For most, the septic system isn’t keeping you awake at night when there are paint chips and flooring options to sort through during a home remodel. However, certain home renovations will require septic system upgrades to accommodate your additions or improvements.
SEPTIC TANK STANDARD SIZES
It’s an easy assumption to think that the size of a home’s septic system is determined by its number of bathrooms. However, building codes actually base the size of the system on the number of bedrooms a home has. This is because the more bedrooms a home has, the more people it can house. The average person uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water a day. Because of this, building codes look at the number of bedrooms a home has, figuring each bedroom houses two people, to determine how big the septic tank will need to be. Adhering to these guidelines not only keeps your house up to code, but it also ensures your system will be capable of handling the waste produced by your family.
Due to differences in climate, septic building codes vary from state to state. However, below is the generally accepted size of tank per bedroom. Be sure to check with your state code to ensure proper sizing.
| Number of Bedrooms | Size of Septic Tank |
| 1-2 | 1,000 gallons in one or two compartments |
| 3 | 1,500 gallons in two tanks/compartments |
| 4-5 | 2,000 gallons in two tanks/compartments |
| 6+ | 2,500 gallons plus 250 gallons for each additional bedroom in two tanks/compartments |
Why Bedrooms Matter for Your Septic System
What qualifies as a bedroom is “a room that is designed or used as a sleeping room or any room that could reasonably be used as or finished as a sleeping room.” Whether or not a room actually qualifies as a bedroom is ultimately up to the local health department, who works together with the building department to make sure buildings are safe and sanitary. While regulations vary from state to state, the following criteria are most often used to determine whether a room can be considered a bedroom:
- Square Footage: A room needs to have a minimum square footage in order to be considered a bedroom. Typically, a space 70-80 square feet qualifies as a bedroom.
- Width: In some instances, a room may meet the minimum size requirements, but not qualify as a bedroom because it is not wide enough. Typically, a room must be at least 7 feet wide in any direction to qualify as a bedroom.
- Ceiling Height: To be considered a bedroom, a room must also meet certain ceiling requirements that allow an adult to stand upright. Usually, more than half the room must be at least 7 feet tall. This consideration is often used to assess whether a finished attic or loft space qualifies as a bedroom.
- Heating & Cooling: Bedrooms must be climate controlled, typically with a room vent that is connected to the home’s HVAC system.
- Exits: Bedrooms must have at least two exits for safety reasons, often a door and a window big enough for a human to fit through, usually 5.7 square feet. For this reason, rooms in basements often do not count as bedrooms unless a larger window is installed in the foundation wall.
Renovations and Upgrades May Require Septic System Upgrades
Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when determining if a room qualifies as a bedroom, is whether it can reasonably be used as a bedroom, and not necessarily if you’re planning on using it as one. For example, if you are finishing a space to create a home office, and that space meets all of the requirements to qualify as a bedroom, it will count as a bedroom. If this new space bumps your home into another threshold, from 2 bedrooms to 3, you may need to upgrade your septic tank. Any home upgrade that creates a space that could be used as a bedroom may also require septic system upgrades.
Be sure to work closely with your contractor, health department, and a qualified septic provider to determine whether your remodeled space will require you to upgrade your septic system.
CURRY’S CAN KEEP YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM RUNNING SMOOTHLY!
Curry’s has the experts, equipment, and know how to care for your system properly. From emergency repairs, to routine septic maintenance and installation, we’ll be here for you. Contact us to schedule your septic service today!
