Hi there

[Juan Chacho]

I'm always browsing land and would do a tiny home if I knew how to make it work. Hoping to lean how septic and cisterns work, since a lot of counties require them for habitation. And how shipping and placing something like that works.

 

[Sarah]

Hi there, Juan. I've been watching Tiny Homes ever since the Tumbleweed homes were started. Sounds as if you have a good plan to learn how to prepare for a tiny home. What size of tiny home are you hoping to have? A true tiny 399 sq ft or less, or more of a very small house that may be 400 - 550 square feet?

 

[Juan Chacho]

I'd be happy with either size, but to save money smaller might be better. I figure I could add an enclosed patio or a separate workshop if I ever needed. Smaller means less cleaning, which is nice. What about you?

 

[eDJ_]

I'm seeing a lot of these being set up as tiny homes. They are delivered on a Truck to the site.
A contractor with a back hoe & end loader could dig the hole for the cistern and set it up for you. There are water haulers who could fill the cistern to start it in use. The septic system similar where a tank and leach field would be set up.

In time you could drill a 2 inch water well. Again a contractor could dig a pit and lay up concrete blocks so an electric pump and well tank could be underground and away from freezing cold. (if you are where it freezes that cold) A generator could provide power when needed and by using low consumption electric/electronic devices the generator wouldn't have to be that large. The generator may need to be an electric starter type with remote switch so it could be started and run as needed from inside the tiny home. (and as always check the oil level in the generator often) Consider a propane fueled generator so a propane tank could provide fuel for the heating of the tiny home.

That's how I'd go about it. And it would be a whole lot less expensive than building a house.

 

[Juan Chacho]

I wonder how to find the right contractor. I don't know if all of them are experienced in septic or cistern installation and hookups.

 

[eDJ_]

To start you may want to visit places like Lowe's, Home Depot, or other lumber/building supply stores. There you will often see bulletin boards with business cards posted by contractors advertising themselves.

The setup for a tiny home would be a much simpler project than that of a house. You could speak with any of these people at the supply store when they have some free time. Setting up a tiny house would be an ez job when they are between contracts.

A polyethylene cistern tank like this 550 gallon one would cost around $700, 45 inches tall and 45 inches wide. 140 lbs. Would not take much to dig a hole for it.

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The septic tanks are a bit larger. This one is $380 and 125 gallon. 44.0 x 33.5 x 30.0 in.

The leach field uses black flexible plastic pipe with holes along the side to let water out. This is a simple layout.

The leach field for a tiny home wouldn't have to be too big if it were for one person and perhaps a visitor from time to time. Like a week end guest.


My guess is that a contractor may have a couple of boys doing most of the work. It isn't difficult. Mostly labor .

Septic Tank.

 

[Alan]

Thank you @eDJ_ for providing that information. That looks doable.

 

[Sarah]

Reading through posts like this and introductions too. Thanks for sharing.