I have some sand mound questions

mountainwmn · #1 09/13/10, 09:37 AM

I'm hoping to be lucky enough to get a couple acres with a mobile home on it, but there may be septic problems. The alarm thing is going off, and i was first told that means it's just full. Now I'm hearing it means something is broken, and with this deal I'm responsible for all costs. What is the most likely cause, how much can I just leave broken, and what can I or can't I do with the mound if I get it? As in can I plant a garden on it? trees? Is it safe for livestock to graze on it? Any help is greatly appreciated.

mnn2501 · #2 09/13/10, 09:44 AM

Alarm thing? never heard of an alarm on a septic tank, but then my system is old.

Garden, depends on how much soil you have on top, but I wouldn't due to the extreme water requirments here (Texas) - your area may be different.
Tree's - NO
Livestock -- no sure on this one, I've heard both ways

**Cabin Fever** · #3 09/13/10, 09:51 AM

The alarm is going off because the level of wastewater in the pump tank is too high. (The pump tank is where the effluent from the septic tank collects until there is sufficient volume to pump to the mound)

Either the pump is bad, the float that activates the pump is bad, or there is some kind of electrical connection problems probably caused by corrosion.

If you don't fix it, you'll either have wastewater all over your house or all over the ground in the area of the pump tank, or both.

**Cabin Fever** · #4 09/13/10, 09:53 AM

Oh yeah, I would definitely keep livestock and trees off of your mound system. A flower garden is okay. HT member Ronbre was some nice photos of her landscaped mound system.

fishhead · #5 09/13/10, 10:07 AM

One time someone unplugged the pump on my mothers septic system. When the water level rose inside the tank the alarm went off. I would start by checking the pump and the breaker.

mountainwmn · #6 09/13/10, 10:38 AM

hmm, ok, so its not the most likely that the whole thing is shot then, maybe just pump problems? That doesn't sound too bad. And no trees or livestock. I can do that. I was a bit worried about paying someone to clean it and check it and then finding out it would cost 10 million dollars to fix. Thank you Thank you Thank you!

Wolf mom · #7 09/13/10, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainwmn

I'm hoping to be lucky enough to get a couple acres with a mobile home on it, but there may be septic problems.

If you have NOT already bought this property, have a clause in the contract that states the septic is to be pumped and certified. If you have already written the contract, have an addendum put on it.

If you are renting the same property already - it is the landlords responsibility.

texican · #8 09/13/10, 11:14 AM

Livestock on your sand mound septic system............. picture this in your mind... sand castle on the beach... waves coming in... sand castle flattened... pretty much the same scenario with large hooved critters stomping around...

Wis Bang 2 · #9 09/13/10, 11:52 AM

When my mom was selling her house the buyer's inspector found some problems w/ her old septic system. In PA it is the seller's responsibility to insure a working septic system ans she had to have repairs made b/4 closing. This should have been checked out b/4 you purchased this property.

Failure of the lift pump is common in sand mounds; they can't work on gravity like a drain field.

My mom was lucky as sh was able to install a new tank and drain field instead of a sand mound. The new drainfield was only 24" below ground and was situated in a large bed of gravel where her old field was much deeper and was set in individual gravel filled trenches so there was alot less gravel in the system.

Belfrybat · #10 09/13/10, 01:49 PM

As others have said, having the septic system inspected is (or should be) part of any real estate sale. The buyer usually pays for the inspection but the seller for any repairs. I just sold a piece of property, and the inspection fee was $100.00 which the buyer gladly paid to know he had a working system.

KIT.S · #11 09/13/10, 02:58 PM

Uh-huh - make sure it works before you buy - we were told $2000 to finish our septic system, but in the end, it cost $12,000. Really puts a crimp in your estimates when something like this goes wrong.
Kit

mountainwmn · #12 09/13/10, 08:21 PM

It is going to be a purchase, and it is contingent on passing the inspection. Our contract is not typical though, and I'm responsible for all costs. If it needs repairs I can get out of the contract, but will still lose the cost of the inspection and pumping it out.

#13 09/14/10, 12:47 AM

A mound type system relies on the vegetative cover to wick away much of the moisture in the summer. Don't cut the grass on the mound. Don't plant trees on the mound because the roots will interfere.

Curt

rambler · #14 09/14/10, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainwmn

I'm hoping to be lucky enough to get a couple acres with a mobile home on it, but there may be septic problems. The alarm thing is going off, and i was first told that means it's just full. Now I'm hearing it means something is broken, and with this deal I'm responsible for all costs. What is the most likely cause, how much can I just leave broken, and what can I or can't I do with the mound if I get it? As in can I plant a garden on it? trees? Is it safe for livestock to graze on it? Any help is greatly appreciated.

The alarm says it's a little more than full. There can be many reasons, often electric or pump isn't working right, but can be many from simple to really bad.

You want to plant lawn or a shallow rooted type of plant that will help use up the moisture and insulate the mound over winter. Typically the discharge lines are only a foot deep, so you need snow & grass for insulation.

Most certainly NO on livestock, trees, or garden. NO.

--->Paul

NorthCountryWd · #15 09/14/10, 03:11 PM

Don't know what would be broken to make the alarm go off. It's either full or the pump is off/failed. If the power was off for an extended period, the tank could have filled with rain water.

Grass or flowers are fine. Mow it once or twice a year to keep anything deep rooted from getting established. Keep the livestock off it.

Pink_Carnation · #16 09/14/10, 06:34 PM

It could be a broken pump, a shut off pump, bad float, or to much water through for the setting. Depending on which one it is you could also have damage to all the electronics inside the tank, and damage to the drainfield if the people forced a long pump out to stop the alarm.

We had all those problems at one time or another with our septic. I would be inclined to walk away from it or have the price replace the septic.

mountainwmn · #17 09/23/10, 08:14 AM

Thank you everyone. It turned out to only be a bad switch on the pump. Everything else tested out just fine.

fishhead · #18 09/23/10, 08:23 AM

Let's hope the rest goes as smoothly and you can slide right into your new home.