AFFORDABLE SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN Montgomery, TX

What Is the Process for Septic Tank Installation in Montgomery?

Installing a septic tank is a little more complicated than simply digging a hole and putting a new tank in. The process begins with extensive research. To design the right system for you, we need to know the potential wastewater production of your home, the composition and drainage qualities of your soil, and the gradient and topology of your land. All of these tell us important things about how we need to engineer a system to successfully manage wastewater for decades into the future on your property.

After soil tests have come back and we’ve surveyed the land, we’ll be ready to start engineering and designing your system. If we’re replacing the tank in an existing system, that simplifies things a little bit, but changes to your septic tank will inevitably affect the plumbing in the rest of your septic system, and any issues that pop up will need to be addressed. If this is a new system, we’ll need to identify a drain field for wastewater to be reintroduced to groundwater. This is where water processed through the septic tank will naturally flow over time to be filtered through the soil.

Once all the details of the job are worked out and permits have been granted, then it’ll be time to actually get to work. Excavation for septic tanks can be a serious job even with the help of heavy machinery and it will take us some time. Once all the holes are dug, trenches are ready, and your tank and plumbing are in place, it’ll be time to start making connections and getting your new septic tank working.

Our job doesn’t stop there, though. When your tank’s in place, we’ll have to diligently verify that everything worked out according to plan before we backfill. Needless to say, changes will be much easier to make before we bury the tank. Once we’ve ensured that everything is working as intended, we’ll fill in your tank and get your new system working. Before we do though, we’ll have to aerate your drain field with gravel most likely. Our soils around here tend to be clay-rich alluvial soils that don’t drain very easily. Gravel helps break up the soil to create plenty of pockets for wastewater to permeate through, so it can be filtered through the soil before reaching groundwater.

How Does Permitting Work for Installing Septic Tanks in Montgomery?

To perform any work on a septic tank, be it installing a new septic system, replacing an existing tank, performing repairs, or altering the plumbing connected to your tank, you’ll first need to apply for a permit from Montgomery County. Before you send in your application, we’ll have to have your soil analyzed, a percolation test done, and detailed designs of your tank and plans for the installation process ready to hand over with the application. The county provides an easy-to-reference checklist to make sure that we’ve included all necessary documentation and information with the permit application. When you’ve got problems with a septic tank, the last thing you want to do is wait to start getting it fixed because of a paperwork blunder.

Wastewater can have serious effects on the environment if not properly managed, and poorly designed and installed septic tanks could not only harm your and your neighbor’s land, but could also potentially release toxic chemicals that could be detrimental to the health of anybody nearby. It can seem like permitting requirements for septic are excessive occasionally but just remember that wastewater affects everybody. Looking at the bigger picture it’s easy to see why there are so many obligations before you’re able to alter your own septic system. If the number of hoops to jump through seem overwhelming, the county has compiled a detailed guide on each step of the process to make it easier for you.

How Much Does Septic Tank Installation Usually Cost in Montgomery?

Septic tank installation costs can be pretty tough to predict. Around here, it tends to be cheaper than most other places in the country to get a tank installed, but costs can fluctuate across a wide range based on several different factors. Most jobs in the area average around $6,500. The difference between a $1,500 installation and a $15,000 installation likely all rest in the specific circumstances of your land and septic system.

Wastewater Produced by Your Household

The more wastewater that your property can potentially produce, the larger the tank you’ll need. A larger tank means more expensive materials and labor, but it’s necessary to get the infrastructure you need to meet your home’s needs well into the foreseeable future. Typically, the size of the tank required is based on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the house, as well as any other major features that produce wastewater, such as a spa or pool. Even if your house doesn’t have someone sleeping in every bedroom right now, you want to make sure its septic tank can support a full house. If you sell the house down the line, you don’t want the septic tank to be insufficient.

Soil and Topology of Your Land

The earth itself on your property can also have a lot of influence over the cost of a septic tank installation. Our soil in this part of Texas tends to be especially clay-rich alluvial soils. Natural clays tend to expand when they’re wet. This can quickly cause a hard pack on the surface that locks out moisture after the first bit has gotten through. If the soil test for your property reveals that your soil is particularly poorly drained, then the drain field for your septic tank will need to be spread out over a larger area to ensure that wastewater can permeate the soil. This will require more plumbing infrastructure and excavating, which could raise costs.

New System or Replacement Tank

Whether you’re installing a tank for a new septic system or replacing an old tank could affect the cost, but each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. When we’re installing a tank for a new septic system there’s a lot of infrastructure beyond just the tank that needs to be engineered and installed. A drain field needs to be plumbed and constructed and all the necessary connections between your house and the final path of wastewater need to be made. 

When we install new tanks in existing septic systems, however, we commonly have a lot of the existing infrastructure at our disposal and still usable. This cuts down on the amount of work, but these tank replacement jobs sometimes have unexpected problems that we encounter. Plumbing could be damaged or hiding serious issues that don’t become apparent until we’re replacing the tank. If the former tank was ruptured, we could be dealing with hazardous materials and a potential ecological nightmare during replacement. Depending on the specific circumstances of a new or replacement tank install, either one could affect the price.

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

Without knowing the specific lay of your land and how you use it, it’s pretty rough to say outright what would be the best septic tank for you. Plastic tanks are used as more affordable options to traditionally materials frequently but can buckle under pressure from shifts over time in the area’s clay-rich soil, or even weight applied from above ground – like a vehicle driving over it. Steel tanks offer a lot more durability but have a limited shelf life. Just like steel used in other plumbing, steel septic tanks eventually lose the protective layer that protects them from degradation and rust. As the material breaks down over the years, it can become weak and corroded. Steel tanks may need to be replaced as often as every 20 to 25 years.

When it can work for the unique soil and topology of your land, concrete septic tanks are often the best choice in Montgomery. They offer the durability against pressure that steel does, but also don’t corrode and break down over time. It’s not unheard of to hear of concrete septic tanks outliving steel tanks by double or even triple their age.

Also, the unique features of your land may pose other problems that lead to more innovative approaches to designing your septic tank and system. Most homes with septic have conventional, gravity-fed septic systems. This means that gravity and drain water in your pipes naturally push waste from your home to the tank, then gravity naturally causes the gradual flow of wastewater from your tank to your drain field. This all has to be done alongside ensuring that wastewater flows away from your drinking water source to prevent any contamination.

If we’re unable to create a system on your land that naturally feeds towards a drain field without compromising your water source, we’ll have to get more creative with our design. There are many types of septic tanks and systems, or it may be easiest to simply augment the flow of your septic tank with pumps. Either way, the right system for you depends almost entirely on the unique qualities of your property.

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

Texas doesn’t have a law requiring any specific frequency of septic inspection, but the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recommends a septic cleaning at least every 3 years, with inspections at least as frequently by professionals like us. Inspections are incredibly important as you often won’t see problems with your septic tank until it’s too late for easy fixes unless the issue is caught early by our inspectors. While inspections and servicing may be an inconvenient expense, maintaining your septic tank responsibly is far better than dealing with costly surprises down the line.

Septic tanks wear down just like any other part of your house’s infrastructure and regular maintenance is important. As solid waste is broken down in your septic tank, it separates into wastewater that floats above it, and a layer of slimy scum that’s lighter than water and so floats at the top. The middle layer is what gradually is reintroduced to groundwater, leaving the top layer of waste to just build up as more and more solid waste is broken down over time. Failing to keep an eye on the levels of your tank and have it cleaned out regularly could mean that sludge from the bottom of the tank begins seeping out into the drain field, or that the oily scum at the top levels of your tank builds up to the point of clogging your plumbing which can potentially cause sewage backflows into your home. Septic tanks with unnoticed problems won’t pull any punches with the damage they do, so you need to notice problems when they happen. Regular inspections by our experts are the best way to guarantee that happens.

Are There Any Rebates Available for Septic Tank Services in Montgomery?

There aren’t any rebates available currently for septic tank services in Montgomery, but there are other ways to get deals and assistance with a septic tank installation around here. Due to our town’s small size, we fall within the realm of USDA assistance, which has several programs available to assist with septic repairs or improvements.

Since wastewater management is key to water quality and environmental health, the EPA also has several programs for assisting homeowners in making sustainable improvements to their septic systems through loans or grants. They’ve also compiled a list of other federal resources that may be able to assist with the cost of septic tank service.