The following guidelines
are provided as a courtesy to explain the septic installation
process. Please note that some of the requirements referenced
below are based upon new construction as well as the
Seattle-King County Codes effective June 1999.
When should I order the septic
installation work?
Once you choose an installer you should
order the work when the rough plumbing is being installed. This
allows for any unforeseen problems and gets you in line quicker
for scheduling. You may choose to order the work further in
advance however, unless there is a reason to install the system
sooner, installation would be held off until construction is
farther along.
Like most of the construction industry,
summer is our busiest time of the year. Some types of septic
systems (mounds and sand filters) must be installed when the
weather is good and the ground has been dry for a while.
Therefore these system installations usually take precedence
over the others during this time. It takes several weeks to
obtain the permit from the county once you have ordered the
work. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO ORDER YOUR
WORK.
How do I order the septic system
installation?
First you must sign and return the proposal
along with a deposit (you may wait to send the deposit however
we must have it before we will schedule your installation) and a
form requesting information that we will need. To save time you
may call this information in to us.
How long does it take to get the septic
installation permit?
Once you order the work, we call the
designer for a “Stub Out Release”. The designer will then go to
the site, verify that the plumbing stub is exposed and then
notify the county to release the installation permit to us. Once
the designer has notified the county it typically takes a couple
weeks for us to get the permit from them. WE CANNOT SCHEDULE
WORK UNTIL WE HAVE THE PERMIT
NOTE: Some systems require a “Notice on
Title” to be filed with the county and monitoring contracts to
be in place prior to the release of the stub out from the
designer. Please check with your designer to see if these are
required prior to contacting us so as not to delay the process.
Once we have the permit and before
scheduling the work, our construction manager will visit the
site to confirm accessibility and site conditions. Typically a
septic system takes one to two days to install.
Inspections and electrical requirements
Once the system has been installed the next
step is the pressure testing (only if the system includes a
pump) and inspection. PERMANENT ELECTRICAL WIRING MUST BE
COMPLETED AND THE SEPTIC AND PUMP TANKS FILLED FULL WITH WATER
BEFORE TESTING CAN BE DONE. After this is done the installer
must be notified. The installer will then perform a “pre-test”.
This is done to correct any problems before the final pressure
test is performed with the county sanitarian and the system
designer. Once the pre-test is done the installer notifies the
designer. The designer then coordinates the pressure test with
the county sanitarian and the installer. They must allow the
county three (3) working days notice. If the sanitarian does not
show up for the pressure test we must allow the sanitarian
another three (3) days. This gives them a chance to check the
system and sign off on the permit. Only after the designer and
sanitarian have signed off on the permit and/or the three day
waiting period is over, can the system be backfilled.
Backfill of system
It is up to the owner to have the backfill
material on site. This material must not contain any large
rocks, sticks or clay and is typically a loamy sand. Top soil
suppliers usually call it “three way” or “five way” mix. The
amount of material needed can only be determined after the
system has been installed. The installer will then let the
homeowner know how much fill material they will need. Sometimes,
if it is suitable, we can use the material from where the
foundation has been cut in provided it is new construction.
PLEASE BE AWARE that in some cases the
backfill cannot be done right away especially if the site is
really wet. This would only create a sloppy mess and potentially
create problems.
fax (425) 432-4461