Septic to sewer conversion for Knoxville-area homes

Tap Fee and Permit

Connecting to a public sewer means an application to the sewer utility, a tap or connection fee set by that utility, and a plumbing permit for the new lateral. Fees and rules vary from one utility to the next, so we confirm them for your address before quoting. The utility may make the tap itself or require it to be made to its specification, and an inspection of the open trench usually comes before backfill. We schedule the work so the inspection happens promptly and the trench is not left open longer than necessary.

Septic Tank Abandonment

Once the house is on sewer, the old tank has to be taken out of service properly. It is pumped out by a septic hauler, then either removed or left in place with the lid broken in and the tank filled with sand, gravel or soil so it cannot collapse under a mower or a child later. The inlet and outlet pipes are disconnected and capped, and the drain field is left where it is. The health department sets the exact requirements, and we follow them and keep the paperwork for your records.

Lateral to the Main

The new lateral runs from the house's building drain, often where it used to leave for the septic tank, to the sewer main or the stub the utility provides. It's laid in a trench at a steady fall, bedded on stone, with a two-way cleanout near the house so future clearing and camera work are easy. The old line to the tank is cut and capped. Where the route crosses a driveway or mature trees, part of the run can sometimes be bored instead of trenched, which saves the restoration.