# Septic tank question, again **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569 "2006-04-06T13:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/1 "2006-04-06T13:22:52Z")
What hamster ate my other thread? Let me try this again. VunderWife and I went to look at a house last night that we’re considering buying. It’s on a septic system. Located between the tank access and the drain (and in close proximity to both) is a structure sort of like a doghouse, in bad repair. I looked inside, and it was empty; nothing that would give a clue to it’s intended purpose. I’m trying to figure out that provided we go for the place, if I need to fix the thing, or if I can tear it down. Any idea of what it may be? ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/2 "2006-04-06T13:27:14Z")
I can’t think of any above ground structures that are required for a septic system. Maybe it’s just an old doghouse! ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/3 "2006-04-06T13:30:38Z")
> [@August West](#): > > I can’t think of any above ground structures that are required for a septic system. Maybe it’s just an old doghouse! It’s in the front yard, near the road, and there’s no door for a dog to get in/out. I thought it might have been a pump or meter house, but there’s nothin inside except weeds… ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/4 "2006-04-06T13:37:55Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Located between the tank access and the drain (and in close proximity to both) is a structure sort of like a doghouse, in bad repair. Drain? What sort of drain do you have in a septic system? Is this a closed septic system without a leach field? If so, those have to be pumped frequently and can be costly. Could the house have been some cutesy country decoration at some point? Maybe covering up a vent pipe or something. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/5 "2006-04-06T13:48:50Z")
I have a septic system now and I grew up in a house with one. I do have an actual doghouse although it is completely unrelated to the septic system and I think my pooch would resent any sewer dog jokes. Is there a well on the property too? Those sometimes require a small pump/water treatment structure but septic tanks typically don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/6 "2006-04-06T13:54:21Z")
No idea. Cop-out answer here…let the inspector figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/7 "2006-04-06T14:16:02Z")
We had several structures like that on our property. For some reason I had the impression that they were wells, but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/8 "2006-04-06T14:17:17Z")
Um… upon careful reading of the OP, I sure as hell hope that the well isn’t located next to the septic system. But I’ve definitely seen those “inaccessible doghouses”. I can ask my father if you’d like. ---
**Author:** ![hellotherepoodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@hellotherepoodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellotherepoodle)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/9 "2006-04-06T14:42:41Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Is there a well on the property too? Those sometimes require a small pump/water treatment structure but septic tanks typically don’t. No expert here, but I think you might be onto something here. I wonder if this house originally didn’t have access to sewer or city water (is it in the country, or on the outskirts?), but eventually got hooked up to city water, making a well unnecessary. Or possibly, the well went dry and they had to hook up to city water then. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/10 "2006-04-06T14:47:10Z")
My friends have a little doghouse type structure over the access to one of their wells (the shallow one, I believe). It’s across the yard from the spot where they dig to pump out the septic system. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/11 "2006-04-06T14:48:45Z")
> [@hellotherepoodle](#): > > No expert here, but I think you might be onto something here. I wonder if this house originally didn’t have access to sewer or city water (is it in the country, or on the outskirts?), but eventually got hooked up to city water, making a well unnecessary. Or possibly, the well went dry and they had to hook up to city water then. City water and septic is a possibility. All questions for the agent, who should have a detailed property description. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-tank-question-again/351569/12 "2006-04-06T15:22:01Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > What hamster ate my other thread? MOD? It was a blank OP. Would not display nor accept “Reply.” > [@](#): > > It’s on a septic system… I’m trying to figure out that provided we go for the place, if I need to fix the thing, or if I can tear it down. Tear away! It’s in disrepair anyway. At worst, **IF** it is functional and needed, you would have had to replace it anyhow. > [@](#): > > Any idea of what it may be? WAG Some kind of an “Outhouse.” Dont know of any such structure being used on residential st’s. We did have chlorinator sheds/shacks on LARGE st’s where I worked once. Chlorinated the effluent going to the enviornment.