Building a custom home on your own lot of land is exciting; you're getting a house that is built to match your needs. For many people, this means building on land that is in a fairly open or rural area, meaning there is no city sewer connection to handle sewage from the house. That means you'll need to install a septic system, which is not as complicated as it sounds. You do need to ensure the land and new house are ready for the septic tank, however.

Make Sure the Plumbing in the House Is Ready for Connection

Septic systems should be planned out along with the house but not installed until after the house is built. The plumbing in the house should be ready (or mostly ready) for connection to the septic tank once tank installation is finished. This is to ensure the tank placement and work do not interfere with the foundation of the house and vice versa; you don't want heavy construction equipment sitting on top of the tank as the house foundation is being dug or as the walls are going up. Plus, work on the house could disturb the soil around the tank, so it's better to install the septic system once the house is in place.

Clear Away Fast-Growing Trees

While septic tanks are tough, they are subject to the same stresses as city sewer pipes, including opportunistic tree roots that can intrude on loose connections and cracks. While a new tank and new pipes should not have any openings that allow roots to get inside, you need to think ahead. Have surrounding trees that are fast-growing and that have aggressive roots removed before the tank is installed. You can plant trees with slow-growing roots in their place after the tank has been installed.

Find Some Way to Mark the Drain Field

Your septic system includes not only the tank and pipes but the drain field, as well. You're not going to be able to use the drain field for planting things like vegetables or fruit trees, and you have to be careful about letting kids and pets run around on the field. So, it's best to mark the boundaries of the field so you know what areas of the property are OK for planting edible plants and which parts need to be treated as not safe for those. You can use everything from decorative stonework to specific (non-edible) plants to mark the boundaries. Note that the boundaries may not be exact; the installers can give you an idea of how much land you'll likely have to reserve for the drain field.

Your new septic system should last years with proper care and good installation. With the tank in place, your house will be just about ready to furnish and become your home.

To learn more, contact a septic system installation contractor.