There are a handful of reasons you may end up with an abandoned septic tank on your property. For example, you may have recently purchased a new home with an abandoned septic tank, or maybe you installed a new tank somewhere else on the property. Whatever the reason, an abandoned septic tank isn’t something you can ignore. In some cases, abandoned septic systems can cause significant health and safety concerns.
Is An Abandoned Septic Tank Dangerous?
An unused septic tank can pose serious health and safety risks to you, your family, and your community. Septic tanks contain waste that produces dangerous toxic methane gas and hydrogen sulfide. These gases can ignite or combust, or they can make people sick when they inhale these gases.
Aside from that, septic tanks can break down and weaken over time. If the tank collapses, it could cause a large opening that could hurt someone or damage property. These dangerous sinkholes can occur without warning, swallowing up anyone or anything which happens to be standing above them.
What Should You Do With An Abandoned Septic Tank?
An abandoned or unused septic tank is never something you can ignore. Whether you just purchased a new home with an old septic system or connected your home to the public sewer system, you must do something with your old septic tank to prevent dangers and hazards.
The good news is that you don’t have to figure out how to fix this problem on your own. Septic system professionals like All Septic & Sewer can walk you through the process of safely decommissioning your old septic tank.
Even if you connect your property to a public sewer system, you’re still required to decommission your old septic tank. Depending on your county, local ordinances require you to complete the decommissioning within 30 to 60 days after connecting to the sewer system.
How Do You Decommission An Abandoned Septic Tank?
A licensed professional can decommission your old system in just a few basic steps. They’ll start by clearing out the area above the tank to expose its lid. Then, they’ll pump out any effluent liquids and waste from the system. That will keep it from seeping into the ground on your property and get rid of those dangerous gas risks.
Next, technicians will fill the tank with gravel or sand and cover it with topsoil to even out the surface. Finally, they’ll thoroughly inspect the tank and surrounding area and add any vegetation you need to cover as needed.
An experienced professional familiar with your local ordinances will also be able to submit any required permitting and proof of decommissioning to your county office. That’s one less step you’ll have to worry about, and you’ll get a copy of the certificate documenting that the system has been professionally decommissioned. That documentation is important if you decide to sell your property later.
Can You Build On Top Of An Abandoned Septic Tank?
Building over the top of your abandoned tank isn’t a good idea. Even once the pumping and filling process is complete, there’s still a risk of some residual liquids and gasses causing the earth to shift over time. Toxins in the soil and methane gas could still seep up and cause dangers even if the tank was pumped out carefully and thoroughly.
Plus, if the tank wasn’t filled in properly, you could be dealing with serious sinking problems once you start building in that area.
If you absolutely need the space to build, you should consider having the tank dug out and removed completely. That way, you’ll know for sure that no hidden dangers are lurking under the ground.
If you decide to remove your septic tank altogether, the professionals at All Septic & Sewer can help with that as well.
Trust All Septic & Sewer To Decommission Your Abandoned Septic Tank And Keep Your Family Safe
An abandoned septic system can cause big problems if it’s not handled correctly. That’s why it’s so important to only trust a knowledgeable and licensed expert with your decommissioning process.
The experts at All Septic & Sewer proudly serve the King, Pierce, and Thurston Counties, and they know exactly how to deal with an old, abandoned septic tank.
Contact All Septic & Sewer today to learn more about this process and find out what you need to do to take care of your septic system – used or unused! And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more tips and information for all your septic needs.