Deciding whether to fully implement a sewer system from a local government, or put a septic tank system in at your home is not an easy decision. There are some good reasons to have a septic system at your home base, but it’s not all plain sailing.
To help you decide whether or not to get a septic tank system, here are some pros and cons to consider.
Pro – No More Sewer Utility Costs
The sewer drainage system is expensive to put in and maintain. To cover the costs of this, local authorities charge fees to homeowners. This represents one additional bill, along with others like HOA fees, gas, electricity, and more.
It’s possible to avoid having so many bills by using a roll off waste company to handle the septic side of things. Also, why not add solar panels to the roof too? It’ll stop you from needing to pay for electricity for most months as well. There is far more independence all round that way.
Con – A Need to Use Less Water to Avoid Problems
When taking a bath or a long shower, we don’t consider how much water is used. It’s gallons! Even doing things like continuing to run the faucet while brushing your teeth is extremely wasteful when you only need to wet the toothbrush first.
Too much water flow can cause some septic systems to struggle with the volume. It will be necessary to be less wasteful with water by using dishwasher economy modes, using a washing machine with a full load instead of a half one, and other conserving measures.
Pro – Better Care Needed with Waste Management
Not everyone in the household uses the toilet system how they should. Sometimes, they put items like a cigarette butt, cotton balls, excess liquids, and other items down the toilet expecting the plumbing to handle it. This can normally lead to the occasionally blocked drain and a backed-up toilet.
With a septic system, everyone in the household must adhere to strict guidelines about what can go down the toilet. Because the septic tank’s contents eventually get used to fertilize the soil, it doesn’t play well with any “extras” put down the toilet. By switching approaches, the toilets won’t get blocked up and the cost of an expensive plumber call-out is avoided too!
Cons – Broken Pipes
Pipes running from your house to the septic tank system can become broken. When the tank is off to the side in the backyard, then it’s easy for some gardening work to lead to a shovel hitting a pipe and causing it to break.
Positioning the drain field away from the main gardening area in the backyard is best to avoid this possibility. It doesn’t occur often, but it can be a real pain should it happen to you.
Whether or not you should get a septic tank system for your home depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. While the potential cost savings are attractive, the idea of being more off-grid and independent of the local authority also holds an attraction to some people.