septic system
You might want to check with your tank providers too. If you can get a truck to it then they might pull it out and take it away for you(for a charge of course). I did a couple of those when I delivered, just dig around the tank and make sure there is plenty of room to work around it. They'll also have the proper lifting devices too. Your buddy is right it will be cheaper if you do your own digging as long as you pay attention to your grades. As for permits and such I'd just go to the town offices and talk to the person in charge of that kinda work. A lot of places don't care who puts it in as long as a engineer will sign off on it, and that's where the cost will be is getting a engineer to design a system for you and then just follow the specs that they give you. As for machine size unless you get a two piece tank anything smaller then a 315 cat or equivalent is dangerous if you aren't experienced. A low profile or heavy duty tank can run right around 12,000. A standard seamless 1,000 is around 10,000 or so. Then you've got the lifting equipment and the height to make the pick.
Ive been doing septic system installations and repairs for almosr 15 years. I agree with most of the info here ESPECIALLY GET SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR YOU. I have tried twice to remove a tank, that was just 6 months old (different jobs) first came out with a lot of digging, the suction on the bottom was great, it took almost 4 hrs to get it out, the tank truck lifted it.
Second, we hooked the tank truck to it again and messed with it forever and when, it came out, it was in pieces. I never again messed with removing tanks, until I crushed them. The cost factor is too great, compared to the cost of the tank. I talked to my friends that are in the business and everyone of them said, dont try to remove the tanks, not worth it. If the permit calls to replace the tank, we do like others stated, crush it and fill it and dig a hole close to it and set it to the elevation required to the house plumbing. The tank supplier, will set the tank, then comes the drain field, HUMMMM
First time HUMMMMM
I was luckly when I stated and had a guy that worked for me, had 5 years experience and he taught me the ins and outs
Laser level, did I say laser level, yep, laser level
Most trenches are 3ft (some 2ft, some 18") 3ft trenches are best dug, with a 3ft bucket, it can be dug with anything smaller, but a pain. If its a rock system, have you got a sled to install the pipe and rock? Im hoping you are not going to say batter boards.
If you just happen to install the system and it fails to pass inspection (lets say there is no more room to install a system, then more than likely the property could be condemned) could happen. You cant dig a system up, fill it in and start over, its a soil thingee (in my area anyway)
OK, I could write forever, but save yourself a bunch of headaches, money, etc and get someone to install it for you. There is not that much profit it this, for you to rent all this stuff and try to do it yourself. The way we make money is
we own our own backhoe
we own our dump trucks, to haul rock for the system
we have the experience and can install it pretty fast
I dont know what kind of system, they are making you install, but in my area
(mostly sandy soil) a 1000 gal tank, Distribution box and piping, 3- 75ft lines, at least 18" deep, crush and fill old tank, the cost is about $3200.
This would take me about 8-10 hours to do, in best conditions.
Without putting a sharp pencil, to this, Im guessing the final profit would be around $500-$700 Final question, can you rent a machine, worry about the system not passing, hiring help, hire dump trucks, buy rock, buy supplies, etc.
for this amount of money. Its not a good gamble and Im not a installer that cares whether a homeowner installs his own system. But you asks the question and this is our replies
Good luck and sorry for the long answer
