If you’re planning on installing a septic tank in your home, knowing what its dimensions need to be is a key part of the process.
The importance of the tank’s dimensions is due to several factors, including how much it’ll cost you when you’re pumping it and when you hire professionals to clean or repair it.
So what are the dimensions of a 1000-gallon septic tank? Read on to find out.
Dimensions of a 1000 Gallon Septic Tank
The dimensions of a septic tank are dependent on a few factors, including
Type of Tank
There are two types of septic tanks: low-profile and heavy-duty.
- Dimensions of a 1000-Gallon heavy-duty tank: 96 inches x 78 inches x 61 inches (L x W x H)
- Dimensions of a 1000-Gallon low-profile tank: 120 inches x 67 inches x 57 inches (L x W x H)
The dimensions mentioned above may vary for different construction thicknesses and materials. For example, the dimensions of a concrete heavy-duty tank will be different from a steel one.
Depth of the Tank
Naturally, deeper tanks have larger dimensions. With that in mind, it’s essential that the depth of your tank matches your needs.
Excessively or insufficiently deep tanks won’t function properly and will pose several issues.
Types of Septic Tanks and Their Dimensions
The most common types of septic tanks used residentially are:
- Plastic (Polyethylene) tanks
- Concrete tanks
- Fiber-glass tanks
- Steel tanks
There are differences in the dimensions of these septic tank types even if they’re of the same capacity.
Here are the likely dimensions of a 1000 gallon septic tank of each of these materials:
Fiber Glass or Plastic (Polyethylene)
- Length: 126 inches
- Width: 50 inches
- Height: 61 inches
Concrete
Heavy Duty
- Length: 96 inches
- Width: 78 inches
- Height: 61 inches
Low Profile
- Length: 120 inches
- Width: 67 inches
- Height: 57 inches
Steel
- Length: 58 inches
- Width: 58 inches
- Height: 96 inches
How Big Should Your Septic Tank Be?
In order to understand the importance of a septic tank’s dimensions, you first need to know the function of a septic tank.
Septic tanks are waste management and filtration apparatuses. If you have one installed, all the wastewater coming out of your house goes into it.
The wastewater remains in the tank, in which certain processes occur that separate any solid particles from the wastewater. The filtered liquid is then directed into the drainage.
The size of a septic tank is a major determinant of whether or not it’ll function smoothly. If it’s the right size, it’s unlikely to pose any issues.
What Is the Right Septic Tank Size for Me?
The size of a septic tank should be based on the load it’s going to be under. This is determined by factors such as:
Who Is Going to Use It?
- The size of the household’s total area.
- How many people are in the household?
- How many bedrooms are in the household?
- How often do guests visit?
- How often are there large group gatherings in the household?
As you’ve probably noticed, these are all factors related to the number of people that’ll be using the household, and in turn, how much waste will be handled by the septic tank.
Water Intensive Appliances
If you’re considering installing a septic tank on your property, you must also keep in mind your household’s level of water usage when deciding on your tank’s size.
Water consumption is increased significantly by the presence of certain features in any home, these include:
- Swimming pools, hot tubs, steam rooms.
- Multiple kitchens, dishwashers.
- Waterfall showers.
The presence of any of these features in the household will make a larger septic tank necessary in order to deal with the higher level of water flowing into it.
Septic Tanks With Incorrect Dimensions
If you miscalculate the required size when installing a septic tank, a wide range of problems are likely to arise.
Insufficient Size
A septic tank that is too small/shallow is likely to fail due to its inability to deal with the amount of wastewater entering it. Such septic tanks are susceptible to overflowing, getting clogged up, and emitting highly unsavory smells
Septic tanks that are too small will experience more water pressure than they can cope with. This will result in the tank letting wastewater pass through before the filtering process is fully complete.
The solid waste that hasn’t been properly handled will rest in the tank, which can cause the aforementioned clogging, bad smell, and overflow.
Excessive Size
A septic tank with oversized dimensions is just as problematic as one that’s too small. Septic tanks disintegrate solids through the accumulation of water in them, which allows bacteria to flourish and break down solid waste by feeding on it.
A septic tank that’s too large hinders this process because it isn’t conducive to the required water build-up. Therefore, there won’t be enough bacteria to fully dissolve the solids in the wastewater.
Balance is Key
In order for a septic tank to work as it should, its dimensions should be meticulously calculated. This is essential if you want to keep your tank running smoothly and safely in the long run.
Your best bet is to consult a professional in this matter. This may cost more money in the initial installation of the tank, but it’ll save you significantly more in the long run in maintenance and repair costs.
The rule of thumb is that the capacity of the tank should be increased by 48 gallons for each additional user.
Conclusion
The optimum dimensions of a 1000-gallon septic tank depend on a wide range of factors.
These factors include the type of the tank and the number of people that are going to be using it. They also include the water consumption in the house, which can be gauged by the amount of water-intensive appliances in it.
Installing a septic tank with unsuitable dimensions can be significantly problematic. It can lead to blockages, overflows, and unpleasant odors. It’ll also result in your septic tank not functioning in the optimum manner.