should we do our own septic system?

[Erin]

the only "local" contractor (that is, within 50 miles) wants about $5K to put in our septic ( )
It's fairly straight forward; sandy loam soil, a nice fall to the leach field and a chamber system.  I think he knows he's the only act in town, personally...

So DH and I are looking at just doing it ourselves.  We have several friends and neighbors with backhoes that we could borrow, and we think we're smart enough to be able to follow directions in a set of regs.
Is this something that we can DIY or is the septic system something that should be off-limits unless you're a pro?

[NM_Shooter]

You can do it... the placement of the tank is the physically hard part.  Go with a fiberglass or plastic tank.  Use the EZ Flow stuff for your field.... no gravel required.  I don't like the idea of infiltrators for sandy areas, but they may be fine for you.  Remember to put an effluent filter in. 

[John_M]

We just had someone put in a septic system for us....$8400 and it was by far the lowest bid!  I would do backflips if we had a bid of $5000.  Doesn't seem too far off the going rate.

Look at their costs with materials, labor, gas, equipment.  I tend not to be a risk taker....so I would hate to "borrow" someone's back hoe and then have something go wrong on it.....now all of a sudden it is your responsibility to fix...yada yada yada!

It could wind up costing a lot more in the long run!  I know it's not likely, but usually what can go wrong for me when working by myself does!!  

We are in Western New York so we have a lot of regulations that needed to be met....maybe you have less to worry about where you are?

What ever you decide...good luck!!

[325ABN]

I have bids from $9500 - $12500 for a presby system in NH. I have thought about doing it myself and have even taken the install course from the MFG and here in NH homeowners may install thier own. The guy with the lowest bid is the same guy who already put my road in. I priced out all of the materiel and he is not marking anything up and his labor is about $3000 just about what it would cost me to rent an excavator for a month.

[cmsilvay]

Gravity septic systems are pretty basic the tank is the hardest part. The question is does the state DEP allow you to install it your self. Even if they do you will need an inspection most likely so make sure you speak with the inspector and find out exactly what he/she wants and go a bit above and beyond. I would fiqure costs carefully by the time you by all the materails the price might not be so bad .

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Do you need a septic system?  How many people are we talking about and is it full or part time?  Many alternatives exist for PT use that will be easier on your pocketbook.

[glenn kangiser]

Many times there are tank companies that will bring a concrete tank to your site and set it in your hole dug to their specs with their crane.  Around here in the boonies it is around $1200 for a 1500 gallon tank I think.

[rwanders]

You should consider that most banks will require a "certified" septic system before they will finance property---that may not be important to you until you want to sell the property sometime in the future----they also usually want a well log from the driller. Check with your county or state agency for who/how your system can be certified----usually requires stamped plans, perc tests and installation by registered septic system contractors or engineers----be sure and keep all the resulting paperwork for future use.

[Erin]

Oh yeah, it has to be certified no matter who installs it.  That's the only code requirements we have in my county, actually.  No matter what, I'll have to have the system inspected and approved.  

But that doesn't mean I have use a pro.  The folks at the Environmental Protection Program were quite clear on that.
And yes, we need a septic system.  This is for our house.  Two adult and two elem. aged kids.

[rick91351]

Wow for $5000 I would jump right on that unless you have a backhoe or can borrow one or you borrow for work in trade or something like that.  I have put in a couple and certainly can only answer for here in my state.  You start costing it all out and the permit and tank and pipes and domes and rentals and time you spend.  Cost out your time as well.  The guy that puts them in every day runs his machine all the time and makes it look easy.  If you never ran a backhoe before figure quite a few hours more rental.  Figure in those head scratching moments where it becomes quite apparent I am lost what do I do now.  I know I will call the inspector.      

Here when in my states when your system passes inspection.  Which has to be done by State Health Department you have a certified system.  They also are ones that pass your perk tests and they design or engineer it for you.  They most likely will want to review your house plans.  They tell you how big a tank, how many feet of drain field and they also tell you what type.  When they sign it off it is all measured and documented and becomes public record.  If the one I put in ten years ago as the owner and installer fails they can pull it right up.  They call tell the now owner where it all measures to and from how many gallon tank and when the drain field is located.

Here for the most part they are really great to work with as an owner installer.  As has also been mentioned however in several of these topics, here if you choose to do it yourself you are just that.  You are the installer and you have to do all the work.  You can not go get a permit and farm it all out.  You have to work with the inspector.  You have to dig the hole, have the tank delivered and set, as Glenn mentioned they do this with a special truck.  You have to fine grade the drain field, the set the lines and and infuser domes if you can use them.  Pass final and back fill.  Not hard but is a lot of work.  

My experience with Idaho Health Departments - they really shy away from the plastic or fiberglass tanks.  It was explained to me they have had several collapses or they loose shape thus loose efficiency.  If a tank fails it almost turns into a instant haz-mat spill                

[Erin]

All they want to know is how many bedrooms.  Don't need to see the houseplans.  
And DH has spent many hours in a back hoe, so I'm not worried about that aspect, either.  It's definitely one of those "knack" things, but it's sure not rocket-science.  There's a reason we have several friends and neighbors who have them, afterall...

[rick91351]

For me I would set down and just crunch the numbers and see where you are.  Verify a back hoe is available.  Last one I put in for myself ran a little over $4000 or right there.  I was on a couple weeks vacation.  So my own labor cost was cheap.  If I have to miss work I can not justify doing it myself for $5000.   

Last I heard the tanks here are down but the state wants more for permits.  Domes are about the same as is pipe.  That is governed by the oil industry.  As far as plans that is all they wanted from ours was to see how many bed rooms.  But they did ask the first one I did.  It was not a whole septic system but replaced the drain field.  Again the basic question how many  bed rooms?  And they explain very clearly if you are doing this yourself that is what is means.  Of course if a buddy or the neighbor happened to show up.....