Among us, there are many who take personal hygiene very seriously and for that, bathrooms are one of the most frequently visited parts of our house daily.
That is why we need to pay extra care and attention when we are setting up different components to set up a well established waste management system. You can find out about septic tanks from the abstract below.
Can I Buy Concrete Septic Tank Lids?
Septic Tank lids are available in the market for purchase and even the ones made of concrete as well. Since the tanks come in different sizes, the concrete septic tank lids are available in different sizes as well – thus you need to find the lid that is compatible and fits with your tank.
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A septic tank is a container that is usually made of concrete, fiberglass or plastic which is buried underground to contain waste from your house.
It holds the wastewater and stores the solid waste at the bottom while the liquid waste remains at the top until they are discharged away into the sewage lines.
A septic tank is a crucial part of a house, without the tank – it becomes excessively difficult to properly maintain our hygiene and handle waste management. Therefore, it could pose a great problem if the septic tank is not functioning properly.
Like every construction, your septic tank is vulnerable to damage or wears as well. However, the septic tank stays buried underground which makes it concealed from external damage and the only part that is exposed above ground is the lid.
The septic tank lids are vulnerable to damage even if they are made of concrete and they can be damaged by instances like the weight of a car driving over it or placing any heavy items on top of it.
Also if you set up your septic tank lid to be too exposed to the ground where it is accessible quite easily, then it is more susceptible to damage from accidents during digging or shoveling.
Therefore, when you notice signs of damage or wear – you should either repair or replace the lid. In case of excessive damages, repairing won’t be sufficient and you would need to buy a replacement concrete lid from the store or make them yourself.
Do septic tanks have concrete lids? What size are concrete septic tank lids?
Modern septic tanks usually have two lids: both for inlet and outlet which vary based on different factors such as the shape and size of the septic tank they are going to be installed in.
The lids need to be quite durable to last for at least a few decades without experiencing wear or tear.
Most people find concrete septic tanks and lids to be preferable because they have greater longevity and also tougher than other materials. Similarly most septic tank lids are also made of concrete because materials such as fiberglass and polyethylene lids tend to break easily.
The size of a septic tank lid depends on the size of the tank you’ve installed, but generally the lid size can be over 30 inches with lid thickness greater than 3 inches while the concrete thickness ranges between 3000 to 6000 PSI.
How much does a septic tank top cost?
The cost of septic tank tops depends on the size of the septic tank it is going to be installed on, however, for the average sized septic tanks the cost would range around $30 to $70.
But if your septic tank is large with a capacity over 9000 gallons, then the cost for a concrete lid might reach around $500.
Most septic tanks lids are sized around 25 to 30 inches – which have an average cost of $40.
The largest size of a septic tank is known to be around 130 inches which costs around $500 but most household septic tank lids do not cost that much, therefore it’s wise to replace the lids if you notice any visible cracks on the lid.
One issue with concrete septic tanks is that they often require to be professionally installed by a plumber onto your septic tank. Due to this additional fee, the overall cost of buying the septic tank lid as well as the labor fee becomes expensive.
However, the durability and toughness concrete lids provide can be considered to be a worthy payoff for the price.
Where can you purchase replacement lids for your septic tank?
When you notice that your septic tank lid is cracked or damaged, it is crucial to immediately tend to it whether you choose to repair it or replace it with a new one. However, in case your tank lid is severely damaged – it is best to buy a new one from one of the places below:
Online stores:
If you know the size of your tank lid, it is too easy to find your desired tank lid from various online stores. You may choose to visit the online store of the specific brand you bought your septic tank from or you may also find good deals from local retailers selling lids.
The best thing about finding your lid from online stores is that you can look around across a huge selection and choose the one that fits your needs the best.
Local sanitaryware stores:
If you are not comfortable with buying products online, then you can always choose the traditional route of buying the lid from your local sanitaryware store. But make sure to keep the size and measurements of your lid in mind before purchasing the replacement.
Septic tank retail store:
Buying from the manufacturers who designed and made your septic tank is the best option in order to get a durable and good quality lid as well as having a perfect fit into the tank.
How to measure septic tank lid size?
Follow the steps below to measure your septic tank lid’s size:
Find the septic tank lid:
Before you get started with the measurement, you need to first locate the septic tank’s lid since they are usually hidden under a thin layer of soil.
Use a probing tool to poke the ground to look for the septic tank until you hit something sturdy – which is possibly the septic tank.
Remove the lid off the tank:
Once the tank has been located, dig out the top soil to expose the tank lid and then unlock the tank if it is secured in place. After the area is clear of all the dirt and the lid is fully exposed, remove it off the tank and place it in a clean area for taking measurements.
Measure the diameter:
Take a measurement tape or any other tools that allow accurate measurements to be taken. With the measurement device, measure the diameter of the lid by measuring the distance between two points on opposite ends.
Repeat this for 3 to 4 times and take the average of the values to find the lid size.
How do you make a concrete septic tank lid?
You can make your own concrete lid to save down on costs, the process is simple as follows:
Create a circular frame:
In order to create a circular shaped concrete lid, you need to have a frame to shape the lid that has the same diameter as the previous lid. You can cut, mold and use a plastic barrel into your desired diameter and form the frame for the lid.
The frame should be around 1 foot deep with a pipe sticking in the middle to form the vent of the tank.
Prepare the cement mixture:
With the frame ready, you should proceed to prepare the cement mixture according to the instructions labeled in the cement package. Once the mixture is ready, pour the mixture into the frame until the height reached by the mixture is around 6 inches and then let the cement to dry.
Dip the handles onto the mixture:
While the cement has slightly dried, dip two handles onto the mixture in the frame to form the handles on two sides of the lid. After they are firmly placed, let the cement dry for at least 24 hours until both the cement has solidified and the handles firmly mounted.
Cut the frame once the cement has dried:
Finally, cut the frame away from the side of the concrete lid and you may use sandpaper to smoothen the edges of the lid. Once that’s done, place the lid on top of the tank and attach the U-bend to the pipe coming out of the lid.
Final Thoughts
Septic tank lids, even the ones built out of concrete, are available for purchase in most sanitaryware stores. Since tanks vary in size, so do concrete septic tank lids; therefore, you must pick a lid that is compatible with and fits your tank. But concrete lids cost more due to extra setup costs.