Septic Tank Risers for Dunwoody Homes
If your septic company has to dig up the lid every time they visit, a riser can pay for itself. Risers extend the tank openings to the surface and are capped with lids that lock.
Request a call and a company working in Dunwoody will explain the options and install risers on your tank.
How risers and lids work
The riser bonds or bolts to the tank opening and is sealed to keep groundwater and soil out. It is cut to reach just at or above grade. The lid sits on top so the tank can be opened by hand without a shovel. Some lids are insulated for cold weather.
Benefits of adding risers
Risers cut the time and cost of every pumping and inspection, since no digging is needed. They make it easy to check the effluent filter, spot problems early and show inspectors the tank during a home sale. They also protect your lawn from repeated digging.
Installing risers on an existing tank
Nearly any concrete or plastic tank can accept risers. The installer matches the riser to the opening size and material, seals it to keep water out, and secures the lid. Lids should always be fastened so children and pets cannot open them.
Riser safety
Septic tanks contain gases and deep liquid, so lids must stay secured. Use lids with screws or locks, replace cracked lids promptly and never leave an opening uncovered. Keep vehicles off riser lids unless they are rated for traffic.
Is a riser worth it
For most homes with buried lids, yes. The savings from not digging on every visit, plus easier inspections, often cover the cost over a few pumpings. Ask your septic company to compare the cost with what you pay for digging now.
Questions to ask about risers
Ask how many openings your tank has, which should get risers, what material they use, and whether lids are secured with screws or locks. Ask if they can install during your next pumping.
Getting the right fit
Tank openings vary in size and shape, so your installer will measure before choosing parts. The riser must seal tightly to the tank so groundwater stays out, and the lid must lock so it cannot be opened by children or pets. Ask your Dunwoody septic company which options they recommend for your tank and why.
Getting the most from your risers
Risers make it easy to check the effluent filter between pumpings. Ask your septic company to show you how to open the lid safely and what to look for. Many Dunwoody homeowners also find it easier to keep a regular pumping schedule once access is simple.
Is your tank a good candidate
Most tanks can take risers, but the value depends on how deep the lids are and how often the tank is opened. Ask your Dunwoody septic company how deep your lids sit, how much digging costs on each visit, and whether an effluent filter is installed. Those answers usually make the decision easy.
Choosing riser lids for a Dunwoody yard
Riser lids for Dunwoody homes come in green or brown plastic and in concrete. Plastic is lighter and easier to open, while concrete is heavier and harder to move. Either way, the lid should lock or screw down. Ask the installer to seal the joint so groundwater cannot leak into the tank.
Risers and lids for Dunwoody weather
Whatever the soil on your lot, easy access through a riser makes routine pumping and filter checks faster. With about 51 inches of precipitation a year, a well-sealed riser matters. Poorly sealed joints can let groundwater into the tank.
Local conditions in Dunwoody that affect septic riser and lid installation
Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Dunwoody, the USDA soil survey rates 41% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 59% as somewhat limited and 0% as not limited. The most common drainage class is well drained. Conditions vary from lot to lot here, so a site evaluation is the only way to know how well a particular yard will handle a drain field.
Dunwoody averages about 51 inches of precipitation a year, and December is usually the wettest month. January is the coldest month at about 40°F on average, so freezing is rarely the main concern here. Heavy rain and saturated ground are the bigger factors for drain fields.
Sources: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access; NASA POWER long-term climatology. Soil ratings describe mapped soil types near the city center and do not replace a site evaluation of your property.
What the soil around Dunwoody means for septic riser and lid installation
By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Dunwoody as 82% well drained, 9% moderately well drained, 4% somewhat poorly drained, 3% poorly drained, 1% somewhat excessively drained, 1% excessively drained. Risers bring the tank lids to the surface, which makes regular pumping and inspection quicker and cleaner.
Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access
Septic companies near Dunwoody
These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Dunwoody, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.
- Action Septic Tank Service, Alpharetta, GA, 7.7 mi
- Independent Septic & Sewer LLC, Marietta, GA, 11.3 mi
- Action Septic Pro LLC, Lawrenceville, GA, 14.1 mi
- Hardin Septic Tank Sewer Lines, Alpharetta, GA, 15.1 mi
- Amerisep, Stone Mountain, GA, 15.5 mi
- CW Septic Tank Service, Suwanee, GA, 15.8 mi
Septic Riser and Lid Installation in nearby towns
We also cover septic riser and lid installation in these towns near Dunwoody:
- Sandy Springs, 3.3 mi
- Doraville, 3.4 mi
- Chamblee, 4.2 mi
- Peachtree Corners, 4.9 mi
- Brookhaven, 5.7 mi
- Norcross, 6.1 mi
About Dunwoody, GA
Dunwoody is in DeKalb County, Georgia. About 51,713 people live there, across 13.0 square miles of land (about 3,970 per square mile).
Septic Riser and Lid Installation questions in Dunwoody
- How long does riser installation take?
- Usually a few hours, often done during a pumping visit.
- Can risers be installed on any tank?
- Most concrete and plastic tanks can accept risers. Your septic company will check the openings and choose matching parts.
- Can I mow over a septic riser?
- Most lids sit at grade so you can mow around them easily. Avoid driving heavy equipment over them unless they are traffic rated.
- Do I need a permit to add risers?
- Usually not, but some areas have rules. Check with the DeKalb County health department or ask your septic company.