What Happens on Septic Installation Day

A septic system is buried, out of sight and, when it's working, out of mind. That's the goal. But when you're the one having it installed, the process can feel like a mystery. Machines arrive, the yard gets opened up, and stone and tanks show up on trucks. Knowing what is going on and why makes the whole job easier to watch. Here is how a septic install goes with our crew at Oesch Excavating, starting with the first measurements and ending with the old system leaving your property.

Before the machines arrive

Installation day starts with a plan. We use a laser measuring system to lay out the planned location of the system. Septic systems depend on gravity and level, so pipes need to slope the right way and the field has to sit where it was designed to. A laser gives us exact elevations across the site instead of guesses, and that precision is what keeps wastewater moving the way it should for years.

We also file all the permit paperwork. That is one less stack of forms for you to chase. The paperwork is filed before we excavate. If you have questions about what your property needs, we'll walk you through it when we come out for the estimate.

Sizing the tank

One of the first questions we're asked is how big the tank should be. The answer depends on the number of bedrooms. Bedrooms are the standard way to estimate how many people a home is built to hold, and that tells you how much water is likely to flow through the system. A bigger home with more bedrooms needs a bigger tank. Choosing a size that fits the house matters, because a tank that is too small for the home is a problem you don't want to find out about later.

Digging and setting the system

Once the layout is marked, the excavator goes to work. We excavate to the planned depths and levels, and the laser keeps the grade honest as the trench and bed take shape. Our own gallery of septic work shows concrete tanks, pipe laid in gravel, and leach-field chambers set out on a sand bed, which are the main pieces of a system.

We supply all the materials from our own quarry. That includes the stone and sand the system sits in. Because we aren't waiting for materials to arrive from a third party, the job moves at the pace the crew sets, not at the pace of someone else's delivery. We also install the entire system ourselves: tank, pipe, and the field that spreads the water out into the soil.

Taking out the old system

If you're replacing a system, the old one doesn't get left in the ground. We remove and dispose of the old system as part of the job. That keeps your yard free of a buried tank and pipe that nobody wants to find later, and it clears space for the new layout.

Rock, trees and tricky lots

Not every lot is easy. Jim Yahrmarkt's property was challenging to grade, with tree removal and a heavy rock base. Tom installed his septic system and did the excavating. Jim wrote, "His eye for detail is amazing," and "He worked fast with precision and provided an end product we are very proud of." Sites like that are where laying the work out with a laser and having the right machines pays off.

How to get ready as the owner

Our crew handles the heavy lifting, but a few things on your end help the day go smoothly:

• Make sure we can get trucks and machines to the work area, and tell us about anything buried or hidden that you already know about.
• Tell us how many bedrooms the home has, or plans to have, so the tank is sized for the house you want.
• Keep pets and kids clear of the site while machines are working.
• Ask us any questions about the plan before the digging starts, when changes are easiest.

If you're building a new home and need grading, a driveway and a septic system, we can do all of it. Scott Clark, who has built two homes in this area, said Tom "helps guide you in important decisions that actually save YOU time and money." Sorting out what happens in which order is one of the places that kind of guidance helps most.

What you're left with

When the crew pulls out, you should have a system that was laid out with care, a yard that is graded and ready for the next step, and nothing left behind from the old setup. You won't see most of the work again, and that's how it should be.

You can read about the full process on our Septic systems page. To schedule a look at your property, call (989) 742-1003 for a free estimate. We install residential and commercial systems across Northern Michigan.