Precast Concrete Septic Tanks vs. Plastic Septic Tanks

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Precast Concrete Septic Tanks vs. Plastic Septic Tanks

Precast Concrete Septic Tanks vs. Plastic Septic Tanks

Precast Concrete Septic Tanks Are The Clear Choice

There are many options available when choosing a septic tank for your home. First and foremost you want to chose a tank that is the right capacity for your home. After that you want to make sure you choose a tank that will provide years of reliable service for you and your family. The best choice is a precast concrete septic tank. Precast septic tanks hold many advantages over plastic, steel, or fiberglass tanks. This is why so many cities and towns actually require the use of concrete septic tanks.

The Benefits Of A Precast Septic Tank

  • The tanks are very heavy. While this could be considered a negative by some, we believe it is one of the biggest advantages over other materials. A precast concrete septic tank will never “float” to the surface as some lighter weight tanks can do in certain situations.
  • With a specific gravity of 2.40, precast concrete septic tanks resist buoyant forces better than other septic tank materials. HDPE has a specific gravity of 0.97. Additional labor-intensive and time-consuming on-site preparation is needed for anchoring structures made of more buoyant materials. This needs to be factored in when choosing a septic tank for your home.
  • Rusting is not an issue for precast septic tanks. Steel tanks and parts of some plastic and fiberglass tanks are very prone to rusting and failure. Precast concrete gradually strengthens over time. Other products, such as steel or HDPE, can deteriorate and lose strength.
  • Precast concrete tanks can be pumped empty without fear of having a tank collapse.
  • Installation is simple and straightforward. Shea concrete has a team of installers who have installed hundreds of tanks. We know how to properly prep the site and can overcome almost any installation obstacle. We have trucks equipped with hoists and when required we can even crane a tank over a house!
  • Besides water, concrete is the most frequently used material on earth. It is non-toxic, environmentally safe and made from natural ingredients, making it an ideal material for septic tanks. Concrete is used throughout the country in various applications and does not affect groundwater and surface water quality.
  • Plastic tanks can be easily damaged during installation. Most failures of plastic tanks can be traced back to the installation process.
  • Precast concrete can be made watertight when produced in accordance with the NPCA "Septic Tank Manufacturing" Best Practices Manual and/or ASTM C 1227, "Standard Specification for Precast Concrete Septic Tanks". These industry standards, which Shea Concrete follows, specify the necessary procedures to be followed during the manufacturing of watertight tanks.
  • Plastic tanks should never have a car driven over them. This can limit the placement of the tank and leaching field on your property.

Why A Concrete Septic Tank?

Concrete septic tanks are superior to fiberglass or plastic because they are watertight and heavy duty, making it the ideal preferred storage vessel for on-site septic storage and treatment.

In the United States, there are 40 million septic systems in service. Septic systems use the surrounding soil to filter the discharge from septic tanks, the primary structure in a septic system. In addition to the advantages listed above, concrete septic tanks are also known for the following:

  • Strength increases over time
  • Durability
  • Ease of installation
  • Low susceptibility to damage during backfill

Shea Concrete Septic Tanks

For over 65 years Shea Concrete has been manufacturing and installing precast concrete septic tanks. Shea carries a complete line of septic, cistern and pump tanks available in 500 to 55,000 gallons and most sizes are delivered on our company vehicles. Competitively priced, we manufacture underground tanks for the safe, long-term containment of septic storage.

If you are considering updating, or installing a new system we would love to talk to you. Call us at (800) 696-SHEA to get a quote on a precast concrete septic tank today.