How often have you had the tank pumped? When you did have it pumped, how full of solids was it?
My newer septic tank doesn't have baffles, but does have a filter that prevents solids from reaching the leach field. Is your tank, metal, concrete or plastic? I would suspect metal based on its age.
Is the grass over your leach field greener than the adjoining areas? Have you ever done a dye test?
Have you had a septic system inspection? (By a specialist and not the vendor who pumps your tank out).
The septic system may be something that a pre-emptive inspection by a septic system specialist may be useful. There may be ways to fix it that cost a lot less than replacing it.
It is a concrete tank. The grass does look greener and grows faster. But my grass is not nice and a lot of the yard that is not leach field has less grass or other plants.
I never have done a dye test.
The company that has pumped me the past two times (about 3 years apart) is also the company that my appraiser/first selectman friend agreed was the go-to company in the area for a good job. They have an engineer on staff and he is the guy that I am trying to get to come to discuss things. They retrieved the three hole perk test report done in 1988 from the town and I assume they have reports from the two pump and inspection visits.
Aside from a possible conflict of interest is that the type of specialist you are suggesting?
I have the number for the health dept sanitarian who would have to sign off on the project. he was away this week but I suppose I can call him.
Grok also suggested some engineering firms for a second opinion but I am sure they are not cheap. Back in 1987 I hired an engineering firm and they said it would require a 7 ft deep curtain drain to lower the water table but that was not possible because my lot is too flat and nowhere to drain the water to. I don't remember exactly, but I think they basically said that I was stuck with it as is or could build a raised system.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, when I bought the house in 1987 the seller put $8000 in escrow towards a curtain drain and then reneged on giving me the money. All of my pissing and moaning letters are in my file from that episode. So if the buyer's agent has any sense they will easily see that.
[edit] I just read through the stuff that the town copied for me. In 1988 the conclusion was recommend a better curtain drain if possible (not possible). Since the system is not actually failing, replacing is not economically viable.
There was an original permit from 1960 and some sort of permit application from 1967 with a drawing showing
ld field and "new field" but I can't tell if a second field was actually done.
