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Oil Central Heating and Septic Tank Costs

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Comments

  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    david29dpo wrote: »
    Make sure the soakaway works. Lift the man hole cover PAST the tank to check the water is not backed up.

    Just bear in mind that after the sort of rain we've been having, even a perfectly serviceable system may falter in this respect.

    The tank itself, if properly constructed when the house was built, should be OK for a good while, and it's very unlikely to be a cesspool.
  • It's worth mentioning that a septic tank can be cheap to run as long as you make sure that you don't block it by flushing away make-up wipes, nappies etc. Sorry if it sounds like I'm stating the obvious but it's easily done...
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    david29dpo wrote: »
    Make sure the soakaway works. Lift the man hole cover PAST the tank to check the water is not backed up.
    This raises a more general point.

    My impression from this forum is that very few people actually check anything themselves (whether lifting a manhole cover, looking at the type/age of Consumer Unit, even looking at the roof where it is obvious if tiles are cracked/missing).

    Most people rely on a survey - and then often go for the cheapest 'Valuation' survey which tells them little.

    Spending several hundred thousand pounds surely warrants poking around yourself a little? People buying a used car spend longer checking it than they do a house!

    And if you're planning to live there for a year, 5 maybe 10 years, surely it helps to know where the stopc*ck is, how to inspect the septic tank etc...
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I think they allow us to say "stopcock" now.

    There's progress! :D
  • Thanks for the replies.

    I'll have a poke around myself but a family friend (friend of my fathers for 40+ years) is a Chartered Surveyor so will also be getting him to take a look.

    A few of the houses I've looked at and nearly discounted (including my favourite) have septic tanks so nice to see I don't really have need to be concerned.

    I can easily control what goes down the toilets (no small children) so not worried on that score.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Davesnave wrote: »
    I think they allow us to say "stopcock" now.

    There's progress! :D
    Great! As long as it's one word. I suspect that 'stop !!!!' will be censored, Let's see......
    I can easily control what goes down the toilets (no small children) so not worried on that score.
    Got a girlfriend/wife? Watch out for those monthly blockages!
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