Installing septic risers

Keep this in mind when determining the height of the riser. Measure the distance from the ground to top of the fiberglass plate. You may wish to install the risers so that they are flush with the surface of the ground or sticking out above ground by a few inches if a riser is above ground make sure you are careful when mowing.

File off any high spots, if needed. The large riser can be made to fit snugly into a smaller manhole opening by removing one of the ribs. Use a circular saw with the guard held open — plunge cutting around the riser until the rib is removed.

CAUTION: If septic tank is 20 years old or older, it is advisable to pump the tank to verify its structural integrity and water-tightness. If the tank needs serious repairs, it is better to replace it with a modern septic tank and include risers with the installation. Replacing a septic tank requires a permit from the local health department. Clean off the top of the tank, removing all dirt and debris. Follow the manufacturers instructions to assemble the risers components using the butyl rope.

Then use a high strength flexible concrete patch mix that hardens in minutes to attach the riser to your septic tank. Use heavy duty leather gloves when handling these products and mix according to instructions. NOTE: mix a small amount of concrete patch at a time for best results. The stuff hardens FAST. Seal the riser to the septic tank using the patch mix. You may finish sealing by adding Bentonite or casing sealer around the base, filling in gaps as needed. Make sure you then carefully secure the riser lid with the screws provided to avoid a safety hazard!

All risers must be completely sealed to the septic tank. Smaller risers for the inlet or outlet openings, if present, should have the bottom few inches sanded with rough sandpaper to facilitate a stronger bond. Holes and gaps between the riser and the tank are easily filled if the patch mix is mixed thick and held in place for a few minutes.

The company where you purchase the risers and lids can also be a good source of information regarding proper installation of risers on septic tanks. Of course, if you are unsure of doing this work yourself you may want to hire a professional to locate your system, install risers and lids, and perform any other needed maintenance.

Thank you to Thurston County Environmental Health for providing the basis of this documentation. Clallam County, Washington. Report or Comment About. Index A-Z. A few safety tips before you get started: Hitting an underground power line while digging can be deadly!

If you are at all unsure about underground lines on your property, have them located by calling or or online at www. Use the buddy system! Installing a riser system can also save you money when it comes time to get your septic system pumped out. Please follow the guide below and you will have no problems. To install a riser system on your septic tank you will need the following items. Click on the item to buy them. Note: You will need to meausre the size of the hole in your septic tank.

Then buy the Adapter and Risers slightly larger than the hole. You will want to remove any dirt that is on the top of your septic tank. Doing so will help insure that you create a good seal. Pictured to the left is a concrete ring. We are using this to demonstrate how to install a riser system. This is meant to provide a visual representation of a hole in a concrete septic tank.

The next question you might be asking yourself is, why do you need a septic tank riser? Your Septic Tank Access port or pump-out port needs to be accessed anytime your tank needs to be emptied. Depending on the size of your tank, the number of people in the house, and the demand put onto the system, you will need to pump your tank about every 3 years.

So what that means is, if you have a septic tank without a riser, every three years you will need to:. If you are having a new septic system installed, more than likely it will include septic tank risers. So your question may be, can you install septic tank risers on an older septic tank? The answer is yes, you can install a septic tank riser on an older septic tank.

So if you want to go ahead and install your septic tank riser yourself, here are the steps you will need. Here are the steps you need to take to install your own septic tank riser on a concrete septic tank. Here is a quick video that shows you exactly this process for installing your septic tank risers. There are a couple of good brands when it comes to purchasing a quality septic tank riser.

But the one that really stands out in terms of consistent customer reviews is Tuf-Tite Septic Tank Risers.