Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: mopars4ever]
#2935220
06/21/21 09:11 AM
06/21/21 09:11 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 712 New Jersey
Dartforforty
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 712
New Jersey
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Best way to inhibit bacteria growth is to flush a couple cubes of yeast down the toilet every two to three months. Helps keep the bacteria thriving = hungry little buggers break down the solids
Last edited by Dartforforty; 06/21/21 09:12 AM.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: Dartforforty]
#2935301
06/21/21 01:52 PM
06/21/21 01:52 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,450 Michigan
oldjonny
Don't argue with me.
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Don't argue with me.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,450
Michigan
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Best way to inhibit bacteria growth is to flush a couple cubes of yeast down the toilet every two to three months. Helps keep the bacteria thriving = hungry little buggers break down the solids Yum...."solids". Either that or don't ever, ever 'poo' when at the cottage. Go to the neighbors.
Never, ever argue with an IDIOT. They will drag you to their level and then beat you with their years of experience
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: oldjonny]
#2935306
06/21/21 02:11 PM
06/21/21 02:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,405 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,405
north of coder
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since i'm just an old "city wimp", i can't offer any advice about service of your septic tank. however, from growing up in a house with one, i can offer this : make sure it is well marked ! one, so you don't have to dig up the whole back 40 to find it when it needs pumped. and two, so you don't drive over it with heavy stuff, like tractors. i remember these things happening during my "yout", and learning cool bad words from my dad, uncles, and grandpa.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: moparx]
#2935417
06/21/21 08:45 PM
06/21/21 08:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,425 Warren, MI
71TA
OP
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OP
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Warren, MI
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since i'm just an old "city wimp", i can't offer any advice about service of your septic tank. however, from growing up in a house with one, i can offer this : make sure it is well marked ! one, so you don't have to dig up the whole back 40 to find it when it needs pumped. and two, so you don't drive over it with heavy stuff, like tractors. i remember these things happening during my "yout", and learning cool bad words from my dad, uncles, and grandpa. Funny chit
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 340SIX]
#2935418
06/21/21 08:46 PM
06/21/21 08:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,425 Warren, MI
71TA
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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Warren, MI
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Have the seller present you with an inspection by a pro who deals in them prior to sale. You do not want to find out afterward that it has problems. I have worked on many jobs-renovations where they have had to have them replaced or pipes that go to it. As sellers did not disclose things and no one inspected things. So new owners ended up having to do a lot. And have it pumped out as well so you get a fresh start. Sounds like good advice. Thanks!
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2935535
06/22/21 08:22 AM
06/22/21 08:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,332 Addison Twp, Mi.
RobG
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Posts: 2,332
Addison Twp, Mi.
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Many counties in Michigan require a health department inspection of both the septic tank and your water well prior to the sale of a home.
The number of occupants will determine how long you must go between pumps. As stated up top, have the tank lid clearly marked aw well as where your field is laid out. What type of vegetation or soil are you in? And . . . given it is a cottage in Michigan - is this a 1930's cabin septic - just 1 or 2 - 50 gallon drums buried out back or is is a professionally engineered system (re: Health Department Inspection) . Many older cabins do not meet current specifications and local county governments are demanding upgrades when new owners take possession. If this is the case, you may be required to dish out $10k to $20K for a new poo pot!
Some folks I know have flushed eco-friendly dye into the toilet and came back to the house the next day only to see it leaching out near the water line - not good!
I am not rich...but I get off my ass everyday to make sure I am not broke!
Can we get the Mexican cartels to help us with our supply chain issues? They don't seem to have any trouble getting stuff from one place to another.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: RobG]
#2935551
06/22/21 08:57 AM
06/22/21 08:57 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,810 Sobieski Wi
bee1971
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,810
Sobieski Wi
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Wisconsin Counties require every three years
I have a 1,500 gallon conventional with a drainage field out back - Basically a two acre sand box in WI
I pull the cement cover for the pumper , we clean the filter , and he pumps away complaining every time on how much toilet paper we use
I blame the wife of course
$150.00 every three years for inspection and pumping - Price has almost doubled in twenty years , just like everything else
And trust me , they will fine you if it’s not inspected , pumped and paperwork sent in to the county
So far so great , going on twenty five years since the house was built
1971 Dodge Charger Superbee 2011 Ram Sport 1500 Quad Cab Deep Water Blue Loaded Siberian Huskies
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: bee1971]
#2935641
06/22/21 01:53 PM
06/22/21 01:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,415 Connecticut
Ron_M
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Connecticut
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LOL. It's not like a discount is applied (or given) whether or not the amount of solids in the tank. It's a flat fee here in Connecticut. If I'm paying... they're pumping!
Common sense is a flower that does not grow in everybody's garden
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: bee1971]
#2935650
06/22/21 02:15 PM
06/22/21 02:15 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,450 Michigan
oldjonny
Don't argue with me.
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Don't argue with me.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,450
Michigan
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Wisconsin Counties require every three years
I have a 1,500 gallon conventional with a drainage field out back - Basically a two acre sand box in WI
I pull the cement cover for the pumper , we clean the filter , and he pumps away complaining every time on how much toilet paper we use
I blame the wife of course
$150.00 every three years for inspection and pumping - Price has almost doubled in twenty years , just like everything else
And trust me , they will fine you if it’s not inspected , pumped and paperwork sent in to the county
So far so great , going on twenty five years since the house was built Wow...really? $150? Last time I had mine pumped it was well over $300.
Never, ever argue with an IDIOT. They will drag you to their level and then beat you with their years of experience
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: oldjonny]
#2935653
06/22/21 02:29 PM
06/22/21 02:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,663 South Lyon, MI.48178
kwhmopar1
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Posts: 1,663
South Lyon, MI.48178
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Wow...really? $150? Last time I had mine pumped it was well over $300. $350 here last fall. Did it before winter.
Junk is something you throw away just before you need it.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: kwhmopar1]
#2935690
06/22/21 03:56 PM
06/22/21 03:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,076 Berlin, N.J.
abodyjoe
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Berlin, N.J.
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before you spend a dollar buying that house have the septic inspected buy a top notch company.. one that will send cameras down there.. chances are at 20 years old its going to fail... can cost big money to fix.. 15 years ago it cost 11k to put in a new leach field at our place.. had the seller put that money in escrow for use to have it done..
Last edited by abodyjoe; 06/25/21 07:52 AM.
It's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. www.MoparMisfits.com
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: oldjonny]
#2935744
06/22/21 05:58 PM
06/22/21 05:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,945 WI
Dcuda69
master
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master
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Posts: 4,945
WI
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Wisconsin Counties require every three years
I have a 1,500 gallon conventional with a drainage field out back - Basically a two acre sand box in WI
I pull the cement cover for the pumper , we clean the filter , and he pumps away complaining every time on how much toilet paper we use
I blame the wife of course
$150.00 every three years for inspection and pumping - Price has almost doubled in twenty years , just like everything else
And trust me , they will fine you if it’s not inspected , pumped and paperwork sent in to the county
So far so great , going on twenty five years since the house was built Wow...really? $150? Last time I had mine pumped it was well over $300. Yep....had mine done last year..$150 and yep...WI needs to see paperwork from a licensed pumper that it was done and inspected every couple years.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: abodyjoe]
#2935747
06/22/21 05:59 PM
06/22/21 05:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,945 WI
Dcuda69
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,945
WI
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before you spend a dollar buying that house have the septic inspected buy a top notch company.. one that will send cameras down there.. chances are at 20 years old its going to fail... can cost big money to fix.. 15 years ago it cost 11k to out in a new leach field at our place.. had the seller put that money in escrow for use to have it done.. Mine's 32+ years old....zero issues
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2935752
06/22/21 06:10 PM
06/22/21 06:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,663 South Lyon, MI.48178
kwhmopar1
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Posts: 1,663
South Lyon, MI.48178
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If you can afford that place, I think you can afford any septic issues that may come your way. Good luck
Junk is something you throw away just before you need it.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: Dcuda69]
#2935768
06/22/21 06:51 PM
06/22/21 06:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,425 Warren, MI
71TA
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
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Warren, MI
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before you spend a dollar buying that house have the septic inspected buy a top notch company.. one that will send cameras down there.. chances are at 20 years old its going to fail... can cost big money to fix.. 15 years ago it cost 11k to out in a new leach field at our place.. had the seller put that money in escrow for use to have it done.. Mine's 32+ years old....zero issues Thats the next question I guess; how long DO they last? I'm hoping a LONG time.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2935813
06/22/21 09:12 PM
06/22/21 09:12 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,344 Cincinnati, OH
6T6Cuda
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Posts: 2,344
Cincinnati, OH
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(I am no expert), but there are a few types of systems and you should figure out what type you have. The biggest difference is the aerobic and anaerobic (random article I have not read, but do some research: https://septictankpro.com/difference-between-aerobic-and-anaerobic-septic-systems/), they operate differently and have very different complexities and maintenance requirements. I have a "jet" system with a stirrer and an air pump - both those require maintenance, electric and will need to be replaced at some point in time. But I don't have leach lines as the effluent runs into the flowing creak on my property. "they" say you can drink the water coming out, but not sure if i'd try... Depending upon the age and design, they are supper simple just three tanks (around here) not much to go wrong as long as the tanks hold up - but the concrete ones can crack (usually roots or perhaps freezing), and the plastic ones have been known to "float up" although I have never seen or personally heard of it. but there is not much that "can go wrong" it is just a tank. Now the leach lines that is a totally different story - if you have them (I don't), they can get crushed, over saturated, filled up with solids, etc... so that is where I think I would focus my energy on. Plus being on a lake, be careful about the water table, that might be a MAJOR factor in the requirements and what you can "run" - they don't want "it" to filter into the water too fast and having a high water table means it will get into the water faster...
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: Dcuda69]
#2936616
06/25/21 07:54 AM
06/25/21 07:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,076 Berlin, N.J.
abodyjoe
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,076
Berlin, N.J.
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before you spend a dollar buying that house have the septic inspected buy a top notch company.. one that will send cameras down there.. chances are at 20 years old its going to fail... can cost big money to fix.. 15 years ago it cost 11k to out in a new leach field at our place.. had the seller put that money in escrow for use to have it done.. Mine's 32+ years old....zero issues doesn't mean it will pass an inspection when selling though.
It's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. www.MoparMisfits.com
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: abodyjoe]
#2936666
06/25/21 11:35 AM
06/25/21 11:35 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,945 WI
Dcuda69
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,945
WI
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before you spend a dollar buying that house have the septic inspected buy a top notch company.. one that will send cameras down there.. chances are at 20 years old its going to fail... can cost big money to fix.. 15 years ago it cost 11k to out in a new leach field at our place.. had the seller put that money in escrow for use to have it done.. Mine's 32+ years old....zero issues doesn't mean it will pass an inspection when selling though. Maybe.....but it was pumped/ inspected by a licensed firm last year.......all good.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2936861
06/26/21 07:23 AM
06/26/21 07:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,327 Toronto (YYZ) Ontario
YYZ
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,327
Toronto (YYZ) Ontario
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Thats the next question I guess; how long DO they last? I'm hoping a LONG time.
As long as it's not totally abused, they can last a very long time. The one at my in-law's cottage was installed in 1981 and still seems to operate without issue. A lot of my own extended family are farmers and/or live in the country and AFAIK none have had any issues of significance. Pretty sure that the one at my grandparents' old place is still the original one from 1958. As others have pointed out, you can't use the septic system as a general garbage disposal and expect no problems. i.e. don't flush any paper that's not toilet paper, don't flush hair, don't flush tons of harsh chemicals (i.e. bleach or lye), don't use the toilet blue dye stuff etc. Based on how you've described the rest of the place, the prior maintenance and the photo you've shown, I think that the odds are in your favour. More importantly, you deserve to have and enjoy a nice place like that -- you've more than paid your dues.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: YYZ]
#2943632
07/15/21 06:15 PM
07/15/21 06:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,425 Warren, MI
71TA
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OP
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Warren, MI
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WHEW. that was a gigantic learning curve.
So I paid for an inspector. He said the county had no records of any septic replacement on this 20yo house so that meant everything was the original SIXTY YEAR OLD SYSTEM. I called the owner out on it. They told me they contacted the original owner, the people they bought it from, and he confirmed that it was never replaced. So he spent cubic dollars on the house but never replaced the septic that was meant to support a cottage not 3500sqft!?!?
Now I was very skeptical. The owner, to ease my nerves, gives me an inspection another buyer that backed out had done. The first paragraph says "MAJOR PROBLEM - TANK OVERFLOWING". The owner tells me, "yep, we had it pumped". So pumping was basically a coverup of a failing or failed system. Shocked they showed that to me?!?!
I contacted the local goto septic guy expert. He said on this high water table island everyone will eventually have issues and they are all installing mounded systems. Just what it sounds like. A mound of dirt for the leach field to be able to drain into. To replace everything, $25,000 PLUS 2 huge trees have to come down. The trees border the septic field and are probably already causing big problems.
I tried to get them to eat the septic cost and I would take the trees down which is probably $5000+. They are playing hard ball and said NO.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2943654
07/15/21 07:05 PM
07/15/21 07:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,270 Morrow, OH
markz528
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master
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Posts: 4,270
Morrow, OH
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I'm under contract to buy a house. 5 acres built in 1996. Lots of outbuildings. Other than the original house and 1996 septic, no permits. Last few days were spent working on that. but think we are good. Original septic permit is a little difficult to decipher, but where it looks like the septic permit shows the tank and start of the leach field sits the pool. No permit to put the pool in and no permit to move the septic............
Some people..........
67 Coronet 500 9.610 @ 139.20 mph 67 Coronet 500 (street car) 14.82 @ 94 mph 69 GTX (clone) - build in progress......
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2943673
07/15/21 07:50 PM
07/15/21 07:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,332 Addison Twp, Mi.
RobG
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,332
Addison Twp, Mi.
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Your $25000 estimate is way to low. Add another $10k for an engineered system BASED ON TODAYS PRICES!
What did the county Health Department say? What are the local township building requirements for the septic field.
And...if it is bad already...have the drinking water tested.
I am not rich...but I get off my ass everyday to make sure I am not broke!
Can we get the Mexican cartels to help us with our supply chain issues? They don't seem to have any trouble getting stuff from one place to another.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: markz528]
#2943677
07/15/21 07:52 PM
07/15/21 07:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt.
HotRodDave
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,419
Kalispell Mt.
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My cousins family bought a house, passed it down a couple times and after 30 years being in the family the septic backed up, they decided to replace it, when they dug up the old one that had been there at least 30 years the only thing there was a pipe dumping into an upside down pickup bed.
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: HotRodDave]
#2943763
07/15/21 10:21 PM
07/15/21 10:21 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 954 garnett kansas
rhad
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 954
garnett kansas
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about 15 yrs ago i was at a place in texas called lake of the pines,they couldnt use lateral lines because someone somewhere was using the lake water for drinking,so this guy had a septic that had a lawn sprinkler system made with it,he had to put i think he said clorine in the tank every so often and the sprinkler worked automatically when the level got so high,the water that came out of the sprinkler was pretty clean and clear,nothing drained into the lake,his grass growed good
my ladder of success is missing some rungs
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: AndyF]
#2945699
07/21/21 04:39 PM
07/21/21 04:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,425 Warren, MI
71TA
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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Warren, MI
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Septic systems that close to the water is going to be a problem. I have a brother in law who just went thru that hassle with a house on an island. They had to put in some sort of above ground sand filter system. I Googled the HELL outta all the options. Saw the Sand Filter one. This Old House actually installed one. Looked like a mini waste water treatment plant and from what I read is a service nightmare. One option that looked interesting is a LARGE incinerator. Sucks the black water out based on a float and incinerates - steam for the water and ash for the little waste. Bad thing is it needs a building that looked to be like a 1 car garage, costs an estimated $300/mth in utilities and what's the lifespan, 20 years maybe? Bad thing is I would have NO extra room for a one car garage on this 50 x 250 lot. Sellers, once we called them out on the 60yo septic "that they didn't know about" (right!), said they are replacing the whole system if I'm still interested. No extra cost. Told them I was interested but want to see all the paperwork, permits, etc on the new septic. Crickets so far.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2945892
07/22/21 03:05 AM
07/22/21 03:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,596 Shopping @ HoBo Fright
340SIX
Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
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Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,596
Shopping @ HoBo Fright
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Sellers, once we called them out on the 60yo septic "that they didn't know about" (right!), said they are replacing the whole system if I'm still interested. No extra cost. Told them I was interested but want to see all the paperwork, permits, etc on the new septic. Crickets so far. With this dishonesty I would want pictures as well.
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: 71TA]
#2945940
07/22/21 09:42 AM
07/22/21 09:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,844 S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,844
S.E. Michigan
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Hey Jim. 60YO is really pushing it. Usually by that time something has damaged it but may or may not have been identified.
If it is overflowing like the inspection said, the drain field is probably plugged up similar to what happened to the place I did most of my growing up. Lakefront in Oakland County. Family moved into it in the early '70s and by the late '90s the drain field was plugged up for whatever reason, most likely roots and/or vehicle damage, which then caused the tank to overflow (common problem). The tank itself was still okay but the whole septic field was replaced.
Of course, the entire street-facing yard had to be destroyed to replace it and it cost my parents a pile of money.
I'm pretty happy to have municipal water and sewer at my place.
Much as I might miss the lakefront scenery like I grew up with, I don't miss the constant, difficult property maintenance, power going out all the time because it's one of the oldest/first populated places in the area because of the lake/the grid is old garbage from around 1950... plenty of trees to take out wires, wonderful iron content in the well water, water softener maintenance to get around the well water issue, no water when the power goes out, and on and on. The property taxes are insane/whole other topic.
Haven't lived there in many years but it's still part of the family estate, and I am getting really tired of maintenance costs/time spent managing it. The time suck is one of many reasons I haven't had much to say on Moparts anytime lately....... Signed recently to replace the roof. 13 grand. Ugh. It's an appreciating money pit.
Good luck with your decision, sure is a nice looking place.
Rich H.
Esse Quam Videri
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Re: Septic tank on lake house questions
[Re: AndyF]
#2946653
07/24/21 02:46 PM
07/24/21 02:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,332 Addison Twp, Mi.
RobG
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,332
Addison Twp, Mi.
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Reducing the price of the house and taking care of it yourself is the best approach. The sellers have zero incentive to have the job done correctly since they aren't going to live there anymore so odds are that you would end up with a low quality job. This way you can hire a good contractor and make sure the job is done correctly so it will be trouble free for the next 30 or 40 years. 100% Agree!
I am not rich...but I get off my ass everyday to make sure I am not broke!
Can we get the Mexican cartels to help us with our supply chain issues? They don't seem to have any trouble getting stuff from one place to another.
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