AFFORDABLE SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN Kansas City, MO

What Is the Process for Septic Tank Installation In Kansas City?

Before you commit to installing a septic tank for your Kansas City home, you want to know more about the process. The state of Missouri regulates and oversees all septic tank installations to ensure they’re done properly. Here’s a closer look at the process for septic tank installation:

Design of the Septic Tank Site

Your contractor shouldn’t dig a hole beside your Kansas City home and place a septic tank inside. It takes more thought and planning to make sure the system runs properly, and there isn’t an issue with the surrounding yard. There are several key features on your property that the designer needs to consider, including:

• The size of your yard along with the placement of your driveway. 
• The location of any water sources either natural or installed such as a water well, lake, pond, or river. 
• The size of your home, especially the number of bathrooms. 
• The number of family members living in the home to understand how much use the septic tank will normally get. 
• The number of nearby neighbors and if they also have septic tanks. 

Once the designer gathers all of this essential information, they’ll get to work designing a septic tank system for your home that handles all of your wastewater needs. The designer also ensures that the septic tank installation meets all the building codes outlined by the state and Kansas City governments. 

Possible Site Evaluation

When your septic tank releases water into the surrounding soil, you need to know that the soil can effectively drain the additional moisture. Our team will need to get a percolation test to determine the type of soil in the possible drainage field location. 

We also need to determine the amount of wastewater your family will produce to ensure the septic tank is large enough to handle the flow of wastewater through it. In some cases, especially with older homes, we need to bring a plumber in to evaluate the pipes in your home and yard. 

Your pipes need to be working efficiently to move the wastewater into the septic tank. If there are any leaks or corroding pipes in your home, they might need to be fixed before we can install the septic tank.

Secure a Permit

Before installing a septic tank, Kansas City requires you to have a permit for the work. This process ensures that the work is done properly by a professional team and meets the city and state’s strict building codes and regulations. 

The application is processed through the Kansas City Government, City Planning and Development Department. We’ll handle the application process to ensure that your septic tank installation is ready to proceed. 

Installation of the Septic Tank

After all, the pesky paperwork is in order, and the evaluation of your Kansas City yard’s soil and home’s plumbing is complete, it’s time to break ground for your new septic tank. We start by bringing in heavy equipment, such as a backhoe, to dig the space for the septic tank and the drainage field. 

There are several steps to the installation:

1. Since the septic tank system works on gravity, we start by placing the holding and distribution tank in the ground. 
2. We connect all the components needed to the tank. 
3. Excavate the drainage field.
4. Lay down the pipes in the drainage field. 
5. Connect the holding tank to the distribution tank to the drainfield pipes. 
6. Install the piping from the holding tank to your Kansas City home. 
7. Inspection
8. Bury the tank and pipes to return your yard to normal.

This can take a day or several days depending on the scope of the job. 

Inspection

Before we can bury the septic tank and other pieces, and before you can begin using it, an inspector from Kansas City needs to come to your home and inspect the system. During the inspection, the inspector compares the plans submitted during the application process to the work that was done. 

If there’s a problem with your septic tank, it can affect the soil and groundwater not only in your yard but in the surrounding area. The inspector needs to make sure the system is properly installed and unlikely to fail. This is for your family and the city’s safety. 

How Does Permitting Work for Installing Septic Tanks in Kansas City?

Even though we’ll take care of securing the permit for your septic tank installation, you need to know how the process works. All permitting is done through the City Planning and Development Department. Here’s their process:

1. Decide on the scope of the work and who is going to perform it. Since you’re hiring a professional to install your septic tank, we’ll take care of submitting the paperwork and providing our licensing information. 
2. Submit the plans that were created in the design step above.
3. Wait for approval of the plans.
4. Pay the fee.
5. Schedule a date for the inspection after the tank and drainfield are installed. 
6. You receive a certificate of occupancy to live in the home. 

We can help by navigating the permitting process on your behalf. 

How Much Does Septic Tank Installation Usually Cost in Kansas City?

One of the first questions we hear from Kansas City homeowners is about the cost of the septic tank installation. Unfortunately, there are a few details to work out before we can give you an exact cost. 

The average cost of septic tank installation in the area runs between $1,470 and $10,365 with an average cost of around $5,915. Your final cost could be on the high end or the low one. There are certain factors that can increase or decrease the cost of installing a septic tank in Kansas City. 

Type and Material

The material of the septic tank plays a large role in the final price. You can choose between plastic, concrete, and fiberglass, and each of these materials is considered water-tight. 

However, the type of soil in your Kansas City yard might dictate the type of material you need. While a plastic septic tank might be cheaper initially, it won’t last as long as some other materials. If you’re looking for higher quality, you might consider fiberglass or concrete. 

Size

Septic tanks do come in a variety of sizes and it’s usually sized by the number of gallons of wastewater it can hold. The state of Missouri requires you to have a minimum number of gallons based on the number of bedrooms in the house. 

The expectation is that each bedroom needs 120 gallons per day. The larger the septic tank needs to be is directly related to the cost of the installation. The size expectations:

• 3 bedrooms – 1,000-gallon tank
• 4 bedrooms – 1,250-gallon tank
• 5 bedrooms – 1,500-gallon tank

We can help you choose the correct size if you have any questions. 

Quality and Type of Soil

One of the biggest factors is the quality and type of soil in your Kansas City yard. It can dictate the type of material you need for the tank. In some cases, we might need to condition the soil to make it acceptable for a septic tank. 

When the tank releases the water into the drainage field, the soil needs to be able to absorb it and drain the water. The soil can also play a part in where the drainage field is in relation to the tank. 

What Type of Septic Tank Is Best for Residents in Kansas City?

Fiberglass and concrete are the two types of septic tanks that we install most often in the Kansas City area. The plastic tanks don’t last as long and homeowners are looking for longevity in their septic tank needs. 

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

When you use a septic tank system on your property, you need to keep it maintained and working properly. You don’t want a situation where you have sewage backing up into your home or flowing out into your yard. 

One of the best ways to maintain your septic tank is to be careful about the things you flush down the toilet and the sinks. Remember, the things that go down your drains need to be biodegradable, so it breaks down in the tank. Here are some things to avoid sending into your septic tank:

• Diapers
• Cigarette butts
• Condoms
• Feminine hygiene products
• Flushable wipes — these aren’t made for septic tanks
• Grease

The state of Missouri doesn’t require additional inspections after the septic tank has been installed. However, it’s a good idea to have it emptied every three to five years.