Septic Riser and Lid Installation in Collingdale, PA
Easy access makes septic care simpler. Risers and lids let you and your septic company check the tank without digging up the yard, and they make it far easier to find the tank later.
Companies that work across Delaware County can add risers to most existing tanks.
What a septic riser is
A riser is a short pipe or collar, usually plastic or concrete, that attaches to the tank opening and extends it to ground level. A lid on top, typically secured with screws or a lock, keeps it closed. Most tanks have at least two openings, and many benefit from a riser on each, plus one on the effluent filter.
Why homeowners add risers
Risers save time and money on every pumping and inspection because no digging is needed. They make it easy to check the filter, see problems early and get to the tank fast in an emergency. Many homeowners add them the first time a crew has to dig for buried lids.
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.
Keeping lids secure
A secure lid is a safety requirement, not an option. Check lids once in a while for cracks or loose screws. If a lid is damaged, cover the opening and call for a replacement.
What a riser job costs depends on
The price depends on how many openings get risers, how deep the tank is buried, whether plastic or concrete is used, and whether the job is done during a pumping visit. Deeper tanks need taller risers and more digging, which adds labor time.
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 Collingdale septic company which options they recommend for your tank and why.
After risers are installed
Once risers are in, pumping and inspection visits in Collingdale are quicker because the crew can open the tank without digging. Keep the lids visible and clear of mulch or soil, and check them now and then for cracks or loose screws. Note the location on a sketch of your property so future owners and contractors can find the tank easily.
Good times to add risers
The best time to add risers is during a scheduled pumping, when the lids are already dug up. They are also worth adding after buying a home if no one knows where the lids are, or if your service company charges extra to dig.
Making tanks easier to reach near Collingdale
If your service company has to dig to reach the tank every time, risers are worth asking about. Septic companies around Collingdale install them on most tank types, and the savings on future visits often cover the cost over time.
Risers and lids for Collingdale weather
Where soils are rated very limited, as most mapped soils near Collingdale are, frequent checks of the tank and filter help protect the drain field. Risers make those checks quick. With about 48 inches of precipitation a year, a well-sealed riser matters. Poorly sealed joints can let groundwater into the tank. With about 1 months below freezing, an insulated lid can help protect the tank opening in winter.
Local conditions in Collingdale that affect septic riser and lid installation
Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Collingdale, the USDA soil survey rates 94% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 6% as somewhat limited and 0% as not limited. The most common drainage class is well drained. Soils like these often call for careful system design, such as a larger drain field, a mound or another engineered system, and a site evaluation before any new installation or replacement.
Collingdale averages about 48 inches of precipitation a year, and June is usually the wettest month. Average temperatures stay below freezing for about 1 month a year, with January averaging 30°F, so tank lids and shallow lines benefit from a layer of snow or mulch rather than being cleared bare.
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 Collingdale means for septic riser and lid installation
By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Collingdale as 57% well drained, 21% moderately well drained, 11% poorly drained, 5% very poorly drained, 3% somewhat excessively drained, 3% somewhat poorly 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 Collingdale
These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Collingdale, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.
- Joseph Walls Septic Service, Upper Chichester, PA, 11.3 mi
- B Martin Wastewater Service, Garnet Valley, PA, 11.7 mi
- Hickman Sanitation Service, West Chester, PA, 16.5 mi
- Eldredge Septic Service, West Chester, PA, 17.3 mi
- Billy's Septic Service, Monroeville, NJ, 18.1 mi
- Ace Disposal, Malvern, PA, 19.8 mi
Septic Riser and Lid Installation in nearby towns
We also cover septic riser and lid installation in these towns near Collingdale:
- Sharon Hill, 0.7 mi
- Aldan, 0.8 mi
- Darby, 1 mi
- Glenolden, 1.3 mi
- Colwyn, 1.3 mi
- Clifton Heights, 1.4 mi
About Collingdale, PA
Collingdale is in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. About 8,833 people live there, across 0.9 square miles of land (about 10,165 per square mile).
Septic Riser and Lid Installation questions in Collingdale
- How long does riser installation take?
- Usually a few hours, often done during a pumping visit.
- Will risers make my yard look worse?
- Lids sit at or just above ground level and are usually green or tan. Many homeowners find them less noticeable than the patches left by repeated digging.
- Do risers help in cold climates?
- Insulated lids can help protect the tank opening. Ask your septic company whether an insulated lid makes sense for your area.
- Is SepticTank.com the company that installs risers?
- No. SepticTank.com connects you with an independent local septic company that serves Collingdale. That company does the work and sets its own prices.