor will determine how the tank should be safely abandoned according to local laws. Should it be buried, removed or crushed? If it is a concrete tank, it might already have broken sides or a cracked bottom. So it cannot hold water any more and can be safely buried with gravel or sand. To ensure that the area can't sink even if someone walks on it, the soil on the top of your buried septic tank should be compressed. This way the rubble won't shift or sink. If the tank is removable, your contractor will determine the right methods to safely and effectively use.
Recording of the tank abandonment job
A septic tank is an underground facility that can be hard to locate when it gets buried and abandoned. To help future owners locate the old tank area, if you ever resell your home, then keep documents regarding its abandonment. These will include the permit and inspection documents that could prove that you did the task based on the local area code. Draw a map of the area of the old septic tank and file it as well.
Lastly, find out if your new property has more than one septic tank as this is not uncommon. Then, look for assistance from septic services companies like W C Lowery Inc.