How to choose a septic tank

Most private houses do not have a connection to a centralized sewage system. In order to have all the benefits of civilization, people create an autonomous sewer system. The septic tank is a reservoir where household and household water will drain. Taking into account the model, the assembly acts as a storage or a drain filter. In any situation, septic tanks will protect the soil from dirt and preserve the ecology of the site. To know which septic tank to choose for your home, you need to read the recommendations.

The principle of operation and the device of a septic tank for a private house

The construction for a private house is a container made of waterproof durable material. There are simple and complex installations. Simple ones are a sealed container in order to accumulate wastewater. The intricate ones have more than one camera inside. The filtration system will consist of the following stages:

• Domestic waste water sedimentation. There are several chambers in the device; drains will flow into the sump directly from the sewer. At this stage, waste water settles from solid elements.
• Filtration by means of anaerobic microorganisms. At this stage, the liquid will enter the 2nd compartment by means of a pump or by means of a natural design. Bioenzyme substances will clean the wastewater from waste products, forming sludge, a gas fraction, as a result of which the water will become lighter.
• Cleaning by means of a filtration well. In the last section, the liquid is finally filtered by means of perforated walls and a drainage layer, and is absorbed into the soil.

Septic tanks are used when there is no option to connect a private house to a centralized sewer system. Unlike a cesspool, this assembly has significant advantages:

• the effluent will be processed through a natural biological method of cleaning, therefore it does not pollute the soil;
• duration of operation;
• there is no unpleasant odor on the territory of private buildings;
• it is possible to filter a large amount of waste water and, as a result, there is no need for frequent maintenance with a sewage machine.

Options for choosing a septic tank for a private house

In the process of choosing a product for a summer residence, you need to fully analyze the models, their technical and operational parameters:

• Roominess. The choice of the purification system should be based on the correct calculation of the capacity. Installation of an unsuitable assembly and incorrect calculations can provoke malfunctions in the functioning of the sewage system or financial costs that are associated with constant care by means of a sewer machine.
• The type and number of septic tanks.According to the principle of functioning, septic tanks can be accumulative, with soil filtration and with deep biological cleaning, and septic tanks can be 1, 2, 3 and 4-chamber. The consumer must take into account all the advantages and disadvantages of each product and choose the optimal solution for private houses.
• Body materials and wall thickness. These parameters directly affect the assembly price. Septic tanks are made of metal or plastic. Taking into account the material, capacity and diameter of the device, the average parameters of the wall thickness are 0.5-2 cm.
• Tank position. It can be vertical and horizontal.

Soil type

Traditional devices provide for the device of an auxiliary cleaning system - filtration fields. But the conditions at the sites by no means in all situations make it possible to perform this work. Clayy soils do not allow moisture to pass through enough, therefore, the treated wastewater will not be filtered.

In addition, when the groundwater is rather high (more than 1.5 m from the ground level), it will become extremely difficult to build effective filtration fields. A septic tank with a filtration field can be erected only where there is suitable soil. Even on clay soils, it is possible to filter the soil, but for these purposes it will be necessary to carry out a significant amount of work to remove the soil and replace it with crushed stone and sand.

Of course, such work will significantly increase the cost of installing a local sewerage system. The best option, if present, heavy soil on the site would be a septic tank with a biological filter. Such modern local stations will carry out all stages of water purification, so no auxiliary filtration is needed at the exit.

Cleaning types

Usually, 2 types of bacteria are used, differing from each other in qualities and conditions for reproduction:

• Aerobic. For the purposes of life and growth, favorable conditions are required - oxygenated water;
• Anaerobic. Requires the lowest air content.

Aerobic bacteria for deep cleaning stations

The use of such a variety of bacteria has established itself as the most effective, since they very quickly act on biological substances. This process involves the separation of natural waste into components. Such bacteria are often used for deep cleaning installations. Initially, the waste will enter the first chamber, where coarse fractions are initially filtered.

Then they will move through the overflow pipe to the main cleaning chamber, where aerobic bacteria are located. For these purposes, the installation provides for air supply from the compressor devices. Oxygenated water promotes rapid bacterial growth. They will decompose the bulk of the wastewater. At the same time, activated sludge is formed, which is the habitat of aerobic bacteria. A significant amount of waste, interacting with it, soon decomposes.

Benefits of the aerobic cleaning method:

• In the septic tank, there will actually be no bottom sediment - only the required sludge. Its surplus is removed independently - for this purpose, the septic tank is equipped with a pump. Its capacity is insignificant, therefore, disposal will proceed without the help of sewer trucks.
• High degree of cleaning. In some products, it will be 98%. This will make it possible not to create aeration fields, using water as technical.
• There is no aroma. Minor volumes of gases will be discharged through the ventilation system.

Anaerobic bacteria for wastewater treatment

Cleaning with anaerobic bacteria is a rather slow process. It takes place directly in an oxygen-free environment, which indicates that the septic tank must have a high tightness. If waste enters the chamber of the device, a reaction of their decomposition into constituent elements will occur. The characteristics of anaerobic bacteria are such that the reaction will be extremely slow.

It is worth noting that 85% of the energy will be spent on the formation of methane, while the other will be spent on the formation of sludge. Therefore, during use, the highest cleaning percentage is only 75%. This process is called effluent clarification, since the resulting liquid is not used as process water. For the purpose of disposal, aeration fields are equipped or a separate container is determined for storage purposes - after which it is cleaned by means of a sewage machine.

Benefits of the anaerobic cleaning method:

• simple and cheap design;
• connection to the electrical network is not required;
• comfortable for homes with irregular occupancy.

Wastewater treatment plant performance

To ensure the failure-free operation of the system and prevent overfilling of the tank, it is required to focus on the type of dwelling and the power of the device:

• Adaptations for buildings for seasonal residence. When it is planned to come to the country house occasionally or to live in it only during a warm period of time, it is not advisable to mount a multi-chamber device. The owners of summer cottages in order to equip the site, when the daily volume of wastewater does not exceed 1 cubic meter. m, they will choose 1-chamber low-performance drives. Due to their low mass, small mini-septic tanks can be conveniently moved and buried inside the pit without using special equipment.
• Septic tanks for permanent home use. For a site where a year-round presence is planned, it is optimal to install a treatment station that uses all methods of cleaning the drain. An alternative option are sedimentation tanks with an additional treatment system. To make the autonomous sewage system work more efficiently, bacteria are often used during its start-up. For this purpose, bacteria are placed inside the reservoir that “eat” organic matter. Biodegradation of waste makes it possible to bring waste water to a technical state. Deep cleaning systems are ideal for areas close to water. Treated effluents that have already passed through stations with strong filtration can be discharged into any water bodies.

Purifier volume

The required volumes of the structure are calculated based on the number of people who use the sewer. During the calculations, 200 liters are taken as the average daily expenditure per person. The indicator is multiplied by the number of people living. But in accordance with the requirements of SNiPs, the building must accommodate a 3-day amount of drains, therefore the indicator is multiplied by 3. The finished value is the desired septic tank capacity. In addition, you need to consider that 1000 liters will be 1 cubic meter. m and translate these values ​​accordingly. The dimensions of the device are generally indicated directly in the cube. m.

For a country house, where residents are quite rare, or the drain capacity is not more than 10 cubic meters. m, a 1-chamber septic tank is suitable.

The number of chambers of the device will also depend on the capacity of the drains. Practice proves that a 1-chamber device is suitable in a situation where the number of drains is not more than 1 cubic meter. m. When the flow rate is 10 cubic meters of liquid per day, it makes sense to purchase a 2-chamber reservoir. The number of effluents exceeding 10 cubic meters m, needs the installation of a powerful 3-chamber device.

Tank material

In order to equip the sewer system, 3 types of containers are often used:

• Plastic. Lightweight and reliable fixtures are easy to install. The terms of their use are quite long and are considered to be decades. For installation purposes, you do not need to involve special equipment. But the ease of assembly, which is an advantage of the structure, is one of the drawbacks, since the septic tank is able to "float" to the surface. To avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon during installation, it is either concreted or "anchored" by means of special belts.
• Concrete. An excellent solution for a simple and durable construction for cleaning purposes.Robust, non-corrosive device with significant weight. There are 2 types of fixture installation. The first involves the installation of a ready-made concrete ring with the obligatory use of special equipment, the other is the pouring of concrete into the prepared formwork and the gradual erection of the building.
• Metallic. A fairly small mass, which will greatly facilitate installation, the budget price of the device will make them quite common among users. The main disadvantage is the high risk of corrosion, which will significantly reduce the life of the device.

The best manufacturers of septic tanks for private houses - which company to choose

The production of the devices under consideration appeared relatively recently, but a rather large number of developers specializing in this area have already emerged. Most companies produce copies of the best brands, but the following firms create truly unique products:

• Eurobion. The stations are considered to be the result of many years of work by the employees of the Yubas production association. Due to the use of innovative membrane technology and rhythmic aeration tank, the products can be used even during prolonged downtime of the sewage system.
• Poplar. Devices of the manufacturer "Eco-Grand" are distinguished by an increased degree of cleaning, which reaches 99%. Using non-standard schemes in production, during which there is access to the primary chamber, the developer simplifies the maintenance of the sections: large debris that complicates the work of the sewer system can be removed on their own.
• Aster. The considered devices of the Unilos trademark ensure the elimination of harmful substances up to 75%. Various modifications are available for purchase, taking into account the number of consumers. The station, which is supplemented with a compressor, will carry out cleaning in several stages, therefore, SNiP wastewater passed through it is allowed to be discharged into the sewer.
• Tank. Devices manufactured by the manufacturer "Triton-plastic". The range of models includes both compact products with a capacity of 600 liters per day and high-power devices that are designed for 1200 liters per day. By their own characteristics, they are similar to classical wastewater treatment plants with multi-stage wastewater treatment.
• Triton. It is also an extremely common product of this manufacturer. In a number of models of septic tanks of such a trade brand, several varieties are presented, which differ in configuration and cleaning method. The devices of the category "micro" and "mini" are intended for the volume of 450 and 750 liters, and the drives with the letter marking "H" and "T" - for the capacity of 10,000 liters and more.
• Tver. Products of the "Engineering Equipment" trademark purify drains by mechanical and biological methods. The stations are equipped with a 4-level effluent clarification system and are intended for processing 750-1500 cubic meters of waste. m per day.
• Topas. The devices manufactured under this brand are distinguished by low consumption of electrical energy. 4-chambered aerobic products have a cleaning rate of up to 98%.

Based on this, for the correct selection, it is necessary to find out the requirements for the functioning of the treatment plant and to assess the conditions on the site. Then it is required to compare septic tanks that are offered by different developers to select a product that is suitable in terms of power, installation conditions and price. Only after conducting such an analysis, one should draw a conclusion about the device in question.

Types of septic tanks for private houses

Based on position and shape, fixtures can be horizontal and vertical. Horizontal are a cistern, which consists of several compartments. Such products are suitable for areas with large volumes of groundwater, but they need a large area of ​​the site and a small depth of the pit.The vertical ones are similar to the barrel and hatch. For installation purposes, a smaller area and a fairly deep pit will be needed.

By the type of position of the chambers, surface and underground treatment plants are distinguished. For the purpose of surface mounting, minimal spending of finances and time is required. Such septic tanks are effective during the OUGV. Underground ones are made up of 1 or more chambers, they are built as a modular system. Perfect for suburban homes with everyday use.

Cumulative

The devices in question are a sealed reservoir where waste water will accumulate. When the container is completely filled, it will be necessary to pump out the drains using a sewage machine for subsequent disposal. Storage devices have different capacities: 1-40 cubic meters. m. Some of the devices are equipped with special sensors indicating the fullness of the device, stiffening ribs for the purpose of auxiliary strength. It is recommended to mount the storage devices on a site that is not intended for year-round living, for example, a summer cottage sector or private houses with a small average daily flow capacity.

Pros:

• easy application and installation;
• a septic tank prevents soil pollution, therefore it is considered an excellent alternative solution for a cesspool;
• the shortest use of a plastic septic tank is approximately 30 years;
• durable construction.

Minuses:

• during the filling process, there will be a need for cleaning by means of a sewer machine;
• the system will not clean the drains;
• the freezing of the drain in the reservoir must be prevented

With soil filtration

The principle of operation of the devices consists not only in the accumulation of wastewater, but also in their filtration and further disposal of the purified liquid into the soil. Such devices also require the services of sewers (over time, a dense solid sediment accumulates, which forms after the filtration of the drain is completed), but much less often not earlier than 3 years of constant operation. The efficiency of cleaning is 70-85%. The installations are recommended for a private house with regular living and constant water supply.

Pros:

• energy independence;
• high quality drain cleaning;
• you will not need a sewer service.

Minuses:

• septic tanks are not suitable for installation on clay soil, in an area with large groundwater;
• difficult installation;
• overcharge.

Deep bio-purification

The considered devices are effectively suitable for those who care about the condition of groundwater and soil. It is recommended to install the products with large volumes of daily waste water. Most owners of such devices, to save money, mount auxiliary tanks for treated water and use it for irrigation.

Pros:

• the efficiency of cleaning is 98%, therefore, the treated wastewater can be discharged into water bodies or reused;
• sludge accumulates slowly, therefore, the services of sewers will be needed only after 7 years;
• suitable for installation on any kind of ground.

Minuses:

• volatility;
• overpriced.

Which septic tank to choose for a private house

In order to understand how to choose a septic tank, it is important to read the tips:

• Capacity is of paramount importance, therefore the choice is made taking into account how much daily volume of waste the system will need to process every day. During the selection of the volume, it is required to take into account the number of residents in a private house, the presence of plumbing, soil parameters and the use of liquid by guests.
• For an approximate calculation of a 2-, 3-section septic tank, you should use the following data: 2-3 residents - 2 cubic meters; 4-5 residents - 4 cubic meters .; 6-7 residents - 6 cubic meters.
• When the family regularly takes a shower, has a washing machine, a water heating tank, a dishwasher, etc., the daily volume of water consumed will increase significantly.
• To reduce the cost of sewer services, it is optimal to select septic tanks with a large volume.However, it should be borne in mind that the price of such installations is quite high, therefore they must be bought when they are regularly located in the territory of private houses.
• So that during the installation process the cleaning system is not damaged, the assembly of the device must be made of durable materials. In addition, most of the time the device in question will be empty, it is affected by significant soil pressure. The most popular materials are: a plastic septic tank is distinguished by moisture resistance and resistance to chemicals, increased strength, but at the same time fragility. Products can be made of polyethylene (not suitable for storing hot liquids, susceptible to sharp objects, not too durable, but available in cost), polypropylene (harder and more resistant to abrasion, but more expensive), fiberglass (they are the most reliable, based on resins, fiberglass is added to strengthen the walls). Plastic products are quite common and, despite the disadvantages, have more advantages than metal. Metal containers are rarely used. This is correlated with corrosion, even with an anti-corrosion coating. The terms of use of such devices will not exceed 20 years, therefore it is not recommended to purchase them.
• During a seasonal stay on the territory of country houses, a full-fledged wastewater treatment system is not required at all. It is more rational to mount a simple drive. In addition, the price of such an assembly is significantly less than more functional devices. During permanent residence, it is optimal to purchase devices with several sections.
• Regarding the position and shape of the device, it is necessary to make a choice based on the following factors: when the groundwater level rises, then it is optimal to mount a horizontal device; vertical devices are suitable when there is a need for a compact arrangement of the cleaning system.
• Those who are on the territory of suburban dwellings all the time can purchase devices with soil filtration or appropriate biological treatment. Any device will filter the effluent, but the level of cleaning varies significantly. When such a difference is not important, then it is optimal to purchase a product with soil filtration, it is a little cheaper and does not require electrical energy.

How much is a septic tank for a private house

The cost range of the devices under consideration varies depending on the model of a particular septic tank, materials and volumes. Approximate price of plastic fixtures:

• Accumulator 2 thousand liters - 24 thousand rubles, 3 thousand liters - 40 thousand rubles, 4 thousand liters - 81 thousand rubles.
• With soil filtration, 2 thousand liters - 59 thousand rubles, 3 thousand liters - 70 thousand rubles, 4 thousand liters - 90 thousand rubles.
• With intensive biological cleaning, 1 cubic meter per day - 98 thousand rubles, 3 thousand cubic meters per day - 160 thousand rubles.
• The average cost of a storage device made of metal is 34 thousand rubles.

In order to choose the best septic tank, you need to take into account the price of the device itself, as well as further expenses: the frequency of maintenance with the help of a sewage machine, installation work, the need for aids for cleaning.

Often they ask themselves how to choose the right septic tanks for a private house. To find out how to purchase a quality product, you should read these recommendations.