How Can Property Renovations Affect Septic Pumping Needs?

Getting started on a renovation is exhilarating, but it’s all too easy to lose track of what such an endeavor means for the plumbing under the ground when you have a septic system at your place. From completing your basement to installing another toilet room or upgrading your backyard, any such venture would alter the load on your system and the maintenance frequency it needs. People looking to hire an expert septic pumping services in Chapel Hill tend to contact service providers only after their renovation efforts have led to a clog or backup in their septic tanks.

This article will cover the most frequent ways how renovation affects your septic system, what to look for beforehand and how to ensure that your septic system continues working perfectly even after the renovations are done.

Why Should Septic Systems Be Considered Before Renovations?

The capacity of a septic system will depend on the initial design and construction based on the size of the house, occupancy, and amount of water used. In case there is any alteration in any of these variables, you are altering the loading capacity of the system.

In case you alter any structure or make changes in terms of adding space, rooms, bathrooms, or new appliances, you might be increasing the number of wastewater entering the tank. This might cause the system to become overloaded unless it has been checked previously.

How Can a Home Addition Change Septic Pumping Needs?

When you increase the size of your house, particularly increasing the number of people living in the house or bedrooms in the house, you are contributing to the septic demand. Generally, septic tanks get sized based on the number of bedrooms because the number of bedrooms provides the estimate of occupancy.

The bigger the house, the more showers, laundry cycles, and dishwasher uses. Information about the necessity of septic tank maintenance for real estate deals may also prove helpful since now there is a trend of taking into account the septic tank capacity in accordance with the number of bedrooms in the house, especially if it has been recently expanded, and such a tank that was regularly pumped will be more valuable on the market.

If you add new bedrooms to your house, it will be wise to check with your septic tank installer whether the capacity of the tank will be sufficient. In some cases, the septic tank that was serving your house well before the expansion might need to be pumped more often or even replaced.

Can Adding a Bathroom Increase Septic Pumping Requirements?

Certainly, the installation of additional bathrooms will increase the amount of wastewater that is directed to your septic system. While even the installation of half a bathroom will add one extra fixture draining into the tank, the full bathroom complete with a shower or bathtub will add even more.

The more fixtures you have, the more likely you are to use them, thus increasing the volume of wastewater and solid waste delivered to your tank. In such cases, you may need to arrange pumpings much more frequently than before.

How Can Kitchen Renovations Affect a Septic System?

Kitchen remodeling can also lead to the introduction or improvement of certain features, which will alter the content going down your drain. Garbage disposal is certainly one such feature as it will add food particles straight into your tank, and not the bin, thus leading to faster buildup of solids in the tank.

If you install or upgrade to a larger dishwasher or a second sink, then the amount of water flowing into the system will be increased. In case you have a garbage disposal installed during the kitchen remodeling process, then it would be good to let your septic service provider know about it.

Can Landscaping and Outdoor Renovations Affect Septic Performance?

While outdoor projects may not necessarily impact a septic system differently than indoor ones, the effects can often be more physical than those involving the volume of water. The use of heavy machinery, building driveways or patios, or construction of retaining walls over or near the drain field area may result in the soil being compacted, making it difficult for the system to function properly.

Trees or shrubs with strong roots can also pose a problem if planted near the drain field or the septic tank, as their roots will find their way inside the tank and the pipes over time. It would be wise to check the location of your septic system prior to embarking on any landscaping plans.

Why Is Septic Tank Access Important During Property Renovations?

However, septic tanks must be kept open and accessible for pumping and inspection, and sometimes renovations may inadvertently interfere with this accessibility. Putting up a deck, shed, adding on to the driveway, or building a flowerbed on top of the tank or its access lid will make maintenance more difficult and costly in the future.

It is useful prior to the construction process to locate the tank itself, the access lid, and the drainfield in order for the contractor to work around them. Risers should be considered in cases where renovations will result in limited accessibility, since they lift the access point to ground level and make pumpings easier in the future.

What Should Homeowners Check Before Starting a Renovation?

Before beginning construction work, there are a couple of items worth verifying about your septic system so that no problems arise from the renovation work.

• Identify and label the location of the septic tank, lid, and drain field for your contractors.

• Find out the size and condition of the septic tank as well as its suitability for the number of additional bedrooms you have planned.

• Get information on how recently the system was pumped and inspected.

• Discuss new plumbing, appliances, and garbage disposal equipment with your septic company.

How Can Professional Septic Maintenance Support Renovation Projects?

A septic professional will be able to compare your existing septic system with your renovation plans and identify potential issues before they turn into costly fixes.

Bringing in a septic company at the design phase rather than after you've completed your renovations makes it possible to make adjustments while the contractors are still on site. It is much easier to ensure that access points are protected or moved during the construction phase than after the renovation project is completed.

What Are the Risks of Renovating Without Considering the Septic System?

Overlooking septic system considerations in the renovation process may result in a number of problems, both trivial and serious. The most frequent ones are the following:

• Slow draining or backups occurring immediately after the completion of the renovation, because of the heavier load.

• Damage to the drainfield caused by heavy machinery, buildings, or deep-rooted plantings.

• Blockage of the access points and their burial making the future pumping difficult and expensive.

• The system being too small for the current occupancy and thus causing many problems.

• Additional repair expenses, which might have been saved if an inspection had been done first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can adding a bedroom affect septic pumping needs?

Yes. Septic tanks are normally determined by the number of bedrooms, so the addition of bedrooms will lead to higher water usage at home and the increased frequency of tank pumping.

Does adding a bathroom increase septic system demand? 

Yes. The addition of each bathroom will add fixtures that increase water and waste flow to the septic tank.

Can landscaping damage a septic drainfield?

 Yes. Heavy machinery, hardscaping, and trees with invasive roots planted close to the drainfield can have an adverse effect on its treatment process.

Should a septic system be inspected before a home renovation? 

Yes. An inspection prior to renovation will ensure that the size, state, and entry points of the tank are suitable for the intended renovation.

Can renovations change septic pumping frequency? 

Yes. The more occupants, bathrooms, or garbage disposal units there are, the faster the tank gets filled; hence, the shorter time between pumping intervals.

Conclusion

Home renovations can be an excellent opportunity to increase the value and comfort of your home; however, it is important to recognize that renovations may alter the requirements of your septic system, which was originally sized under other conditions. Investing the effort in finding out where your tank and drainfield are located, reviewing your pumping records, and consulting with a professional will save you from potential delays, clogs, and repairs. Working with a group like Septic Blue of Raleigh when you first begin planning the project will help your septic system function efficiently for many years to come.