Septic Riser and Lid Installation in Laramie, WY
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 Laramie will explain the options and install risers on your tank.
Why tanks are buried so deep
Older installations often placed lids well below the surface, sometimes to protect them from freezing or damage. That made sense at the time, but it means every pump-out starts with digging. Risers solve that without moving the tank.
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.
A typical riser installation
Most riser jobs take a few hours. The tank openings are dug out, the riser is sealed to the tank, trimmed to sit at or just above grade, and a locking lid is installed. Doing it the same day as a pumping saves a second dig.
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 affects riser cost
Price depends on the number of openings, how deep the tank is, the riser material and whether the job is combined with pumping. Deeper tanks need taller risers and more digging. Insulated or traffic-rated lids cost more.
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.
Choosing risers and lids for a Laramie tank
Risers come in plastic and concrete. Plastic risers are light, easy to cut to height and resist corrosion, which makes them the most common choice for existing tanks. Concrete risers are heavy and durable and are sometimes used on concrete tanks or where traffic is a concern. Lids should be secured with screws or a lock, and insulated lids are available for colder areas.
Living with risers
With risers in place, future pumping and inspections are faster and cleaner. Keep the lids visible, do not cover them with mulch or landscaping, and check every so often that the screws are tight and the lids are not cracked.
Signs a Laramie tank would benefit from risers
Risers are worth considering if every pumping visit in Laramie starts with digging. The same goes if nobody is sure where the lids are, or if the crew charges extra to uncover a deep tank. They also help when you want to check the effluent filter yourself or are getting ready to sell and expect an inspection. Landscaping that has made the tank harder to reach is another good reason.
Choosing riser lids for a Laramie yard
Riser lids for Laramie 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 Laramie weather
Whatever the soil on your lot, easy access through a riser makes routine pumping and filter checks faster. Laramie gets about 19 inches of precipitation a year, so risers here are mainly about access and saving the cost of digging. With about 5 months below freezing, an insulated lid can help protect the tank opening in winter.
Local conditions in Laramie that affect septic riser and lid installation
Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Laramie, the USDA soil survey rates 50% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 34% as somewhat limited and 16% 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.
Laramie averages about 19 inches of precipitation a year, and May is usually the wettest month. Average temperatures stay below freezing for about 5 months a year, with December averaging 21°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 Laramie means for septic riser and lid installation
By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Laramie as 61% well drained, 14% moderately well drained, 13% poorly drained, 12% 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 Laramie
These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Laramie, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.
- Honeywagon Sanitation Pumping, Laramie, WY, 2.2 mi
- B & B Sewer & Septic Tank Service, Cheyenne, WY, 45.5 mi
- Kaelin Excavation, Cheyenne, WY, 48.5 mi
- Centennial Septic Service, Cheyenne, WY, 51.2 mi
About Laramie, WY
Laramie is in Albany County, Wyoming. About 32,152 people live there, across 18.4 square miles of land (about 1,747 per square mile).
Septic Riser and Lid Installation questions in Laramie
- Do septic risers let water into the tank?
- Not when installed correctly. Joints are sealed to keep groundwater and soil out. Poorly sealed risers can leak, which is why installation quality matters.
- 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 Laramie. That company does the work and sets its own prices.