3 Barrel Septic System for Cheap

[eDJ_]

IF.....you are off grid or where there are no codes regulating this system it can be a dirt cheap and effective septic system. It requires a minimum of tools & materials. The only thing I'd add to this is a leach field of about 30 ft. It should be good for years.

This youtube video is quite through in it's presentation. The biggest effort in this would be digging the pit and leach field trench. If a leach field pipe is used the back fill of it should be done with coarse sewer sand to allow liquid to drain out of it quickly.

 

[chloe writes]

My main takeaway from the video is to not build one of these anywhere near my neighbor's property line. I can just imagine their surprise when a little pop up indicator shows my system is full. The setup is clever for a remote spot but looks like a lot of digging for a weekend project.

 

[eDJ_]

Yes, zoning could mean a lot not to mention just neighbors concerns. Not only property line but if anyone is using a water well you will want the septic system "down stream" of the well's aquifer.

As for the "dig's", small excavators are rented reasonably for such purposes. They can dig with their back hoe and they also have a small bulldozer blade in front of the tracks. So you can dig and then later cover up with the same piece of equipment.

Still, if you don't know how to use one you could find someone who can and employ them to operate it. Then the fabrication of the tanks could be mostly done first to have ready to install in the hole to "quick start" the installation.

Generally if one of these is rented on a Friday night, it won't be due back until Monday morning. So you'd have 2 days to complete the project to finish.

 

[chloe writes]

I have visions of myself accidentally digging a trench straight through my driveway with one of those things. There's probably a learning curve to using one without making a huge mess of the property. I imagine the rental fee for a weekend might start to push the project out of the "dirt cheap" category too. For a truly remote build it's a good solution but for my little patch of land, I think I'd still have to stick with a shovel and a lot of patience...

 

[eDJ_]

Well, nothing is cheap. But if one would rent such a tool and do the job themselves they would save a lot of money compared to hiring a contractor. The nice thing about using one of these to excavate the "diggs" for the septic system is that the work doesn't have to be too perfect.

You can always back fill with the dirt that was dug up and cover any mistakes. It's a kind of "beat it to fit and paint it to match" construction effort.

I knew a widow woman whose late husband had been a Realtor/Developer and she got into a "Bobcat" which was something like bulldozer and began to clear the grass off what would be the roads thru the sub division they were developing from an old run down farm they had bought. She even did it with her baby grand daughter sitting beside her.

I asked her how long it took her to learn to operate the Bobcat she said less than an hour. Then a few hours to get good at it.

The image above has a scoop but some of these are equipped with a hoe. There are a lot of small equipment machines like this that can make a big job go quickly and quite economically.

 

[chloe writes]

The widow story is a good counterpoint. I still suspect I'd need more practice before being trusted with a machine capable of removing my front porch by accident. A big question for me would be the logistics of getting a Bobcat to my property since I don't own a heavy duty trailer. Does a typical rental yard fee cover delivery and pickup or is an additional expense? It feels like another cost which could add up on a supposedly cheap project.

 

[eDJ_]

Most of the Rental places have such trailers which may or may not be included in the fee. You would need a vehicle with a trailer hitch suitable for towing such a load. U-Haul rents pickup's and Vans for $20 a day plus mileage.

As for the expenses of any project, yes it's going to cost some money. And reading about these things I discuss will give you some idea of how to go about estimating the cost.

As an example, you could go to Home Depot and buy a shed building which would cost between $4 thousand to $10 thousand dollars and they deliver it. You could probably build it a lot cheaper...if you have the tools, know how etc.

One should also consider zoning & insurance. Some would see these as not much sturdier than a house trailer.

Where I live so many of these are sitting on the property of their relatives or kids even if they are older & single, widows, widowers.

Out in some of the Amish communities the average property is about 5 acres. When the parents reach retirement age the family build what they call a Grand Parent's house which is a larger Tiny House for them. The oldest son gets the Home they grew up in with the responsibility to look after those who haven't married and moved out.

 

[chloe writes]

Yeah, throwing a U-Haul into the mix makes things trickier. I'd double-check their towing rules, especially with something as heavy as an excavator. You've got to make sure the truck's hitch and tow rating can handle the full weight, and some rental yards don't even allow outside trucks for hauling their gear. Could turn into a mess if anything goes sideways.

 

[eDJ_]

These excavators we're talking about may weigh less than a Honda Civic. And the rental places would be able to advise on what ever towing vehicles you would propose. Then offer solutions beyond that.

 

[chloe writes]

If the excavator's weight is under 3,000 pounds, then yeah, it's in the ballpark of what a midsize SUV or light-duty pickup could tow. Still, I'd want to confirm the trailer weight too since that adds up fast.