TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI |
to cdru
Re: Is this well pit worth restoring?said by cdru:said by TheSMJ:But then again, that sure would be a crappy place to die... ...but not nearly as bad as a septic tank. Oh, that reminds me... The seller also mentioned where the septic system was and of course has no idea if it was ever removed/abandoned properly or if I have a empty 1000+ gallon tank burred a few feet under the front lawn. I have absolutely no interest in ever using the septic system again (if it's even still there). I'm only interested in what state the tank is in if it's still on the property, and whether it's in danger of collapsing. I might be able to use a metal detector to find the leech field hardware, and then follow the plumbing to the tank's exact location. There's also a dry well somewhere on the property that the basement floor drains used to empty into up until just a few years ago. I have a feeling it has something to do with a sinkhole that formed on the side of the front lawn close to where the septic system is/was. I'll dig into the pit a couple of feet and see what's in there. |
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Bob4Account deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey |
Bob4
Member
2012-Nov-29 10:48 am
With all this unknown stuff... Be sure to also ask about any oil tanks! |
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 cdruGo Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN |
to TheSMJ
said by TheSMJ:There's also a dry well somewhere on the property that the basement floor drains used to empty into up until just a few years ago. I have a feeling it has something to do with a sinkhole that formed on the side of the front lawn close to where the septic system is/was. I'll dig into the pit a couple of feet and see what's in there. You might want to watch this movie sometime. Not quite there yet, but with all this stuff you keep encountering... |
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TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI |
to Bob4
said by Bob4:With all this unknown stuff... Be sure to also ask about any oil tanks!
The home inspector, myself and my dad couldn't find any sign of one having existed on the property and I'd bet good money the seller wouldn't have a clue. Personally, I think I'm better off not knowing. |
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cowboyro
Premium Member
2012-Nov-29 11:10 am
said by TheSMJ:Personally, I think I'm better off not knowing. If you have one and it ends up leaking you are liable for the soil remediation - and that can easily run in the $10-20k range. Removing a tank may only cost $1500-2000. |
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TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI |
TheSMJ
Member
2012-Nov-29 11:23 am
said by cowboyro:If you have one and it ends up leaking you are liable for the soil remediation - and that can easily run in the $10-20k range. Removing a tank may only cost $1500-2000.
The gas furnace is from the late 80s (if I recall correctly) and so any oil tank that would have existed on the property would have to be older than that, so if there was a leak it would have happened many years ago. When did they ban buried oil tanks anyways? I doubt the furnace installer would have let them leave the oil tank in the ground if one existed without cleaning it and filling it with sand if they didn't remove it. The seller of the house (she and her husband built the place) had clearly taken good care of the property. I'd be shocked if they let something like a buried oil tank rot in the ground. EDIT: I should mention that the house mentioned in this thread is the same house I'm talking about: » Structural Question, Floor Joist HolesThat copper pipe in those photos was for natural gas. It terminates outside next to what's left of an old grill. |
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Bob4Account deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey |
Bob4
Member
2012-Nov-29 11:28 am
There would be a vent pipe like the one in this photo I randomly picked from the 'Net. Note that the pipe could be some distance from the tank and located next to the building. |
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TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI |
TheSMJ
Member
2012-Nov-29 11:34 am
Yep that's what we looked for, along with a fill port. Found nothing of the sort anywhere on the property. It's always possible they just pulled the vent and port out of the ground and left the tank but that would be unlikely. said by Mr Matt:Check with your municipal building department to determine if you can fill a septic tank with sand rather than removing it. Cost is much lower than digging out the tank and you do not have to deal with filling in the hole.
That's what I intend to do if I find a tank that wasn't already filled. |
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Bob4Account deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey |
Bob4
Member
2012-Nov-29 11:35 am
Sounds like you're OK then. |
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 nunyaLXI 483
MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO ·Charter
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to TheSMJ
Oil heat is a rarity here in the Midwest. It's much more popular on the East coast.
Of the few rare Midwestern exceptions that do use oil heat, most of the tanks are above ground or in the basement.
Almost everyone in this region uses NG, propane, or electric. |
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Tig
join:2006-06-29
Carrying Place, ON
2 edits |
to TheSMJ
said by TheSMJ:Oh, that reminds me...
The seller also mentioned where the septic system was and of course has no idea if it was ever removed/abandoned properly or if I have a empty 1000+ gallon tank burred a few feet under the front lawn. I have absolutely no interest in ever using the septic system again (if it's even still there). I'm only interested in what state the tank is in if it's still on the property, and whether it's in danger of collapsing. I might be able to use a metal detector to find the leech field hardware, and then follow the plumbing to the tank's exact location.
There's also a dry well somewhere on the property that the basement floor drains used to empty into up until just a few years ago. I have a feeling it has something to do with a sinkhole that formed on the side of the front lawn close to where the septic system is/was. I'll dig into the pit a couple of feet and see what's in there.
Before plastics, clay pipe was used for septic. I doubt you'll find any sort of metal hardware to detect, other than perhaps the pipe that feeds the tank. You should be able to spot where this pipe exits the home through the basement wall. Then, take a guess about 10' straight out from the home and drive a piece of rebar down into the ground a couple feet to see if you can hit the lid. Although, my old septic was covered with a corrugated steel panel. It was a noticeable sink hole and rebar would have just poked a hole. I'm curious, how does the well pit, water level compare to the basement level? |
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TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI |
TheSMJ
Member
2012-Nov-29 1:48 pm
said by Tig:I'm curious, how does the well pit, water level compare to the basement level?
The bottom of the pit is ~4 feet above the basement floor. However, the basement is dry. |
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