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We currently have an Eljen system installed for our leach field and after little over 20 years it is failing on us(house was built in '99). We were going to get it replaced with a traditional stone and pipe set up but our front yard is too small. The options we've been given are to replace the Eljen field with one that is about 1/3 larger than the original, go with what's called and Enviro Septic system or go deep instead of wide and get what's called a dry well. I'm not reading good things about dry wells so I'm leaning towards either the Eljen or Enviro Septic systems.
The septic contractor said we have good soil for either system. We've been in the house for about 8 years and the owners before us poured a lot of bacon grease down the drain which we're thinking may have contributed to the existing system's demise, but I'm not sure of it works that way really. The septic guy seemed to think it was a possibility, but also said Eljen fields can fail at the 20 year mark anyway. We had to replace the pipe leading from the kitchen sink to the main septic outlet line because it was so packed with a hard whitish gray grease that it stopped draining. We have never poured grease down the drain since owning the house.
So basically I'm asking if anyone has any experience with any of these types of systems or knows enough about them to suggest which type to avoid or would recommend any one in particular. For what it's worth the dry well is the more expensive option, but not by much. They're all being quoted between $9,500 and $11,000. Price won't be the deciding factor. Any advice anyone could give would be appreciated.
Septic systems in the most simple terms are all the same.
I would follow the knowledge of the local plumber/septic system installers and the AHJ recommendations.
A dry well goes back to the early days of septic. My grandparents had one. They work great with regular cleanout of any main tank, until they don't. At that point, the dry well and some surrounding soil gets replaced. Here is the lowdown - if you are really good about not putting grease and other things down the drain, and your laundry is not excessive, they can last for years and years.
If you had a build-up of grease in the drain pipe, the previous owners/tenants were blooming idiots. Once you have overcome the remains of their excesses, you may be fine no matter what you do.
A dry well goes back to the early days of septic. My grandparents had one. They work great with regular cleanout of any main tank, until they don't. At that point, the dry well and some surrounding soil gets replaced. Here is the lowdown - if you are really good about not putting grease and other things down the drain, and your laundry is not excessive, they can last for years and years.
If you had a build-up of grease in the drain pipe, the previous owners/tenants were blooming idiots. Once you have overcome the remains of their excesses, you may be fine no matter what you do.
Thanks for all the replies. We are good about keeping grease and other septic unfriendly substances out of the system but we have 3 growing children and all the laundry that goes with it. As far as what our septic designer has recommended, he says the dry well may be the best option considering the size of the area we have to work with. Other than in this thread however I've yet to find anything or anyone giving a good or even neutral opinion on them, most saying it's basically one step above a cess pit.
I have some time yet before getting back to the septic guy with our decision so I'll keep doing some research. Thanks again for the replies.
…I've yet to find anything or anyone giving a good or even neutral opinion on them, most saying it's basically one step above a cess pit.
As I previously stated, they’re all basically the same- regardless of the “name”. What works best is a combination of soil conditions, how it’s used, and volume. Which leads me to an area that has become more common with septic systems. Separated/divided waste water. Can you divide your waste system in your house? Is the house on a crawl space or basement, making the plumbing accessible?
If so, I would strongly suggest doing so. Routing “grey water” to foundation plantings, garden, or other area(s) that will benefit from the water is a greater asset than sending it to the septic system. I’ve seen some “grey water systems” that are actually plumbed to a cistern- then it’s pumped as needed for garden(s), etc.
Is it more money- sure! The trade off is extending the life of the septic system 4-5 fold; plus reducing the water usage for “watering”. Something to consider…
As I previously stated, they’re all basically the same- regardless of the “name”. What works best is a combination of soil conditions, how it’s used, and volume. Which leads me to an area that has become more common with septic systems. Separated/divided waste water. Can you divide your waste system in your house? Is the house on a crawl space or basement, making the plumbing accessible?
If so, I would strongly suggest doing so. Routing “grey water” to foundation plantings, garden, or other area(s) that will benefit from the water is a greater asset than sending it to the septic system. I’ve seen some “grey water systems” that are actually plumbed to a cistern- then it’s pumped as needed for garden(s), etc.
Is it more money- sure! The trade off is extending the life of the septic system 4-5 fold; plus reducing the water usage for “watering”. Something to consider…
Since we started having problems with our septic system we have been routing the water from the washing machine out to the back yard. Never thought of it as a permanent solution but that's something to think about.
Anyway after getting the recommendation from the contractor we're using to design and construct the system, and also consulting with someone from the company we use to pump our system who is also an inspector, we are actually going to go with the dry well after all. The contractor says it is the best option for our circumstances and provides the most volume of any of our options. The inspector says in his experience a properly made dry well can last well over 25 years while even a well made Elgen or Enviro-septic system will usually fail before the 20 year mark, and you have to be a lot more careful about what goes in the system with those two options. Anything that uses stone instead of sand will have more longevity from what he said.
I'm already getting to the point where I am overthinking this whole thing so I'm going to go with what two separate experts are telling me about things they know much better than I do.
A dry-well or “galley” type system is usually preferable over septic fields if the soil type allows for great percolate rates as found in a coarse sandy type soil.
A dry-well system will provide more capacity for volume, however it’s the absorption rate of the surrounding soil that ultimately controls the longevity of your system.
I’m guessing you have 1K or a 1250 gallon concrete septic tank that’s going to remain and be used for you new system?
A dry-well or “galley” type system is usually preferable over septic fields if the soil type allows for great percolate rates as found in a coarse sandy type soil.
A dry-well system will provide more capacity for volume, however it’s the absorption rate of the surrounding soil that ultimately controls the longevity of your system.
I’m guessing you have 1K or a 1250 gallon concrete septic tank that’s going to remain and be used for you new system?
Yes it's a 1250 gallon system that is staying in place and one of the reasons(other than the size of the utilizable area in our front yard) that he recommended the dry well is because our soil is well suited to it.
Yes it's a 1250 gallon system that is staying in place and one of the reasons(other than the size of the utilizable area in our front yard) that he recommended the dry well is because our soil is well suited to it.
Yes, that is a good tank and just be sure it’s thoroughly cleaned properly and all of the sludge has been removed. That should be done along with your new septic system and with good soil percolation and a new system, you should be able to get more than 20 trouble free years of use.
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