There's a lot that goes into a septic system installation. If you're putting in one for the first time when you're building your house, you may have more choices when it comes to installation. If you're replacing an old system on a developed lot, your choices may be limited because of buildings and mature trees on the lot. Either way, you'll need to get a permit and inspection from the city to make sure your septic system goes in an approved location. Here are some things to know. 

Your Septic System Needs Good Drainage 

Rainwater should roll away from your septic system or the drainfield could become too saturated. If your system is located on the bottom of a hill, drainage could be an ongoing issue that causes constant problems with your tank backing up and drains that won't empty. Those problems can be avoided by placing the system at a higher elevation or installing drainage so the drainfield and tank area don't flood when it rains.

You May Need A Survey To Find Boundaries

Local codes regulate how close your septic system can be to your property lines, house, and water well. If you have a small lot, you may need a survey to ensure you don't get the system too close to a boundary line. Keeping the tank away from your water well and house is important for safety reasons. You don't want your water and home to get contaminated if the tank leaks.

The Drainfield Soil Needs To Be Absorbent

It's good to place the drainfield where the soil drains well. For instance, sand drains better than clay. However, you're likely to have the same type of soil all over your property. If your property is on clay soil, the septic system installation contractor may need to make adjustments by adding an aerobic treatment unit or creating an above-ground sand mound that filters the wastewater.

Your installation contractor considers the nature of your soil and determines the best way to make the drainfield work, and that could affect where the field is placed in your yard.

You'll Want To Mark Where The System Is Buried

You'll probably have your septic tank pumped out every few years. By the time the tank is ready to be cleaned, grass may cover the entire field and tank. That doesn't hurt anything, but it makes it difficult to find the tank lid so the tank can be emptied. Your septic system installation contractor can put a riser near the lid or mark it in some way so your septic system is always easy to find.

Knowing where the tank, pipes, and drainfield are located also helps you keep from driving over the system or building a shed on it that could cause damage and lead to the need for septic repairs.

Contact a local septic service to learn more about septic system installation.