AFFORDABLE SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN Salinas, CA

What Is the Process for Septic Tank Installation in Salinas?

Salinas is a city in Monterey County, located in the Monterey Bay Area. It is just south of the San Francisco Bay Area and ten miles southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River. Although homeowners genuinely love living in Salinas because of its numerous attractions and great location, they must learn more about the city regulations when it comes to the upkeep of their homes. Specifically, they must understand how important septic tank maintenance is to their overall well-being and what is required from them if they own a septic tank. Yet, before homeowners can grasp all these regulations, they must first learn more about these septic tanks, what they do, and how they are installed in Salinas. 

A septic tank’s primary purpose is to separate solids from the liquid wastewater to prevent the disposal field from clogging. Generally, the wastewater will slow down when it enters the tank. Gravity will then cause the settleable solids, also known as sludge, to fall to the bottom of the tank and out of the wastewater. The oils, fats, and greases or the scum that are left will float on top of the wastewater and be blocked from leaving the tank by a baffle. 

Due to the complexity that is often involved with septic tank installation, repair, or construction, the process must be completed by a contractor duly licensed by California’s State Contractor’s Board like Mr. Blue Plumbing, and it often involves the following steps:

• The homeowner files an application with the county for septic tank installation.
• The Environmental Health Specialist will evaluate the area and the project and determine if a permit is needed and what the septic tank installation plan will consist of.
• Once the plan is approved, a permit will be issued detailing the sewage disposal system layout and design.
• During the installation process, inspections will need to be conducted to ensure everything is correctly in place.
• A final inspection will be completed by the city before backfilling the area.

How Does Permitting Work for Installing Septic Tanks in Salinas?

In Salinas, all septic permit applications need to be completed and dropped off at the Environmental Health Review Services building. Generally, an Environmental Health Specialist will contact you within two business days of receiving the complete septic permit application to schedule a site visit. Depending on the conditions, they may request soil analysis or a test trench to evaluate how well the ground can accept wastewater. Once the most suitable location on the property is identified for the new septic system, the permit can normally be issued within a day. 

However, if the failing septic system results in a public health threat, such as wastewater bubbling to the ground’s surface or moving to the neighboring property, you must contact the Environmental Health Division immediately at 831-755-4507. Typically, in these situations, the process of obtaining a permit will be accelerated to alleviate the risk to public health.

How Much Does Septic Tank Installation Usually Cost in Salinas?

Homeowners need to know about the local septic installation costs before they start a septic tank installation project. This knowledge can ensure that homeowners are better prepared to cover the costs associated with the job. 

Generally, in Salinas, the cost of septic installation can range between $1,586 and $11,164, but these costs can be higher or lower depending on the following factors:

Overall Labor Costs

Usually, when installing a septic tank, the labor costs will be the most expensive aspect of your installation bill and often make up 50-70% of your total charges. For example, the septic tank alone may cost you upwards of $1,000 for a three-bedroom house. However, installing this septic tank can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.

In addition, you should remember that you will also be responsible for the costs associated with removing the old septic system. Plus, labor costs can also increase depending on how busy we are. For example, if we have enough jobs to fill our time for the next 90 days, we may take on future projects, but be prepared for us to start charging a bit more for overtime work. 

Septic Tank Material

Another critical factor that can impact the project’s final cost is the material of the septic tank. Higher quality materials, such as polyethylene, are often more expensive to install than septic tank models made of plastic. Yet, this does not mean that you should automatically pick cheaper materials to save on costs. In truth, cheaper models will usually require more frequent replacements, which means you can end up paying more money in the long run. 

Overall Project Costs

Finally, homeowners must also account for the total project costs, including machinery, components, surface preparation, and cleanup fees. These individual fees can significantly affect a septic tank replacement and installation bill. 

For instance, let’s say that during your ground inspection it is revealed that the soil is not well suited for a septic tank drain field. Consequently, before the septic tank can be installed, the homeowner will first need to install perforated drain tiles and a thin biofilm that will help provide a suitable environment to naturally purify the wastewater before it reaches the water table. However, if this space needs to be built, not only can it cause a mounted appearance, but it can also cost around $15,000 or more to install.

What Type of Septic Tank Is Best for Residents in Salinas?

Usually, residents in Salinas can choose from a variety of septic tanks. However, just because you have options, it does not mean that all of them will be suited for your individual, specific needs. That is why it is essential to consider all the pros and cons of each type of septic tank and pick one that works best for your situation. 

Generally, one of the more popular types of septic tanks is the concrete septic tank, as it holds many advantages over the other types of tanks, including the plastic, steel, and fiberglass versions. These advantages are why many cities across the country require concrete septic tanks:

• Prevents Rusting: Steel tanks and some fiberglass and plastic tanks are known to rust. Fortunately, rusting will not be an issue for concrete septic tanks as they will gradually strengthen over time. 
• Tank Heaviness: Heavy tanks can be incredibly beneficial as they will never float to the surface, which is often an issue for many lighter-weight tanks.
• Quick Pumping: Another important detail of the concrete tank is that it can be easily pumped empty without homeowners fearing that the tank will collapse. 
• Long Life: Concrete tanks often last for long periods, especially when homeowners properly have them drained and maintained. If these precautions are applied, these tanks can easily last up to 40 years. 
• Environmentally Resistant: Concrete tanks are considered environmentally resistant, which means they are not usually affected by changes to their environment, such as unique soil conditions, tree roots, or other issues that can arise. In addition, motor vehicles driving over the soil where the concrete tank was buried will not be a problem. 
• Easy Maintenance: Since concrete tanks are so resilient, they are often considered low maintenance and do not need as much care as plastic soil tanks.

How Often Do Homeowners in Salinas Need to Have Their Septic Tank Inspected?

In general, experts agree that homeowners need to have their septic tank inspected by experts like us at least every three to five years. This inspection will usually coincide with the time that a homeowner needs to have us come out to pump their tank. Pumping the tank is maintenance that is often necessary to ensure that the septic tank remains healthy and in good working condition. 

Yet, despite these recommendations, many homeowners still wait longer than five years to have their septic tank inspected. Most wait until something goes wrong with their tank before they even call anyone to come out. Unfortunately, when this happens, our inspector is no longer there to just inspect the tank. Instead, they are often there to recommend that the tank needs to be replaced or repaired, and as a result, the whole process can cost thousands of dollars. 

Typically, these septic tank inspections are either of two types: visual inspections and full inspections.

Visual Inspections

Visual inspections are often done by our inspectors before you buy or sell a home. This type of inspection usually involves our specialist asking the homeowner a few questions about how often they pump their septic system, the age of the house, and when the last time the homeowner had a septic tank check-up. The inspector will then run all the sinks and flush all the toilets to make sure the water pressure is up to par and everything is draining properly. Finally, our inspector will go out to the drain field and ensure there is no standing water anywhere. 

Full Inspections

In comparison, a full inspection is the kind you will need to get every three to five years and will often include everything that a visual inspection verified plus a few more checks. During a full inspection, our inspector will usually check the water levels to determine whether the water is entering the septic tank properly and draining correctly. Our inspector will also pump the septic tank and check for any backflow from the absorption area. These checks will also tell us of any drain field problems and whether there are any blockages in the tank. 

That is why having these inspections done routinely is so critical. They can save you from an extensive repair job, which can save you a significant amount of money. They can also help prevent any unwanted surprises that may come up when you decide to sell your house down the road.