Sarratt Septic

I have an old house on 3 acres of land.  The county did not take much time

exploring the property with me....

Additional information: I recently purchased an old home on 3 acres of land.

I am thinking about building a new home on the property.  The original

house has septic.  I had the county out to tell me options, but they did not

spend much time talking with me.  I got the

sense that there was only one location I could put the septic on the property

and that was that.

My answer: Yep.  Your experience is very common among homeowners and

land buyers.  You get different types of county employees and different

counties are run in different ways.  Some county employees are more

homeowner centric and some counties are more homeowner centric.

Honestly, given the money homeowners pay for a septic permit ($150-$400)

county employees could spend a little more time explaining things and

spending time with potential tax payers, but it is what it is.

I think this is also happening: If county employees spend time answering

questions, educating homeowners and examining multiple areas of the site

for drainfields--which is what homeowners want, the employees would be

out there for hours.  Supervisor to employee, "Don't open that can of worms!

Pick one location for the septic system and get out of there.  We don't have

all day!"

It is what it is.

Personally, I don't mind examining a site with you and giving you my

opinion.

No charge.

I like doing this and it is good for business.

So, unless you have a high water table, a large pond that takes up most of

the property or terrible soil--which is somewhat rare in XXXXXXXXXX

County, it is likely that you have 2-3 drainfields on that property and maybe

more.

To be upfront, I make no promises.  We septic installers don't

have magical soil psychic powers.

But, what I can do is point out the areas that county probably saw and didn't

tell you about.  And, you are welcome to pick my brain about my septic

knowledge.  On my business card I note, "Always happy to give free advice."

An option you may not have thought of is to move in to the house--if it is

livable, and start using the septic system which is there.  You don't have to

do anything to the septic system or get permission from the county to do

this.  Just turn the water on and poop!

If you want to add bedrooms to the house you will have to expand the septic

system, but this may be (maybe so or maybe not) cheaper than installing a

new system; it depends on what size septic system is in the ground.  With a

house that was built before 1975 you probably have a 750 gallon tank.

Currently a 900 gallon tank is required for a 3 bedroom home.  It is highly

likely that another bedroom will also require an expansion of the existing

drainfield.

Another option is to use the current septic system with a new home.  And

again, you will very, very likely need to expand the septic system.

Let me know if you would like me to walk the site with you.

Serving Western North Carolina

Charlotte & The Foothills

and the Inner & Outer Banks

Ph 828-447-5184

Email: tuckasegee@yahoo.com