Trash Tank
Wastewater from the house enters the trash tank first.
Aerobic septic
Aerobic Septic Systems in McKinney, TX
Aerobic septic system installation for McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Lucas and the clay soil lots across Collin County where a conventional drain field won't pass. Installed, inspected and serviced by Steele Construction.
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An aerobic septic system treats wastewater with air inside the tank so the water leaving it is clean enough to be sprayed or dripped onto the surface, instead of soaking through a drain field. Steele Construction LLC installs, inspects and maintains aerobic systems for homes and businesses in McKinney and across Collin County, where clay soil and smaller lots rule out a conventional field on many properties. Septic tank installations carry a one year warranty.
How it works
What an Aerobic Septic System Is and How It Works
A conventional system lets the soil do the treatment. An aerobic septic system does the treatment in the tank, then puts clean water out over the yard. Three compartments and a chlorinator handle that job.
Chlorine Tablet Container
On the discharge side, a container in the pipe holds chlorine tablets that treat the water one last time before it is pumped out to the sprinkler field. The tablets are made specifically for septic systems. Pool chlorine is not the same product and does not belong in the container.
Which one
Aerobic vs Conventional Septic: Which One Your Lot Needs
The lot decides. Here is how the two compare on the things that matter.
Conventional
Aerobic
Soil
Conventional: Needs soil that absorbs water.
Aerobic: Works on clay and other soils that do not absorb water.
Space
Conventional: Needs room for a full drain field.
Aerobic: Fits on smaller lots and tight sites.
Moving parts
Conventional: Tank and gravity field. No pump, no aerator.
Aerobic: Pump, aerator, control box, spray heads or drip lines.
Power
Conventional: None.
Aerobic: Electrical hookup for the pump control box.
Maintenance
Conventional: Periodic pump outs.
Aerobic: Scheduled service on the pump and aerator, chlorine tablets refilled, plus pump outs.
Install cost
Conventional: Generally lower on favorable soil with room for a field.
Aerobic: Generally higher, with more equipment to furnish and install.
Conventional septic systems work well for properties with suitable soil and enough space. When soil conditions or available space make a conventional system unsuitable, an aerobic system may be required. We evaluate the site to determine the right system and install both.
All four septic system types we installOngoing service
Aerobic Septic System Maintenance
Aerobic septic systems require regular maintenance to keep the aerator, pump, controls and chlorine system working properly. Routine service helps catch problems before they lead to untreated wastewater, backups or system failure.
We service aerobic systems we install as well as existing systems. Maintenance includes inspecting the tank, aerator, pump and controls, checking and replenishing septic-grade chlorine tablets as needed, pump maintenance and pumping the trash tank when necessary.
Pricing
What an Aerobic Septic System Costs
An aerobic septic system generally costs more to install than a conventional system, because there is more to furnish and install: the tank with its chambers, the aerator, the pump system and its wiring, the control box and the spray heads or drip lines. It is the system a lot gets when the soil will not absorb water or the space is limited, and both of those conditions push the price up.
Size moves the number too. A system is sized in gallons per day based on how many people use it. A two person household needs a smaller system than a busy business, and an event venue has to be sized for peak occupancy so the system does not flood when the building is full.
Our price includes furnishing and installing the tank, the piping for the sprinkler system, the pump system with wiring, and the excavation and dirt work to put it in and return the grade to where it was. The outflow sewage pipe from the building plumber and the electrical hookup from the building electrician are not included. Every aerobic install is quoted after a site visit. Estimates are free.
Questions
Aerobic Septic Questions From McKinney Homeowners
Do I need an aerobic septic system on a clay lot in McKinney?
Often, yes. Black clay does not absorb water well, and a conventional drain field depends on soil that does. If the soil will not take a field or the lot is too small for one, an aerobic system is usually the option that will be approved. The site visit and the engineered design settle it.
Does an aerobic system need electricity?
Yes. The aerator and the pump run on power, and the pump control box needs an electrical hookup at the system location. The building electrician provides that wiring and conduit.
What maintenance does an aerobic septic system need?
Scheduled service on the aerator, pump and controls, checking and refilling the chlorine tablet container with septic-grade tablets, and pumping out the trash tank so solids do not reach the aeration chamber. Chlorine is a required item on the yearly maintenance report to TCEQ. We provide inspections, pump maintenance and pump outs on any aerobic system, whether we installed it or not.
What is included in the price of an aerobic septic installation?
The tank, the piping for the sprinkler system, the pump system with wiring, and the excavation and dirt work to install it and return the grade. The outflow pipe from the plumber and the electrical hookup from the electrician are separate.
Who handles the permit and design?
Every system needs an engineered design by a licensed septic engineer, reviewed and approved by the local governing authority, which issues the permit and inspects the finished system before it goes into use. We work through that process with you before installation starts.
Is there a warranty?
Septic tank installations carry a one year warranty. That warranty applies to septic tank installations only.
Schedule a Site Evaluation
Send the property address and roughly how many people will use the system. We walk the lot, look at the soil and the space, and tell you whether it needs an aerobic system before anything gets designed. Free estimates.