AFFORDABLE SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN Corvallis, OR

What Is the Process for Septic Tank Installation in Corvallis? 

Before you can install a septic tank on your property, you will need to have a soil test and a permit. That permit will establish that your septic tank is going in a location with adequate drainage and no difficulty, which also aligns with your soil test results. It will also ensure that you have a qualified professional like us conducting your septic tank installation.

You will need an approved contractor like Mr Blue Plumbing to handle your Corvallis septic tank installation. We must also use approved materials to construct your septic tank, which will help ensure that you do not have any unnecessary problems with your septic system.

We’ll excavate, install the system, connect it, and then call for the city to send an inspector to sign off on the work. Once that is complete, we can backfill around the area.

How Does Permitting Work for Installing Septic Tanks in Corvallis?

A permit is necessary to install a septic tank in Corvallis, OR. Permits are required for new construction, replacement dwellings, additions, remodeling, and commercial septic tank addition. 

Step One: Have Your Septic Site Approved.

You will need to identify both an approved area and a backup area for your septic tank if installation in the first location doesn’t go according to plan. The process starts with a site evaluation application, which must be submitted with the entire application completed. If you miss any of the information on the application, it can slow down the application process.

As part of the process to have your application approved, you will need to construct two test pits, which must be at least 75 feet apart. An evaluator will come out to take a look at your test pits. If weather conditions aren’t optimal, the evaluator may need to come out more than once to approve your septic tank installation. 

Step Two: Check Your Site Evaluation Report.

The evaluation report will let you know which area is approved for septic tank installation and any type of special requirements you may have to install your septic tank in a specific area. It may also include the type and size of the septic system you need for the site. You must follow these instructions to install that septic tank. 

Step Three: Complete the Permit Application.

Only once your site evaluation has been completed can you fill out the paperwork for a septic tank permit. In general, you should receive the permit within 20 days of submitting your application unless there’s another problem that requires you to resubmit the information.

Step Four: Don’t Forget the Inspection.

Once we have finished construction on your septic tank, you will need to have the septic tank inspected for final approval. Once the city has conducted the final inspection, you will receive authorization to cover the septic tank and start using the system.

How Much Does Septic Tank Installation Usually Cost in Corvallis?

Installing a septic tank in Oregon, on average, costs between $4,500 and $6,000, though you may face much higher or lower prices depending on your specific installation needs. Several important factors can influence the cost of the septic tank installation. 

Cost Factor: The Size of Your Property

The size of your septic tank will depend on the size of your home–most notably, the number of bedrooms in it. If you have just three bedrooms, for example, you’ll likely need a 1,000-gallon septic tank. On the other hand, if you have a four-bedroom home or larger, you can expect to install a 1,500-gallon or larger septic tank and pay the corresponding price increase. 

Cost Factor: Water Table Location

If your property sits in an area of Corvallis with a high water table, you will need to install your septic tank higher, as well. You do not want to accidentally contaminate the fresh water in the area with the contents of your septic tank. Your septic tank will need to sit at least three to four feet above the water table. If you do have a high water table near your property, it can cost more to install your septic tank properly. 

Cost Factor: Septic Tank Material

Septic tanks can be made of a variety of materials, from polyethylene to concrete. The material used to construct your septic tank can significantly alter the cost of the tank since higher-end materials cost more than cheaper ones. However, inexpensive material used in your septic tank’s initial construction may cause more problems down the road than you think since they will need to be replaced more often. Talk to the experienced professionals at Mr Blue Plumbing to better understand the best septic tank material for your Corvallis, OR septic tank installation.

What Type of Septic Tank Is Best For Residents in Corvallis?

Septic tanks are typically watertight tanks buried well below the surface of the ground. They help treat domestic wastewater as heavy solids sink to the bottom of the tank while wastewater gets discharged for treatment or dispersal. You may have several options when choosing a septic system for your Corvallis property. Before selecting your septic tank, discuss these concerns with the professionals at Mr Blue Plumbing to understand better the best type of septic tank for your needs. 

What Size Septic Tank Do You Need?

The size of your septic tank will depend heavily on the amount of water your family uses each day. If you have a large family, you’ll do more laundry, flush the toilet more times throughout the day, take more showers, and just generally use more water. Corvallis permits base the size of the septic tank you must have on the number of bedrooms in the home since that can significantly impact water usage throughout the day.

What Type of Design Is Best For You?

The design of your septic tank may depend heavily on the type of soil in your yard. Oregon is known for Jory soil: deep, well-drained soils with high clay content. In these soils, you may do best with a gravity-type system, allowing streams of treated sewage to seep into the ground, fertilizing the surrounding dirt. On the other hand, if you have gravel or coarse soil in your yard, you may do best with a pressure-type septic system design, which may place the sewage under pressure to help push it out of the tank.

What Type of Pump Do You Need?

To determine which type of pump is best for your needs, talk to the professionals at Mr Blue Plumbing. In general, a turbine pump is much more reliable and will last longer, which means that you will have to worry about replacing it less frequently. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with significant budget concerns, especially after all the fees that go into getting your septic tank permit, a centrifugal pump may meet your needs, especially on a short-term basis. You will also need to choose your pump size based on the overall size of your tank. 

What Tanks Are Specifically Recommended?

The Benton County Health Services system explicitly recommends two septic tanks: either Williamette Graystone or Hanks Concrete. These tanks are certified through the City, so using these septic tanks can increase the odds that your permit will go through more smoothly. While you may choose a different type of septic tank, carefully consider how these warranty-backed tanks will impact your septic tank installation. They are known to be high-quality and made by trusted manufacturers, which means that you can trust that you’ll have fewer problems out of your septic tank. 

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

As a general rule, you should have your septic tank inspected by professionals like us every one to three years, especially if you have a large family and a high degree of water moving through your septic tank each day. You should assume that you will need to contact us to pump your tank as necessary, generally every 18 to 36 months.

Do you suspect that you may have a septic tank problem? There are several times when you may want to go ahead and contact us to have your septic tank inspected and pumped, even if it’s not yet time. 

You Have Sewage Backing up in Your Drains.

Have you noticed sewage quickly backing up out of your drains, either seemingly at random or after your flush your toilet or shower? If so, you may find that your septic tank has gotten too full and that you need to have it pumped as soon as possible. If you continue to ignore this common problem, it may quickly get worse. 

You Have Noticed a Foul Odor Outside That You Can’t Quite Identify.

If you notice a sudden change in the odor inside your home, especially a foul order where you have not experienced one before, you may need to bring out a septic tank inspector to consult with you as soon as possible. Sometimes, it could indicate that the tank is overflowing. Other times, that odor could be an indicator of another problem with your septic tank, which you’ll need to address as quickly as possible. 

You Start to See Changes in the Health of Your Lawn.

You may notice that your lawn has changed abruptly. The grass may be dying, and you may have trouble retaining the overall health of your plants. On the other hand, you may notice the grass around the area where your septic tank is buried suddenly thriving since the septic tank’s contents may nourish the yard. 

You Just Moved to a New Property.

As part of a new home-buying inspection process, make sure you have your septic tank inspected by our experts. If there are easily identifiable problems with your septic tank, you need to address them as quickly as possible to ensure they do not become more severe. You may also want to go ahead and have the septic tank pumped when you move in, especially if the previous homeowner can’t tell you the last time the tank was pumped.