OT- Cheap Septic tank risers

[dwol]

A bit off topic, but maybe will help others. Does anyone have a good Idea for making cheap septic tank risers. I need to make 2 sets for two different homes, and all the ready to go plastic ones would cost me around $600. (This is for 4 24 inch wide, 12 inch tall plastic riser tubes, 4 lids and 4 base adapters.
I was thinking maybe a steal drum? or large pipe ends?, but for the price of the plastic ones, I will have to pass. Any Ideas are welcome
Kind regards
Dave

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 18:24:06 04/17/12) A bit off topic, but maybe will help others. Does anyone have a good Idea for making cheap septic tank risers. I need to make 2 sets for two different homes, and all the ready to go plastic ones would cost me around $600. (This is for 4 24 inch wide, 12 inch tall plastic riser tubes, 4 lids and 4 base adapters.
I was thinking maybe a steal drum? or large pipe ends?, but for the price of the plastic ones, I will have to pass. Any Ideas are welcome
Kind regards
Dave

I recently purchased a concrete riser with cover from a local company that casts tanks and drains. Worked great and a lot chepaer than the plastic ones.

TOH

 

[Bob Harvey]

Yep, around here, a 24"x24" round riser with lid is about $140. Shipping could be restrictive !... ;^)

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 02:24:06 04/18/12) A bit off topic, but maybe will help others. Does anyone have a good Idea for making cheap septic tank risers. I need to make 2 sets for two different homes, and all the ready to go plastic ones would cost me around $600. (This is for 4 24 inch wide, 12 inch tall plastic riser tubes, 4 lids and 4 base adapters.
I was thinking maybe a steal drum? or large pipe ends?, but for the price of the plastic ones, I will have to pass. Any Ideas are welcome
Kind regards
Dave

I re-did mine with cinder blocks and caped off with stainless steal plate... It does not have to be pertly... One one tank the top was 4ft in the ground,,, I lost the lid try'n to remove it was the whole top for the tank and had to make another,,, while doing it the monsoons set in,,, I used a boat bilge pump to pump all the water out... Why would anyone buy a riser when its so EZ to make yourself...

 

[Tom N MS]

Riser? What ya"ll talking about? Mine don"t have anything above the ground.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I used a precast concrete riser and put the septic tank lid on top of it. i think they were like $50 apiece.

 

[dwol]

Thanks guys, I will look around for a cast concrete one. I like the idea of Cylinder blocks as well. I was thinking of something similar but with cheep concrete pavers. Just want to make sure the lid is on good and solid. Also would be nice to have a seal to prevent any water from getting in. So maybe the cast concrete one is the best if I can find it.

 

[BP in Mich]

I went to a pipe company and they cut me two pieces of plastic ribbed black pipe big enough to cover the clean outs. I made plywood tops for them.

This was a few years ago and I don't remember what they cost but I know it was way less than $100 or I never wouldn't have bought them.

BP

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 00:50:02 04/18/12) Thanks guys, I will look around for a cast concrete one. I like the idea of Cylinder blocks as well. I was thinking of something similar but with cheep concrete pavers. Just want to make sure the lid is on good and solid. Also would be nice to have a seal to prevent any water from getting in. So maybe the cast concrete one is the best if I can find it.

Water gets in every time you flush or open a faucet so sealing it against ground water entry isn't a big issue :idea: The riser is just a manhole access for getting to the tank cover when pumping it out. My tank was originally installed without one and had a loose fitting concrete "plug" in the cleanout. When I had it pumped the first time I simply dug out the top where the plug was and sat a new riser on the top of the tank leaving the original concrete tank plug in place. I then put the second cover on top of the riser - done. I wanted it flush with grade so I also placed one course of red bricks under the riser to get it "just right". No mortar - just laid flat side by side around the perimeter of the riser and held in place by the backfill. Works just dandy and I painted the cover green so it blends into the front lawn as well.

TOH

 

[carlntexas]

I could'nt figger what a riser was until Oldhokie explained it I've never seen one. I guess it's more of a northern thing around here we just dig'um up if they need cleaning. Mine is going on 20yrs and never been pumped out have heard of some going 40yrs, but they were filled solid.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 10:11:06 04/18/12) I could'nt figger what a riser was until Oldhokie explained it I've never seen one. I guess it's more of a northern thing around here we just dig'um up if they need cleaning. Mine is going on 20yrs and never been pumped out have heard of some going 40yrs, but they were filled solid.

Many native Marylander's would bristle at the thought of being called a Northener :roll: My tank went 15 years before I pumped it - rite full but not solid :lol:

TOH

 

[carlntexas]

Sorry may be should have said cold country. :lol:

 

[dwol]

Good stuff! I like the idea of two lids (plugs) just for safety sake. Thanks Guys!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I used a heavy plastic feed basket,cut the bottom out,and put it upside down on the opening with the original lid on it,re-buried it.Now it's only 6 inches down instead of 2 feet.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I sealed mine with silicone sealer. The lid is heavy enough so that when you let the seal cure and then put the lid on, it seals pretty well.

 

[john B. NE Ind.]

I used 3, 5 gal buckets stacked together. The lid from the tank was just the right size to cover the buckets. That was 40 years ago and it still works fine. The dirt around the lid will make a good enough seal that no other sealer is needed. I worked part time in HS and then 4 years after in the sh*t buss. and can say for sure, just about anything will work and I've seen a bunch of different ones.