What Are Septic Tanks Made Of?

Concrete, plastic, fiberglass, and steel are the four materials septic tanks are made of. Let’s take a look at these materials, and their associated pros and cons.

Concrete Septic Tanks

Typically, these septic tank types are quite large and will be pre-casted for ease of installation. The precast concrete tanks have a specific gravity around 2.40, which makes the tanks strong enough to withstand any buoyant forces when installed in-ground. The overall strength of the tank will increase as time goes on.

Concrete septic tanks come in two different types based on their structural configuration. These types include single-structure tanks or all-in-one septic systems. Single structure versions will have each chamber pre-casted separately.

Here is a look at some pros and cons of concrete septic tanks:

Pros	Cons
Long lifespan	Expensive when compared to other materials
Rustproof	Difficult to repair
Very durable	Complex installation

Plastic Septic Tanks

Plastic septic tanks, also called poly septic tanks, are constructed of polyethylene plastic. These tanks are ideal alternatives to both steel and concrete septic tanks because they are lightweight and rustproof.

Plastic tanks do have specific gravity around 0.97, which means the tank can float when the water table is near to it. This means the water table in that specific area should be thoroughly examined prior to the installation of this tank.

Let’s look advantages and disadvantages of this material:

Pros	Cons
Rustproof	Tanks can float when overfilled
Good chemical resistance	Easily damaged
Easy installation	High pressure can cause serious issues

Fiberglass Septic Tanks

This septic tank version is comprised of fiber reinforced plastics (FRP). They are quite similar to plastic septic tanks. However, the reinforcement of glass fibers makes them more durable than plastic tanks.

Fiberglass septic tanks are very light and easy to install and handle, especially compared to the other materials. Proper anchoring of the tank to the ground can eliminate any floating or shifting possibilities.

Here is a quick list of fiberglass septic tank pros and cons:

Pros	Cons
Very durable	Can float when overfilled
Watertight	Only stronger than plastic tanks
Inexpensive	Susceptible to damage

Steel Septic Tanks

Today, steel tanks are the least popular options amongst homeowners due to their high cost and lack of durability. Many complain that these tanks deteriorate much quicker than other tank types.

If the top portion of the tank gets corroded, steel will be unable to resist the weights on top of it. As a result, the tank may collapse.

There are several pros and cons of this material type, including the following:

Pros	Cons
Ease of installation	Can corrode quickly
Will not float when overfilled	Expensive to install
Resistant to buoyant forces	Hard to remove/replace

Conclusion

Knowing the pros and cons of each type will help you choose which septic tank is right for your area. Contact the experienced team at A-American Septic Service for more information today!