Must homeowners move out while their new septic systems move in?

We'd like to share some insights with you about residential construction that might help you serve your clients better. Our plan is to send you one suggestion each month, based on knowledge we've gained from building and renovating upscale homes in New England. These suggestions are intended for architects only. We hope you find them valuable. If you have comments or questions, please send them to me and I'll do my best to answer right away.

The Perk test season is behind us and many homeowners are now armed with the information they need to design and install upgraded septic systems to meet Title V requirements. Recently, during an occupied renovation, we installed an upgraded septic system, located in the same place as the existing septic system had been.

Conventional wisdom suggested the family should move out of their home for at least 2 weeks, while the old system was removed and the new system installed. But was that really necessary? With a little creative thinking we came up with an alternative approach that allowed the family to remain in their home throughout the installation, with minimal disruption.

Here's how we did it: First, we pumped out the old tank. Next, we removed the old leaching field and installed the new field, before the level of the tank reached the distribution box to the leaching field. Then, we pumped the tank dry again. Finally, we removed the old tank and installed the new tank, connecting it to the new leaching field in just one day.

This alternative approach saved the family money and the aggravation of moving out of their home.

Next month, we'll be sharing another summer-related building tip.

Jeff Sulkin
President
BayPoint Builders

If you have comments or questions about our monthly tips, please send those directly to me by clicking here or by calling me at 617-614-0595.