How to Buy a Septic Tank

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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When building a home outside city limits, it's often necessary to incorporate a self-sufficient well and septic tank system. When choosing a septic tank design for a home, take the task seriously and research exactly what you need. A simple error in size estimation can cost thousands of dollars to correct in the future.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Research local requirements. Minimum size requirements for septic tank systems can vary by location. 1000 gallons is common, but some areas link required sizes to number of sinks and bathrooms in the home. For tank replacements, know before you inquire how many sinks and bathrooms you have. If you intend to build, estimate how many the finished home will have, then check with your health department for local size standards.

Step2

Estimate your water usage. A rough average is between 50 and 100 gallons of water use per day, per person living in the home. Babies bring extra hand washing and laundry, so count very young children at 100 gallons per day. To get a closer estimate, see our Resources section for a water use estimation table. When in doubt, estimate high, and remember the system is permanent. Factor in additional people if you plan to add more children to your family someday.

Step3

Decide what size and septic tank design to purchase. Variations exist between septic tank systems. Round tanks hold different capacities than rectangular tanks of the same size. Either design works, but you must know the available capacity before committing to buy a septic tank. See our Resources section to calculate tank capacities.

Step4

Find a sales facility. Check your local yellow pages for Septic Tank Systems, Septic Tank Manufacturers, or Concrete Contractors. You can also ask your local health department for a list of available septic tank manufacturers.