If you’re building a new home or having major renovations done, you’ll need to address the septic tanks as well.
Septic tanks are an integral part of a home’s plumbing system and naturally, you’d want them to serve you for years to come. In modern times, the horizons of materials used to make septic tanks have grown quite a bit, but cement still remains the best among them.
Some cities and towns have made it mandatory to use concrete septic tanks for good reasons. These tanks are durable and cost-effective in the long run, making them ideal for use in areas where repeated digging isn’t possible.
Here’s how precast concrete septic tanks tower over tanks made from other materials.
Why Precast Concrete Tanks Are Preferable
1. They Cost Less
Since they are made in bulk, precast concrete tanks cost less and require much less effort to make. This reduces the manufacturing costs significantly, and if the same mold has to be used repeatedly for several projects, the overhead production costs reduce even further. This makes for a cost-effective septic tank that is durable and long-lasting to boot.
2. They Are Easy And Quick To Install
Precast concrete tanks are hardened and cured in the factory, eliminating the need to wait for concrete to harden on the construction site. This makes it so that the tanks can be installed immediately without waiting.
These tanks are also highly modular, which speeds up the installation process. And the chances of damage by heavy-duty machinery are low, which allows for installation that doesn’t require an extremely high degree of precision.
3. Made In A Controlled Environment
The manufacturer takes great care when making precast concrete septic tanks. They ensure that the conditions remain consistent and ideal throughout, maintaining proper control over the mix and its placement. From mixing to the curing stages, the quality of concrete is ensured to be consistently high.
And since the concrete is mixed and used in a controlled environment, there are no chances of any atmospheric variance affecting its quality. This results in consistently high-quality concrete tanks that are more durable than standard on-site mixes.
Why They Are Superior To Plastic Or Fiberglass Tanks
1. Precast Concrete Tanks Are Heavy
A precast concrete tank is heavy which enables it to resist the buoyant forces better. Septic tanks made from lighter materials like plastic have the ever-present possibility of ‘’floating’’ above wastewater, making them less than ideal.
In the long run, when maintenance is factored in, a precast concrete tank is less likely to cause you issues because of this.
2. Precast Concrete Tanks Cannot Rust
Rust in septic tanks is a very real possibility since they are always surrounded by water. Steel tanks as well as metallic parts of plastic and fiberglass tanks may have their structural integrity compromised due to rust.
Precast concrete septic tanks, on the other hand, have no such problems. Their strength doesn’t deteriorate over time, giving them extended durability to last years without problems.
3. Concrete Is Easier On The Environment Than Other Materials
Concrete’s non-toxic nature makes it a superior option over other materials. Made from completely natural ingredients, a precast concrete tank doesn’t affect the groundwater or surface water quality at all.
This is in sharp contrast to other artificial materials that can leave a nasty effect on the surrounding soil.
4. Lower Chances Of Tank Collapse
Sooner or later, your septic tank will require pumping, and plastic tanks require it more often. They are vulnerable to collapsing when pumping, and fixing the mess left afterward is difficult.
Concrete tanks, on the other hand, don’t collapse even if they have to be pumped multiple times.
5. Concrete Tanks Last For A Long Time
It could be decades before you need to replace a concrete septic tank, which is certainly not the case for other materials. They are durable and can outlast every alternative on the market.
Plastic or steel tanks require more frequent maintenance and, in some cases, complete replacement within a few years of installation. These are temporary but expensive investments, one that you may end up regretting if you install them in your home.
6. Precast Concrete Tanks Have Higher Effluent Capacity
Wastewater and sludge decompose over time in a septic tank. If the sludge fills up the tank prematurely, it requires to be pumped. Owing to the large size of concrete tanks, the effluent decomposes in the tank before it can fill it up, making it less likely to need pumping. Concrete tanks are the ideal choice for this reason as well.
7. Precast Concrete Tanks Are Watertight
Precast concrete is less prone to leaks and holds water inherently, unlike plastic and fiberglass which need different processes to hold the fluid. You’ll face fewer leaks in your concrete tank’s lifetime.
Precast Concrete Solutions
Due to their heavy-duty nature and inherent water tightness, precast concrete septic tanks have been the most preferred tanks yet. The numerous ways in which they bring convenience to the installation and maintenance processes are difficult to understate. Other materials bring in too many drawbacks to make for an ideal replacement for traditional concrete.
Among the majority of septic systems in service in the United States, the most common kinds of septic tanks are concrete and plastic. The acidic nature of human waste makes steel tanks unviable, while the environmental impact and lightness of plastic make them unfit. Either way, you cannot go wrong with a concrete tank.
Even traditional concrete has a longer installation time than precast, making the latter more favorable. So, if you’re in need of replacing your septic tank, you may consider having a precast concrete septic tank installed.
