Types of Septic Systems for Your Home

High-quality septic service in Cedar Rapids, Iowa requires you to fully understand the many options that you can utilize for your waste control. Thankfully, there are many choices that you can make in this situation. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so make sure that you read your selections carefully when making a choice. Thankfully, even a standard septic tank should provide enough help.

Septic Tank – A Standard Option

Most people with a septic system probably just get a septic tank. This system is one of the most popular on the market due to its low cost and ease of use. A large tank collects heavy solids and uses bacteria to break them apart before they are discharged to the drain field for further treatment.

The most significant advantage of a septic tank is their ease of use. Unlike other systems – that utilize a variety of elements to increase efficiency – you have to pump your tank once a year to get the most from it. This ease of use makes a septic tank one of the most popular septic service options available on the market.

Chamber System – More Expansive in Range

Chamber systems have become a reasonably popular option because of their unique benefits. Designed to replace or supplement traditional gravel systems, they utilize a myriad of possibilities, including open-bottom chambers, fabric-wrapped pipes, and more to synthesize waste. This helps to make them more efficient and easier to operate.

These systems operate by using a group of chambers that help to break apart waste using microbes, bacteria, and more. These systems allow you to utilize recycled materials and decrease your carbon footprint, but do require a pretty substantial area over which to operate. They also cost a bit more than gravel systems.

Aerobic Treatment Unit – Boosts System Effectiveness

Aerobic treatment units are designed to utilize the same methods used at most sewage treatment plants. This operational method means that a high intake of oxygen is used to increase bacterial action in a typical tank. Some units will utilize a variety of containers to further breakdown the waste inside the tank.

These systems are a great choice if you don’t have a large lot or if your soil is weak and cannot support many types of systems. However, you may expect a lot of maintenance for these units due to their need for regular oxygen intake and the complexity of their operational design.

Drip Distribution System – Decreases Soil Needs

People who want a reasonably small septic service demand or who don’t have a lot of space for mounds of soil may appreciate this option. It utilizes an effluent dispersal system that requires you to have only 6-12 inches of soil. As a result, they often decrease your soil needs and help minimize costs.

However, you will need a large dose tank installed after the septic tank to add the water necessary to ensure that these fields work correctly. And unlike other units, it needs regular electrical power. Unfortunately, this means that they may fail when your power goes out.

Mound Systems – Good for Certain Soils

The opposite of drip distribution systems in many ways, mounds require a large amount of space to operate correctly. These fields start by using a sand mound into which is built a drain field trench. The waste is then pumped through the sand mound and into the ground to produce a practical field.

Most homes that get these systems do so because they have shallow soil, high groundwater, or poor bedrock conditions. These situations make these septic options a good choice, though regular maintenance is typically a need when installing these fields in your home.

Evapotranspiration System – Creates a Watertight Situation

These septic service systems are relatively unique because they provide a watertight field that helps to minimize leakage and other issues. For example, the base of the drain field is carefully lined with these materials and packed tightly to make sure that the waste never gets into your soil or groundwater.

That makes these septic choices a good option if you have nearby water sources that you don’t want to contaminate. However, they can typically only be installed in areas with a good amount of heat and sunlight. And they usually don’t work well in areas with a lot of rain and snow.

Recirculating Sand Filter System – Provides Above-Ground Help

If for some reason you don’t have a lot of ground where you can install a system, this option is a good choice. A sand filter system can be installed above the ground and uses a PVC-lined box filled with sand to help filter your waste material efficiently and straightforwardly.

At this point, the waste is then pumped into a drain field or out into a city’s plumbing system. Typically, these options are the right choice if you want a high level of nutrients for your soil. However, you can expect to spend more money on these units due to their unique construction method.

Cluster System – A Large Community Option

Lastly, a cluster system provides a large community with septic service. Typically, this large unit collects wastewater from two or more buildings and takes it to a treatment system nearby. These systems are generally conventional in apartment complexes or subdivisions.

For a single home, however, they are not a suitable choice. You would need to talk to others in the area to see if they wanted to utilize the system and get their homes hooked up to it. If you do, however, you can share the costs in a way that helps to disperse a little investment for you.

Choosing the Best Option

As you can see, there are many choices that you can make when choosing a septic system. So if you need septic service in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and aren’t sure what kind of system you want for your home or business, please contact us at Brown Concrete & Backhoe to learn more.