Why We Had a Septic System Installed ASAP & Are Permits BS?
Vložit
- čas přidán 1. 08. 2024
- Support us on Patreon: bit.ly/2tdla40
When we first moved to our 5 acres of bare land to develop our off grid homestead from scratch, we thought that we could hold off on some sort of septic system for a while as we were living in an RV with both a black and gray water tank. We thought that dumping the trailer on occasion wouldn't be a problem and that we could focus our resources (both time and money) on other projects.
However, after the one month mark passed, it was obvious that not having a septic system was one of our biggest pain points and we wanted to find a solution ASAP. Not only did we need a quick solution, but despite wanting to do most everything ourselves, we chose to have our septic system installed by a contractor. Oh yea, we also decided to get a septic permit after dragging our feet a bit (although we still aren't really stoked about it). Watch the video to learn why we got a permit as well.
Watch the video to find out why we chose to move a traditional septic system up to the top of the priority list, and why we chose not to do an alternative waste disposal system such as composting.
Just to be clear, we haven't closed any doors on alternative disposal methods and are eager to research and implement some ideas in the future. This is just the solution that worked for us for the time being and has allowed us to ignore this pain point for a while to work on more important things on our property.
RELATED BLOG POSTS
Septic Permitting Process & Soil Percolation Test: purelivingforlife.com/septic-p...
Living off the Grid: Month One Roundup: purelivingforlife.com/month-on...
Living off the Grid: Month Two Roundup: purelivingforlife.com/month-tw...
De-Dusting: Paving Our Driveway with 3/4" Rock: purelivingforlife.com/paving-d...
What It Costs to Start a Homestead - Our Expenses to Date: purelivingforlife.com/expense-...
How We Researched, Found & Purchased the Best Land for Our Homestead: purelivingforlife.com/finding-...
ENJOY THIS VIDEO? SUPPORT US WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME!
We spend 40+ hours a week on documenting our journey of starting a homestead 100% from scratch in hopes of helping others! If you enjoy our videos and want to help us to create more, learn how you can support us without spending a dime: purelivingforlife.com/support/
GET SOCIAL
We post a lot of stuff to both our blog and our other social media channels that don't make it to CZcams, so be sure to follow us there for the full scoop of what we're working on!
Blog: purelivingforlife.com
Instagram: / purelivingforlife
Facebook: / purelivingforlife
Pinterest: / purlivforlif
Twitter: / pureliving4life
EQUIPMENT USED TO PRODUCE OUR VIDEOS
Camera #1: amzn.to/2aykTf8
Camera #2: amzn.to/2aCddvP
Tripod: amzn.to/2aShOL4
Macbook Pro: amzn.to/2aCdGhy
Editing software: bit.ly/1oTH5av
WORDS YOU MAY USE TO FIND THIS VIDEO
septic system design
septic system alternatives
types of septic systems
septic system installation
rv septic system
build your own septic system
how to build a septic system
septic system cost
what is a septic system
residential septic system
cost of septic system
One reason for having a permit and inspection you left out is that it's a way of keeping the contractors accountable. The inspector makes sure not just that the placement is there, she will make sure that the contractor does a proper job. The reality is that some contractors do the least possible to get their money and it always costs the homeowner in the end. The inspector can make sure that things are correct at the beginning. This can mean a less costly fix for you.
Thank god for those incorruptible inspectors.
I don’t like how she interrupts him a few times, but definitely love the fact that she is so involved and not just sitting there having no clue.
"Education is priceless" Best quote of the video. Thanks for leaving this to the experts. Saves money, increases value, decreases chance of ruining the yours and your neighbor's land.
It may not seem like it at times...but, all that rock you guys have on your property is an absolute blessing. Rock spalls like I see on your property are excellent building and construction materials.
Man, it's like you guys are talking about my life. We moved onto our property with just an rv and well in the middle of summer in Florida. It was so expensive to run the generator and drive into town to dump the tanks. We ended up moving off the property to an rv park until we can afford to get septic and electricity.
When we moved to the "country" we were septic ignorant. As part of our property purchase, a septic inspection and pump out was done. It was cold and rainy but I hovered asking questions of the inspector about our system and also the care and feeding of septic as well. That is a key point, I hope you guys learned is you can't throw all the "stuff" into your drains you did in the city.
Even your selection of toilet paper can be critical as some don't breakdown that well and cause clogs. Also your selection of the cleaners for the sinks and toilets is critical. is important.
We are just starting our journey together. We learn from your videos and acquired wisdom. It's also really cool seeing you together. Working toward a family goal.
Like you, we are doing this together. The biggest difference for us is that we are self building our real log home. Hope to get the septic and well in this spring and summer.
Definitely an improvement that should be professionally engineered and pulling the permit adds value to your asset. On your permanent structures, I'd advise pulling permits and contracting out the mechanical portions (heat, elect, plumbing).
Might make a big difference if you ever have sell, refinance, or insure the improvements.
You guys are awesome, my husband and I were doing research about moving to Idaho to do exactly what you are both doing, I am so happy I stumbled upon your guys CZcams channel. Keep up the good work! Hugely looking forward to more videos as your journey continues! This channel is to perfect for all of our questions and really getting to see what is involved. Thanks!
Truly loved your vid. You are two brave young people. We are a bit older trying to live off the grid. Always inspiring to see others doing the same all over the world. Keep up the good work!
I would agree. Contractors did my septic, well , house etc and I am so relieved. There were so many choices to make and they knew exactly what to do and to do it correctly.
Another awesome video, I will be getting a contractor to put my septic system in out at my house this spring/summer when the frost comes out of the ground.
I have a cottage in an area where there are a lot of lakes. 60 years ago three was one cottage on the lake, now there are thousands. Proper installation, registration and inspection of the septic is a must to maintain safe ground water. In my town we have yearly water inspection and septic inspection every 5 years. Our building code states that a septic is required before permanent habitation of the land can occur. A simple outhouse leach pit is ok for one sink and washroom as long as a permit is obtained. Your install would cost $25,000 in the great white north.
You two are teaching me so very much. At this point in my life I can't do the homesteading like I want to. I appreciate all the information and send you Blessings in all your endevors.
"don't be foolish, don't be silly and don't be a hero." sage advice even today..
Great video, I went back and watched after the saw mill..NICE!
I love how candid you both are about everything. Its refreshing and very informative . Thank you. Been watching your videos for a bit. love em
Hooray for you! I am so glad to see such brilliant plans and someone being realistic!
I've watched your other videos and I love what you're doing. Especially doing it together as a couple. Can't wait to see your other videos. Congratulations.
I think you guys though it out and did the write thing,and made your property worth more ,and saved a lot of time to get other things done,it's a learning experience, septic and a well,is a great value, but get that garden going as well if it's in season, great job and wisdom
I understand not wanting the government's nose in your business, but you did the right thing by getting a permit and putting your septic on public record. We just inherited some property and it is so nice to be able to look up where the septic and leech field are so we don't build or garden on top of it. And so we know when it was installed. It's a long term good thing. You guys are awesome and living the dream!
Y'all are great, thanks for sharing all of this. My experience in getting permits is that it benefits me because it validates the work, and the contractor is accountable to the municipality as well me and my family and neighbors. And to paraphrase it is good to know what you have and for the next person to know what they have and that it was done correctly and you can rely on it.
I'm not a lawyer and i don't play one on television but i wouldn't bet on the contractor being accountable,when the gov.wants their pound of flesh they don't care where they get it from.If you don't believe me just ask O.J. i"m sure he could tell you something about the law.
Love watching your journey. We had a septic system installed in the initial build. Since we installed our compost toilet it never gets used. Water usage is dramatically reduced and you get valuable humanure.
Regulation can be useful but a problem with regulation is the presumption the regulators know what they are talking about and that enforcement will be uncorrupted. Our compost toilet fell outside regulations at the time so ours was illegal. They've since caught up.
Thanks for taking the time to help us out.
I use to own a small construction company and did a lot of remodeling. I am glad we have a process involving permits and inspections. Most of the inspectors are great and like what they do. Never met one that wasn't willing to help out with questions. In general they just want to make sure a project is done safely. Some of the renovations that I have done were totally because people didn't go through the process of building permits and inspections which resulted in failures of the work that had been done. One specifically was a wall that kept becoming discolored which was a result of an ongoing electrical short heating up and slowly burning the wall around an outlet. A lot of issues with mold as well. Really love watching this series though.
Thank goodness you followed your gut and common sense and had a good job done.
Excellent video! Much of what you talk about is what my wife and I have learned the hard way over 30 years.
Most of us have tons of energy at the start of projects, not really realizing the scale of what we are taking on and how it will effect our lives. "Renovation fatigue" or "building fatigue" sets in and you suddenly realize that you are trying to raise 2 kids and do all of this extra work daily...with no vacations in sight to recharge your batteries.
Good luck! Keep the videos coming! You are very encouraging!
+John G That is very well said. It's one thing to say "what you should do is..." but it's another thing to do it and observe your fluctuating energy levels along the way :-) Sounds like you and your wife have a lot of experience withthis. Glad you're enjoying our videos!
Priorities are everything. I have some soffits on my house I need to fix due to degraded ends, that I noticed while replacing the ends. I also had a shed that needed a roof. The roof was a reverse salt box. I raised the roof to have square walls and a traditional X slope roof. During that build, I learned how to do soffits, --> knowledge I can use to fix the house.
I think you guys should make a link to this flashback video in your current videos since you are working on the septic piping in the new house! I missed this one originally... Your demeanor and filming strategy has changed considerably (in a good way ;)
You guys just highlighted the division of labor. Thank you! I can make more at work than I can save doing the labor. If it puts it off a year, but the quality is professional... fair trade.
+MrHatch law of diminishing returns at play. Know your skills, know your value and know what something is worth. For us, done right, done now and affordable was what we needed. We will fight DIY battles in other projects. That said we know a lot more about how one is installed and feel we could do it ourselves after watching.
Glad you did the permit talk. Some things are best left to others and permits keep contractor's honest and protect you.
Watching him, I am reminded of Alex Lifeson's cadence when speaking. Really cool.
We are doing something similar. I agree after researching the price point is what sold me. We bought a similar property that already had septic, well and old cabin but the septic was tiny and we will want to expand to accommodate children better. What we are thinking right now is septic-black, accommodate expansion, pump up for any connected building to low, and composting toilet-grey for anything far down hill.
The best system is the one that makes sense for your household. Go for it and let us know how it works out.
Awesome to hear from you! Rejuvenated myself with your blog. Looking forward to mutual support!
Very informative and honest/real. Thank you.... my wife and I will keep watching!
Thank you for this. The permit explanation is so valuable. (Yeah, we're with you on the whole "Skeptical" thing.) But hey, now & then laws do make sense.
THANK YOU. I have seen most of your videos, very informational and well made. You guys are very natural and make look very professional. I hope I'm not marking out to you, very good.
Good job knowing your limits and understanding the value of time...so many people forget about time when budgeting
I bought a house built in 1900. I am the first owner outside of the family that built it. Living off grid is romantic and all but seriously, build to code and get permits. My house has had 2-3 major expansions and has never had a permit applied for or inspection done. Remodeling and updating has been a pain in the ass. If you are putting in a basement be sure to install drains alongside your foundation. Moldy basements are horrible.
Great insight and points to ponder. Thanks for sharing your journey. I've been enjoying following you guys.
very wise of you two ,do it right ,wish more people would think that way
Thank you guys so much for saving me time and money I will have a professional do it. Thanks again
One of the best things you can do to preserve the life of your septic system is to never put any toxic household chemicals down your drains. If you do, you are simply killing your living bacterial system regularly. Also, minimize cooking oils/grease and food solids going down drains. And never put anything non-biodegradable down there. Place sanitary napkins, tampons, used condoms in trash. And even your used toilet tissue can be put in trash to minimize build up of solids in your system. Develop good composting techniques. Keep trees/shrubs away from it. Keep your system pure and it could possibly last much longer than 25-30 years.
Watching your video and how you shared your experience was awesome. This has made me re-think my adventure and realize doing it myself is not a good idea. Pay more but get it right the first time. Thank you very much.
Great video. I just bought 13 acres and your info is very helpful.
I like those little video clips thrown in there that accent what you are saying at the moment. You can only take so much of a talking head before your mind starts to wonder. Great job!
Great video! I took a lot in from it. Thank you. It's the first of your videos I've viewed, but I definitely am interested in what else you guys have to share.
Great video you pair, truly helpful and informative! You are nice folk.
wow we are you, now!!!!
moving from NYC to Fl in small town. . bought raw land. All you say is spot on. Realty bought our dreams to earth. We did the same. With the septic and other major projects. let pros handle large projects out of our skill set. and focused on projects. within our skill set. nice vid
Great job y'all ! Don't ever apologize for doing things for your own reasons ;) There is so much more to septic systems than ppl realize ... We did our own but my Dad used to set them so we understood the grade drops etc ... Keep using common sense and you will do well ...
+Ozark Cottontop I think there's so much advice out there that it's easy to think that there's only one way to do things but yes we all have different reasons why we do the things we do :-) We hope to install our next septic system if we get a second property down the road, unless we do something completely different! Always wise to not lose common sense HA!
I found that when renting equipment, rent it on the weekend. Most rental places are closed on Sunday and some Saturday. If you pick it up on the last day of the week before they close, sometimes you can get away with the 4hr charge or the daily charge for the entire weekend instead of one day. The last piece of equipment I rented, I picked up Friday at 3 and returned it Monday morning for a one day rental charge. You can even just pick it up the night before and get a few hours of work done and then have the entire next day to work.
Good job 4k not bad for what you got. Permits and inspectors as you start building will be to your advantage. Please consider licensed, insured and bonded contractors you'll be glad you did in the long run. Just remember this " after the price of the job has long been forgotten the quality will be long remembered". Good luck!
Thank you for all this great information! Love watching your journey!
My second video I watched of yours tonight and have learned a lot. I am not sure what you do for a living, but you are both great speakers, and are fantastic at getting great information to us quickly without boring details. I think this just might be my favorite you tube site. just wondering how long its going to take me to watch all of them Lol. thanks
you sound like very wise young people...good job!
Backhoe, dig a large chasm hole, fence it off. Composting toilets and dump the waste in the chasm. No issues, no toxic problems. Make sure the chasm isn't too close, nor too far.
This video created more questions in my mind than answers. Why do dome systems fail in that area? Why do you need level land for the system? Where are you located? What kind of soil is there? Where is the water table? Hot tub deck? Maybe a cabin and wood stove first.
Thank you. Thank you. Someone with common sense. Hope it all goes well for you.
All that rock looks like awesome building material just lying around free :)
That is a very good point you guys did very well on it
Now for the next expense. Permit information is forwarded to the tax assessor. He will come out next he is allowed to trespass, when he sees your buildings and improvements cabin out buildings etc. your property tax will increase, according to his estimation of improved value. I think you will regret the permit within the next year or so. I helped so people move A mobile home. We got a transportation permit to pull it down the highway. We set it up in the boondocks it couldn't even be seen the tax assessor showed up, the taxes went up an additional 300.00 per year. I do some construction, they do the same thing with hwy approach permits. Permits are a trap for ongoing tax increases.
Guys from watching your videos your overlooking a huge resoure ROCKS. When you do build your home look into Slipform construction.
I get the hay bale skirting but for me i have found it attracts mice although where I am there is always mice not in the house though. The dogs and traps keep them away. For skirting i have found 4x8 sheets of 2 inch rigid foam doubled up works great, it wouldnt hurt to underlay your trailer with it also or have a heat pad attached to the tanks.
+2012spacetraveler Sounds like a good solution! We decided not to do the hay bale skirting but built a little add-on which we will heat with a wood stove. We have some pix posted on our Facebook of what we're working on, but seems like a much better solution for the time being as it should give us more living space as well! We've heard the same thing about hay and mice although hard to say until we try it out :-P We have a couple of Bengal cats that seem to keep the mice away so far.
Sounds like you two have done your research and I think you are making good decisions. (just my opinion of course) One good point I don't remember you mentioning is if you ever end up selling your property, a permitted and correctly installed system will pay for itself in the sale. We have owned our property for about 4 years now and just haven't put in a septic system yet. We did come close but just haven't got to it. This video is very helpful and should be a great resource for many people. Thank you for making this video.
Great video! Very, very informative. Thanks guys, JC
BTW, Looking forward to video about your addon.
u guys r gonna b sooo happy there, it looks like u guys have thought this out. keep up the good work
incredibly useful and helpful tips, thank you very much - enjoyed your video
Very Interesting..... Love.... How both speak and work as One ! Good Job.. you two !
A permit and building a septic system to code is a wise idea to follow. Down the road your community could change how they enforce building codes and then you would have more than one issue to contend with. Also as previously mentioned it is a selling point.
Great video and great advice. I will recommend the same to anyone else.Save money when it is logically permitting and do it right the first time.
Still catching up on your videos. Money well spent ! The area above the drain field is prefect for pasture/farming. 2 comments on that.
If you plan on doing any farming, higher some one with a mechanical "rock picker". That area is going to require multiple passes to give you at least 1 foot of mostly de-rocked top soil. Another, money well spent.
Second, see if you can find any dairy farms/horse ranches in the area. You are going to need a lot a manure to be added to that soil if you want to farm it or even use it for pasture land.
Sweet. Thanks for the tips! I've been looking at tractors which can be rented that have what looks like a huge rake on the hitch. That should work for cleaning the rocks out of the soil I would think. It'll take a few passes and some manual labor too likely.
+Pure Living for Life Check CZcams for rock picker or de-rocker. A "rock rake" is only going to get a few inches down. If you want to plant more than grass, you need to go down close to a foot.
You will learn to love the smell of manure. Just not pig manure !
Good job. Very practical. Thank you.
Nice video. A lot of information and just life advice here. Thank you!
Awesome video, You guys are fun to watch. We plan on doing this in the near future. Lots of great advise from you guys.
Great video......Tks for the time you both put into it......Your so right.....You can only read so much but watching and hearing you is Priceless.....Thank You :-)
I love the videos you guys make! And I just happened to pause it at 25:13 and notice your stone stack...very cool.
This is so awesome you guys humbled yourselves to participate in the public health system. This video is so encouraging to really demonstrate that we all need to trust in someone else that has a specialty other than our own. I'm an engineer and what I learned in school still blows my mind because it's an accumulation of years, decades, centuries of experience that is tried and true. Education is always trustworthy. people may not always but that's people.
my family lives on Navajo reservation n living off grid is all natural. No water, no electric no indoor plumbing is everyday living. wish we could or had enough money to have individual wells drilled. good luck if native Americans can do it so can u.
C M. Its a nice thing to do, but maybe not to many people should do that. Many dont understand the importants of nature that well. You could try crowdfunding to see if you can get some money for it.👍🏻
...but oh my goodness your cat talking at the very end of the vid...!!😂😂😂❤it!!
You guys are smart and did a great job on this video... Thanks for the information !!!
I just looked over your videos and will be following you to see what all you folks are doing. Now I am still in the 2015 but working my way. Why would I even do this, well as you said to learn! Knowledge is so very important and we someday hope to move back West and Homestead our own. Your explanation about the septic system was great, I was in the fire service and had to do life safety inspections and building inspections and as you a lot of folks saw it as just big government bugging in. The Fire Codes weren't written just to have some to do but to save lives and property same as doing your system not putting where it maybe a health hazard, you were very wise how you approached it. Oh Killing the chickens you are way ahead of me I'm not sure I could and being that my wife has named all of them no way she would. Lol Great Job ! Looking forward to seeing more, Oh and I have fought fire all over the Pacific Northwest and your area for many years 32 in fact good luck and God Bless, Jerry
I want to congrat you both on a work well done,
and for your info on a special job ( it looks ease but you just showed me that is not.) A VERY HARD ONE @ THAT.
I WANT TO ALSO WISH YOU WELL ON YOUR DREAM, HOPE IT GETS FINISH...
Good information. I was just researching these myself coming up with a budget. Lots of good information. I also saw those dome shape leach fields in another video and thought it was odd. I think traditional works best. The one question I have, what made you decide on the plastic tank? Most I've ever seen are always concrete. Do you have any incite on that and why you chose plastic tank?
Good advice guys, cheers from Sydney Australia
thank you so much for this video :) it shows how you have to do your research
Holy Cow! A well planned and informative homesteading video? Good job folks! Subbed, Thank you.
+Will Baack Thanks! We're sure trying! Except when we're not, then we're just having fun. Haha. Welcome aboard. :)
good job we will be watching ..
Wow so many rocks! You could just use them to build a slip form wall/shed/house !
It's made me realize I just want to plant a garden and that's it
Hi! I am a structural engineer in Colorado. I work with a range of structures mostly residential or agricultural, in-town and also some vary rural and mountainous locations. Most of my work work surrounds typical framing, but I also cross over into alternative building methods, such as traditional timber framing and straw bale construction. I have enjoyed watching several of your presentations. You folks are very practical--I like that.
I had a comment and a question.
The comment.... You mentioned that many homesteaders don't like the permit process. I personally feel it is necessary when you are in areas of high snow loads, high wind loads or earthquake loads . Having said that, the status quo for requiring more and more permits for exterior slabs and sheds and such gets a little overbearing. The reason you need a permit for a small structure that you will live in is that properties get sold and traded. If you build a home without review, if it falls down on the next owner.... guess who their attorney is going after. If the building department has has reviewed it, you have some added protection. If I review your project and stamp your plans, if it falls down, I am liable. This isn't 1840. The simple fact of life is that we have brought in a local authority to regulate parts of your project.
The question.... Did you folks consider using a quality composting toilet? I wanted to hear your thoughts. I have acquaintances that have used composting full time in RVs. There are several systems that are well built and have good track records.
Geoff
Great video and information to prevent mistakes and spend a lot of money !
A septic system here cost over $9,000.00, and that's the lowest cost! A well starts at $10,000.00 so your a blessed couple. I would never put a septic system in myself, but then again, I have experience with them, and know how bad it can be to do it yourself. NO question about it, getting a contractor is the way to go. You may want to check one thing that I saw someone else mentioned here too. You may need to put some water in that system if you get a lot of rain this time of year. Some places need it to keep the tank in the ground. I know you put it in months ago, but you may want to ask about it, since your not using it that much yet. It's a big tank, and would take a lot of weight to keep it down if your soil will let it come up with too much rain. They really can do that. I've just watched many of your videos, and have enjoyed all of them. Bless, Sheila
Great, informative video. Thanks and best of luck!
Hiring a professional is a good move. I have worked on both septic and municipal systems. I have seen people who tried to go rouge and later paid for it by not being able to drill for water or get loans on their property. Keep the long term value of your property at the top of your list of priorities.
Trust me, after having watched about 20 of your videos, I can with almost 100% certainty, say that you would have dropped the rock and ruined the tank. You made the right decision.
Will this sceptic also be used for the yurts? If so,is it a suitable size??
I'm old school. When the wife and i make it off grid, we wanna try first a rotating latrine system that moves locations through the years to fertilize the ground. We may have to add some lime or such to adjust the PH. Next may be a composting toiler wet or dry then a septic system if relly needed. 100 thousand animals crap in the woods all the time. I dare someone to tell me I can't crap in the woods on my own land. I don't believe human waste is bad for veggies as animals do it all the time.
thank you so much for your insight.
Thank you so much! Great advice!
Brilliant video mate learned a bucket load
septic is great to have for the main reason you mention in another video about selling the property. another great point is after you pass on the person(s) who inherits the property might not want it and its easier for them to sell.... you don't have to use the septic. my county says composting is ok as long as it meets some requirements. like some have already pointed out the composting is so much better. septic is gross and sooner or later you will have to pump it. the min cost of our septic is over 8k. compost can be put to good use and it doesn't smell. ..I love that you are documenting the septic process with all the lessons learned and reasons for ...... you are so right not all diy projects are the best. sometimes it makes sense to hire a contractor. excellent videos.
+ArizonaHotHomestead Plus with how awful their soil is being able to compost all your shit would help in a big way.
Love your videos guys. My partner and I are planning to homestead soon and we just purchased some land. As much as I've learned from watching your videos, I'm surprised you didn't choose to try the humanure compost method by Joseph Jenkins. I understand your personal choice is to have a conventional flush toilet but composting would have been an immediate solution, extremely easy and inexpensive, not to mention environmentally friendly. It would also work wonders for your garden and landscaping. But, overall, love your videos and hope you keep up the great work!!!