DIY Septic System Guide: Save Money and Do It Right

Want to save thousands on a septic system? Do it yourself! Many folks in rural areas handle this job alone. With some digging skills and this guide, you can too.

Why Build Your Own Septic System?

Money talks. A pro septic install costs $5,000 to $15,000. DIY can cut that in half.

You also control the whole job. No waiting for busy contractors. No wondering if they cut corners. You see every pipe and connection.

First Steps: Check the Rules

Call your county health office first! They might need to:

• Approve your land for a septic system
• Issue permits before you dig
• Check your work when done
• Test your soil type

Where to Put Your Septic System

Your septic tank needs space. Don’t put it near your well – keep at least 50 feet away, maybe 100 depending on local rules. Stay clear of streams and ponds too. Avoid your house foundation or you’ll regret it later. Trees with big roots? They’ll crack your tank over time. And never put it where cars drive.

Find a spot that’s higher than the rest of your yard. Water runs downhill, and you don’t want a flooded septic system when it rains. Good drainage saves headaches later.

Shopping List for DIY Septic

Hit the building supply store for your septic project. You’ll need a septic tank – concrete ones last longer but plastic ones are easier to move around by yourself. Grab several tons of gravel while you’re there. Get drain pipes with holes for the leach field and regular solid pipes to connect your house to the tank.

Don’t forget filter fabric. It keeps dirt from clogging up your system. You’ll probably want to rent a backhoe unless you love digging by hand. Pick up a good shovel, level, and measuring tape too.

Some folks prefer concrete tanks because they stay put better. Others like plastic because they’re lighter to handle. Your soil type might help you decide.

Digging the Hole

The big day! Time to dig.

Dig the tank hole at least a foot bigger than the tank on all sides. Make sure it’s deep enough that the tank’s top sits below freeze depth but not too deep that pumpouts get hard.

Make the hole flat on the bottom. Use sand or gravel to level it out.

Setting the Tank

Lower the tank in slowly. Many DIYers use pipes as rollers to slide the tank in place.

Check that it’s level from all sides. This matters a lot!

Hook up the pipe from your house to the tank’s inlet. Use the right slope – about 1/4 inch drop for each foot of pipe. Too flat means clogs. Too steep means solids get left behind.

Building the Drain Field

This is where the real work begins.

Dig trenches for your drain field. Most home systems need 100-300 feet of trench total. Make them about 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep.

Put 6 inches of gravel in the trench bottom. Lay perforated pipe on top. Make sure the holes in the pipe point down, not up. This surprises some folks, but it works better that way. Cover the pipes with more gravel until you’ve got about 2 inches over top of them.

Lay the filter fabric over all that gravel. It stops dirt from washing down and clogging things up. Then shovel all that dirt back in.

Testing Your New System

Don’t bury everything until you know it works right. Run water through the whole system first. Watch for leaks at the connections. Make sure water flows the way it should. Check nothing is shifting or sinking when wet.

After you see everything working, finish covering it all up. Throw some grass seed on top to keep the dirt from washing away when it rains.

Taking Care of Your DIY Septic

Even homemade septic systems need some love. Call the pump truck every 3-5 years to clean out the tank. Never drive your car over any part of the system – not the tank, not the drain field. Keep trees and their roots away from your drain field. And pay attention to what you flush down there.

Truth About DIY Septic Work

Let’s be honest – building your own septic system isn’t easy. You’ll dig until your back hurts. Your hands will get blisters. The trenches might cave in and you’ll swear a lot.

But man, saving five or ten thousand dollars feels pretty good. And knowing exactly how your system works means you can fix problems yourself later.

If you hate digging or your soil is full of rocks, you might want to hire the pros. No shame in that.

But if you’re handy and don’t mind getting dirty, a DIY septic system makes dollars and sense.

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