Homeowners Install Infiltrator Septic System in Alaska July 5-10 2017

We took the homeowners installation course offered online by the Alaskan Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Research led us to choose the Infiltrator system to serve our needs. We followed all the state requirements for installation. The regional state rep was extremely helpful answering many questions over the phone and through email, as well as coming out to the site to give us feedback after most of the system was in place.This was quite an undertaking for amateurs, but the cost savings was worth it. Considering we were given a bid of $10,000 to have a contractor install...well, the system cost us $3500, so you can do the math on the savings for this project (minus the sweat equity and occasional arguing with your spouse -- "no, no, dear, that chamber attaches there!")!!

[@kenairockband]

It’s good practice to fill the tank prior to backfilling.

[@dougmac8904]

Nice. I have to put mine deeper under clay about 5 ft down. Hope it will still work for me. Thanks again. From North Carolina, Greensboro

[@aurelioartica8569]

Where you buy and how cost and how many come

[@michaelmichaud5416]

Three feet( need in between edge to edge) . The tight , side by side defeats purpose drain filed . This is a drain pond. Need remove two of 4 laterals, I would disconnect them, switch back fourth this will extend life .

[@JoeSmith-dh1rz]

That's why you have to overkill it so it doesn't pond

[@DiGiTaLdAzEDM]

Is the proper approach to have the entire trench length beneath the chamber totally level? No slight drop? In my area the recommendation for pipe in stone drainfield is 2 inches of drop/60 feet.

[@rawnwalsh]

My system is designed to allow 6 feet between chambers, Kremmling CO

[@fredypinto9221]

how many pieces of leaching filters do we need for a 2 bath and a 1000 gallons tank

[@imaginationdronellc5762]

Does Alaska show approval for these tanks? Im not finding the info for infiltration tank for AK anyway

[@mayers19851ify]

What part of AK are you in? Considering this in Willow.

[@lakeh230]

How much did the entire system cost, minus the heavy equipment charges?

[@JoeSmith-dh1rz]

You got more than enough chambers for almost two houses lol

[@olddave4833]

that's what i thought, water will never get to the other end

[@earthling2007]

Classic over kill.

[@Zeahappy]

are u folks in the valley?

[@jiedongplasticmachinery]

We are professional manufacturers of HDPE large diameter spiral extrusion lines.

[@thomasalley4944]

Wow....get the rocks out

[@dougmac8904]

does this work without having 3 foot between each one?

[@kendrickhomestead4750]

Yes. There's about 3 feet between the center of each row, and according to the installation specs, that is sufficient. We really like the versatility of Infiltrator. Currently, we are still in house building stage, so we have not tested the system's full capacity yet. Once we get a toilet and such hooked up, we will update this post! :)

[@dougmac8904]

Kendrick Homestead thanks for t&e information. I want to use that system. What cost for the system. How many feet needed?

[@kendrickhomestead4750]

Around $2500 for the system and pvc. For the feet that depends on a few factors, I believe ours was 162 feet of leech field.

[@davidbrewer7937]

That was my initial thought when I watched this. The chamber spacing is normally set by local bylaw...

[@normnelson5103]

I'm interested how these infiltrator's were back filled to my knowledge they are highly susceptible to cave-in and lose of effluent flow. Back fill of your inlet pipe also very important it's very easy to lose the flow line into the chanmbers. Do it yourself'ers beware there is a lot of hidden things you don't see that can go wrong water doesn't flow uphill and pipes separate.

[@normnelson5103]

Do-it yourself-ers beware there are a lot of hidden things you don't see literally back filling improperly causes chamber collapse lose of line separation of pipe from chamber due to lack of support Lots of $ lost in materials

[@akbychoice]

So, you don’t need to be licensed to install a septic system?

[@melissarodabaugh3318]

Not a gravity fed one in most states.

[@JoeSmith-dh1rz]

shit will last five years plugged with roots and sand

[@JoeSmith-dh1rz]

Tanks are junk

[@imaginationdronellc5762]

Haven’t had any issues and I’m an installer. May not recommend for sub zero temp but southern AK and lower 48 good to go