How long does septic installation take?

Installation itself often takes a few days to two weeks. Soil testing, design and permit review can add several weeks, so plan ahead.

What is a mound system?

A mound system raises the drain field above the natural soil using sand and fill. It is used where the soil is too shallow, too wet or too slow draining for a conventional field.

Can a replacement system go in the same place?

Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the soil in the old field and local rules. Many replacements use a new area of the yard.

Is SepticTank.com the installer?

No. SepticTank.com connects you with an independent local septic company that serves Big Spring. That company designs, installs and prices the system.

New Septic Systems for Big Spring Properties

Replacing a failed system or installing one for a new build in Big Spring involves more than digging a hole for a tank. Soil testing, system design, permits and inspections all shape the final result.

A local installer can tell you which system types are likely to work on your lot and what the process looks like.

The installation process step by step

It starts with testing the soil to see how well it absorbs water. A designer or engineer then sizes the tank and dispersal area for the number of bedrooms. After the permit is approved, the crew excavates, sets the tank, installs the pipes and field, and schedules an inspection before backfilling.

Types of septic systems

Conventional systems use a tank and a gravity drain field and suit lots with good soil. Where soil is poor, shallow or wet, options include pressure distribution, mound systems, chamber systems, sand filters and aerobic treatment units. Your soil test and local rules decide which types are allowed on your lot.

Permits and approvals

New and replacement systems almost always need a permit. Expect a soil evaluation, a design that meets local code, plan review and at least one inspection during installation. the Howard County health department or your state agency sets the requirements, and many installers handle the application for you.

Understanding installation quotes

A complete quote should cover design, permits, excavation, the tank, the dispersal system, inspections and site restoration. Ask what is excluded, such as tree removal, electrical work for pumps or driveway repair. Compare quotes for the same system type.

Caring for a new septic system

Keep a copy of the design and as-built drawing, schedule your first pumping as recommended, and keep vehicles and structures off the tank and field. Plant only grass over the dispersal area and direct roof and yard runoff away from it. Systems with pumps or treatment units need regular service to stay under warranty.

Questions to ask an installer

Ask who performs the soil evaluation and design, whether they handle permits, what system types they recommend and why, and how long the project will take. Ask about warranty terms and what maintenance the system will need.

How long the whole project takes

The digging and installation often take days, but the full project in Big Spring can take several weeks once testing, design and permit review are included. Ask your installer for a realistic timeline for your county and what could change it, such as wet weather or a busy review office.

Questions that prevent problems later

Before work begins in Big Spring, ask where the tank and field will sit relative to your well, your neighbors and any planned projects. Ask how deep the components will be, how the yard will be restored and what records you will receive when the job is done. Clear answers now save digging up the yard later to find out.

Replacing an old system in Big Spring

When a system near Big Spring fails, replacement often means a new drain field in a fresh part of the yard. The old tank may be pumped, crushed and filled, or reused if it is sound. Howard County usually requires a permit and a final inspection. Ask for the as-built drawing once the work is done.

What Big Spring's soil means for a new system

Soils around Big Spring range from good to very limited, so the system type depends on the results of the soil test on your lot. Big Spring gets about 20 inches of precipitation a year, so water table limits are less common, though your soil test still decides the design.

Local conditions in Big Spring that affect septic installation

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Big Spring, the USDA soil survey rates 50% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 45% as somewhat limited and 6% 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.

Big Spring averages about 20 inches of precipitation a year, and September is usually the wettest month. January is the coldest month at about 43°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 Big Spring means for septic installation

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Big Spring as 100% well drained. Most of the soil here drains reasonably well, so a conventional trench field is often possible where the lot allows, but the soil test still decides.

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access

Septic companies near Big Spring

These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Big Spring, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.

B & R Septic Service, Big Spring, TX, 1.1 mi
N & H Septic Pumping, Coahoma, TX, 10.5 mi
Wooten Septic Tank Co, Midland, TX, 32.3 mi
Terrett Septic Tank Co, Midland, TX, 34.1 mi
J & J Septic Co, Midland, TX, 39.4 mi
Advance Backhoe Service, Midland, TX, 39.6 mi

About Big Spring, TX

Big Spring is in Howard County, Texas. About 22,373 people live there, across 19.1 square miles of land (about 1,169 per square mile).

Septic Installation questions in Big Spring

How long does septic installation take?: Installation itself often takes a few days to two weeks. Soil testing, design and permit review can add several weeks, so plan ahead.
What is a mound system?: A mound system raises the drain field above the natural soil using sand and fill. It is used where the soil is too shallow, too wet or too slow draining for a conventional field.
Can a replacement system go in the same place?: Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the soil in the old field and local rules. Many replacements use a new area of the yard.
Is SepticTank.com the installer?: No. SepticTank.com connects you with an independent local septic company that serves Big Spring. That company designs, installs and prices the system.