Cesspool cover in garage
by
Mary Kristen
+7
We have an old, rustic garage that cannot be used as a garage because the cesspool is in the garage (dirt floor). Any projects for adding sturdy flooring with a hinged door over cesspool that can be parked on top of?
I take it you are using the cesspool --- build a VERY SOLID Frame and attach a 'trap door' type lid; you won't be able to drive a car on it - but should be strong enough to walk on, store stuff on, etc.
Ye gods and little fishes. I don't think that's legal; in fact, I know that it's illegal in many places. Some work needs to be done.
The cesspool--and I hope you mean septic tank, because real cesspools are really terribly dangerous-should be located at least 250 feet from the house, and then another 75 to 100 feet for the drain field. (That's what takes the overflow water out without doing anything to the solids.)
If it's really an actual cesspool you need to build a septic tank, and make it big enough that it won't need to be cleaned out repeatedly. There's some stuff you flush once a month that helps the septic tank contents to break down; I don't recall its name right now. A properly sized and constructed septic tank shouldn't need to be cleaned more than every five years or so.
The pipe from the house to the septic tank should be at least two feet underground, more if you live in an area where the ground freezes, and the pipe should be large enough in diameter that everything going through it can get through it.
In other words, Mary, you're looking at money and work. But once you get through and fill in the old septic tank or cesspool (whichever it is), you might even be able to park the car!
I really hope you are referring to a cistern...an underground tank for storing rain water. Growing up on an old farm, we had a cistern in our basement that we used for hot water. My Dad would periodically treat with bleach. We didn't use it for drinking, or for cooking, but it saved a lot of water from our well.
If you aren't using it, I would suggest filling it in and covering it with a concrete floor for use as a garage. If it really is a dry well used as a old-fashioned septic, you need a professional. A cesspool is like a septic tank.
The plan was to cover most of the floor and have a hinged door to cover it. I am gathering this may not work. Apologies for taking long to respond. I am not getting notifications that I have a reply.