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What Is the Process For Septic Tank Installation In Salisbury?
Salisbury is a city in Wicomico County, Maryland, and the largest city in the state’s Eastern Shore region. Salisbury is perfectly positioned between Maryland’s beaches and the Chesapeake Bay, making the area a tourist and homeowner favorite. Yet, although the city is filled with numerous attractions and provides its residents with endless benefits, it is not without its setbacks especially when it comes to the area’s septic tanks.
Septic tanks work by collecting the water and waste from the house. Once this material is in the septic tank, the debris will settle to the bottom where the natural bacteria will break it down. The liquid will rise to the top and go through an absorption area. This area is a series of pipes that run from the septic tank to the drain field. Generally, a layer of gravel acts as a drain field that filters the water entering the soil. As the water goes through this gravel, minerals found naturally in the ground will filter this water so that it is usable once it hits the groundwater. Although the process may seem relatively straightforward, significant problems can arise if homeowners do not stay on top of these septic tanks.
As a result, for residents in Salisbury to make sure they comply with all the regulations and ordinances the city has when it comes to their septic tanks, they first need to learn more about the installation process. This process often entails the following:
- The first step of the septic tank installation process involves the homeowner filing a Replacement Sewage System application with the county. This application can be found at www.wicomicohealth.org.
- Next, a representative from Environmental Health will reach out to the homeowner and evaluate the area available for sewage disposal. They will also develop a septic tank design based on the size of the area available for repair, the percolation test results, the soil type, the water table levels, and other environmental factors.
- Once the design is complete, a permit will be issued detailing the sewage disposal system layout and design.
- The sewage disposal system will then need to be installed by a Wicomico County Health Department licensed installer like Mr. Blue Plumbing, and several inspections will need to be conducted during the construction process.
- Once the construction is complete, a final inspection certificate will be provided.
How Does Permitting Work for Installing Septic Tanks in Salisbury?
In Salisbury, a septic system permit is required to ensure that any septic system installed in the county meets all the current county and state standards relative to minimum setbacks associated with protecting the health of all residents and the environment.
However, before homeowners can obtain this permit, they will need to also provide a site plan as part of the application process. This site plan will need to include information regarding the:
- Location of any structures, including the house on the property
- Location of wells on the premises
- Location of wells within 100′ of the property line
- Location of an existing septic tank and drain field
- Our information as your installer
How Much Does Septic Tank Installation Usually Cost in Salisbury?
Knowing the local septic installation costs is often recommended before starting a septic tank installation project. This is because this knowledge can ensure that homeowners are better prepared to cover the costs associated with the job. Typically, in Salisbury, the cost of septic installation can range between $1,000 and $10,000 with an average of around $6,500. However, these costs can be lower or higher depending on the following:
The Labor Costs
Generally, in a typical installation, the labor will be the most expensive aspect of your septic tank installation bill and be even more costly than the price of the tank itself. In fact, these labor costs will make up 50% to 70% of your total charges.
For instance, the septic tank may cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500 for a three to a four-bedroom septic tank, but the labor to install this septic tank can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. Plus, you cannot forget that you will also be on the hook for the costs associated with removing the old septic system, which means you will need to add this factor to the total installation costs as well.
In addition, it is important to note that these labor costs may also increase depending on how busy our installers are. For example, if there are enough jobs to fill their time for the next 30 to 90 days, our installers may take on more projects but might charge a premium for overtime.
Material Costs
Another factor that will impact the final cost of the project is the material of the septic tank. For instance, higher quality materials such as high-density polyethylene are more expensive to install than septic tank models made of plastic. Yet, keep in mind that just because you went with a cheaper model to save on costs, it does not mean you will save money in the long run. This is because these cheaper models usually require more frequent replacements.
All Project Costs
The total project costs, which include surface preparation, machinery, components, and clean-up fees, will also make up a large portion of the total septic tank replacement bill.
For instance, if a ground inspection reveals that the soil is not well suited for a septic tank drain field, the homeowners may 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 below. Unfortunately, building this space below the septic tank can not only result in a mounted appearance but can also cost around $15,000 to install on average.
What Type of Septic Tank Is Best For Residents in Salisbury?
There are various types of septic tanks that can be installed in Salisbury. However, just because you have multiple options, it does not mean that all of them are suited for your specific needs. That is why it is essential to choose a septic tank that will work for your individual needs. Typically, one of the best choices you can go with is the concrete septic tank, which holds many advantages over steel, plastic, or fiberglass tanks. That is why so many cities and areas across the country actually require concrete septic tanks.
In general, even though concrete tanks are more expensive than other types of tanks, they have a slew of benefits that make up for the higher price:
- Heavy Tanks: Although for some, heavy tanks may not be considered a benefit. It, in fact, is a pro since this type of tank will never “float” to the surface as some lighter-weight tanks may do in certain situations in Salisbury.
- No Rusting: Rusting will not be an issue for concrete septic tanks. Even though steel tanks and some plastic and fiberglass tanks are prone to failure and rusting, concrete tanks will gradually strengthen over time.
- Easy Pumping: Concrete tanks can easily be pumped empty without fear of having the tank collapse.
- Durability: Concrete septic tanks are highly durable especially when compared to their plastic alternatives.
- Long-Lasting: Concrete tanks are incredibly long-lasting especially with proper maintenance and draining. In fact, a concrete septic tank could easily last up to 40 years.
- Resistant: These concrete tanks are environmentally resistant, which means they are not usually affected by changes to their environment such as tree roots, changing soil conditions that are common in Salisbury, or other problems. Plus, driving over the soil where a concrete tank was buried will not affect it.
- Low Maintenance: Concrete soil tanks are usually low maintenance because they are resilient and do not need as much maintenance as plastic ones.
How Often Do Homeowners in Salisbury Need to Have Their Septic Tank Inspected?
Most experts agree that homeowners typically need to have their septic tank inspected at least every three to five years by professionals like us. This inspection generally lands around the time a homeowner needs to have our team pump their tank. Pumping the tank is often necessary to keep a septic tank healthy and ensure it is in satisfactory working order.
Unfortunately, despite these recommendations, many homeowners often wait much longer than five years to have their septic tanks inspected. In truth, many wait until something goes wrong to have their septic inspectors over. However, at this point, it is very likely that our inspector will often recommend you replace or repair your septic tanks rather than just performing a simple check-up, which can end up costing you thousands of dollars.
When it comes to septic tank inspections, there are usually two types:
Visual Inspections
This type of inspection involves our inspector asking a few questions about how often the owner pumps the septic system, how old the house is, and when the last septic tank check was. The inspector will then flush all the toilets in the home and run all the faucets to make sure the water pressure is up to par, and everything is draining correctly. Finally, the inspector will go out to the drain field to ensure there is no standing water.
Full Inspections
On the other hand, complete inspections include everything that a visual inspection includes plus a few more aspects. This inspection is the one you will want to get done every three to five years.
A full inspection will often check the water levels to determine whether the water is draining correctly and entering the septic tanks. Our inspector will also pump the septic tank and check for any backflow from the absorption area. This will also tell the inspector of any drain field problems and whether there are any blockages.
As you can see, getting these regular inspections will not only save you money from needing an extensive repair job down the road, but it can also help you prevent any unwanted surprises if you decide to sell your house in the future.
