Installing our own septic system (start to finish)

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3 күн бұрын

We attempt to install our own septic system at our off-grid property // Use code AMBITION for 10% off your new Ridge Wallet: ridge.com/ambition Sponsored by Ridge.
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We're a husband and wife team who bought 20 acres of bare off-grid land in North Idaho. Follow along as we learn how to build a home, run heavy equipment and turn this place into our dream property!
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Пікірлер: 517

@AmbitionStrikes 10 күн бұрын

How big of a rock do you think I can drop on my Ridge wallet? 🤣 Use code AMBITION for 10% off your new Ridge Wallet: ridge.com/ambition

@stephenpadilla4086 Күн бұрын

Bonus points for dropping a Monty Python reference!!

@billlandon2160 2 күн бұрын

Whoever does your camera work also deserves a hooray. Excellent production all around!

@wallykramer7566 Күн бұрын

That would be Courtney, presumably! She's a very versatile powerhouse!

@AmbitionStrikes 2 күн бұрын

This was a fun chance to learn something new. A huge thanks for Andrew for all of his help!

@wjhann4836 2 күн бұрын

For me Andrew is a magician on the controls.

@billyduffany3387 2 күн бұрын

Oliver is getting so big. Before you know it, he will be right by your side helping you with all your projects.

@wjhann4836 2 күн бұрын

I expect he is looking to the command post of the heavy machinery. Riley added up enough 😆

@AmbitionStrikes 2 күн бұрын

He LOVES watching the excavator at work. ☺️

@mrmongo6722 Күн бұрын

@@AmbitionStrikeshe’s going to be a great operator one of these days and those days will be coming before you know it! It seems like yesterday when my daughter was that big and she will be 25 next year on February 14th.

@LimaTangoFoxtrot Күн бұрын

Like most children he’ll rebel against his parents and become a hard core urban dweller that only eats take out and doesn’t own a single power tool 😂

@user-go5wn6nv5o Күн бұрын

From my offshore drilling career: slow and steady equals fast.

@derekfox5544 Күн бұрын

Shoutout to Andy’s little homestead the operator knows what he’s talking about it’s a great channel been following for a few years everyone should check him out

@roybdaman 2 күн бұрын

I love your "digging" videos. I was a ground man most of my working career and still miss the good old days of working in the dirt. Thank you. Makes me feel like I was there with you.

@E77721 2 күн бұрын

@@roybdaman A good ground man is worth his weight in gold . I’m just now learning how to estimate yardage by just looking at it.. definitely an acquired skill from experience .

@Truthvector Күн бұрын

The earth matters.

@lauraquigley6403 Күн бұрын

No matter what you film you guy’s always have my undivided attention! You are both very captivating but Oliver is still the star! Great job on the passing inspection. Courtney’s reaction was priceless 🤣🙏🙏🙏Blessing’s

@Bolthole_Studios Күн бұрын

Convincing prank! Having dealt with Inspectors, some always find something to justify their position and exert their authority. Love the pragmatic/ no ego inspectors out there, congrats!

@leifhietala8074 2 күн бұрын

@8:00 Riley explains, not in so many words, exactly how and why apprenticeships work. Classroom training is one thing and it's good for a lot of folks. Apprenticeship, in-depth on-the-job training, puts a newbie with an experienced hand and gets them lots of exposure not just to practice but also philosophy, the rationale that underpins the practice. Put understanding and practice together and you have skill.

@bobsundance9297 Күн бұрын

I have to say again how awesome I think your editing is. I think your viewers take for granted they're great every time, but I'm sure it takes you some time. And I just wanted to say We Appreciate Your efforts! The angles you get and interesting perspectives you splice together make it so enjoyable to watch. So, thanks Courtney!!😅

@MichaelW-vj6wx Күн бұрын

Andy's little homestead is definitely worth watching.

@russsherratt6919 2 күн бұрын

Safe is slow, slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

@AmbitionStrikes 2 күн бұрын

🙌

@E77721 2 күн бұрын

@@russsherratt6919 I’ve seen a good operator do twice the work with 1/2 the effort. ( by a man so old he needed help getting in his excavator lol)

@aguywhodoesstuff Күн бұрын

As a Disaster Management/ Safety guy.. who has a crit care nurse background... love this addition to the saying!

@lukestoolbox 2 күн бұрын

Always baffles my mind how you two can seemingly do everything🤯 Super cool project! Highlight of the weekend :)

@Truthvector Күн бұрын

Most people can when they try.

@andyslittlehomestead6705 Күн бұрын

Tell Andrew I said hey! Appreciate the shoutout brother!

@williamarmstrong3704 20 сағат бұрын

Was cool to hear you mentioned in another channel I watch!

@DerekGarner-km4fj 2 күн бұрын

DAaang! Andrew is one. smooth. OPERATOR! Congrats on your new system!

@AmbitionStrikes 2 күн бұрын

Yeah he is! 🙌

@EnufIsTooMuch 2 күн бұрын

My only experience with putting in a septic system was as a teenager back in 1972. A neighbor of a friend was asking for people to help shovel the dirt back in as there was no money left for renting heavy equipment. That was a large field of those stones you talked about, multiple legs to it. Never was quite sure who the homeowner was, just spent a couple of hours with a few other people shoveling the dirt back in. Just thinking about being that young and working that hard makes my arms and shoulders ache. Think I need a nap ... 😴

@tranquilitybase6417 2 күн бұрын

Hey neighbor! This brings back memories of installing my septic in pouring rain up at my place near the lake.

@bc-guy852 Күн бұрын

What a great system! And as an ex Caterpillar Sales Manager - that's one gifted operator! (And the guys who 'placed' that big tank sure made it look easy! You're so lucky to have found such qualified suppliers and helpers! Congratulations on your new system - this is going to change a lot! You'll have so much time on your hands... what's that??? A sister for Ollie you say?

@annwerner9112 2 күн бұрын

I think it’s hilarious and apropos his first words I hear are “oh oh” makes sense with Reckless Riley!

@andrewmerriman2963 2 күн бұрын

That is a serious drain field. I had no idea something elaborate as that would be required to service your setup. Carol, (Courtney's mom) is going to be very comfortable in her new tiny home. You guys are awesome.

@vaalrus 21 сағат бұрын

those chambers were such a game changer when they were introduced. In ancient days I spent some miserable heat-wave days raking dusty gravel and laying even dustier straw around perforated pipe.

@KarenSmith-ys3sk Күн бұрын

I live on 4 acres and I have a septic tank that I've had for 40 years,never had to have it cleaned out. Works great and the leach lines go about 20 yards into the back of my house. The way yall built yours will last forever. Nice work,great video!

@gregorybarth930 Күн бұрын

I'm in Texas our septic is about 50 years old, never been pumped and works fine, I can see the leach field all summer. green grass

@mdbrenna 4 сағат бұрын

Andy’s little Homestead is amazing. Great shoutout. Love that guy. Great video!!

@user-cb2427 Күн бұрын

What you are saying is “ Take your time do it right and you automatically hurry up and finish” always refer back to rule one when you get in a hurry. You 2 do good in all you do, I am always impressed.

@E77721 2 күн бұрын

I’m amazed that your native soil doesn’t leach into the drainage field and plug it up. Super good learning experience .. Thanks so much.. learn something every day watching your channel . (And it’s only 10 AM I’m way ahead of schedule 😂)

@vaalrus 21 сағат бұрын

That’s the beauty of the Infiltrator canisters, though in many jurisdictions it’s common or required to place geotextile over the chambers, depending on your backfill material.

@dwightkeegan4376 2 күн бұрын

You can alway find the drain field. That’s the spot with the most lawn.

@johnbeattie5765 2 күн бұрын

Riley has way to much enthusiasm when he starts a new project at least until something starts to go bad . Happy Trails from 🇨🇦 to the 🇺🇸 . Happy 4th of July , 2024 . Ours is July 1rst ( 🇨🇦 ) . ✌ out

@Truthvector Күн бұрын

eh? Canada Day

@johnbeattie5765 Күн бұрын

Be nice or I'll sick Trump on ya' ! ! 🇨🇦

@GirdHerd 2 күн бұрын

I would set a "marker post" in each corner of the leach field to prevent anyone from digging or building a structure in the area in the future.

@dellmerlin6328 2 күн бұрын

I add an inspection riser pipe with a cap at each corner as a marker and as a future way to see if the system is working and to troubleshoot problems.

@ronaldclark2624 2 күн бұрын

Big Hi to Oliver and his Mom and Dad. Big congrats on the Flush Potty. Life keeps getting better. Pets also like them when thirsty. Keep the lid down. Thanks for the nice video. Ron PTL USA

@beckycrump8831 2 күн бұрын

Those risers are a must have. My folks were skeptical when I installed them on their tank last time I had to dig for the lids for pumping it out. Unscrew lids, use tractor to lift tank lids, done. So easy.

@alvinames5041 Күн бұрын

OH MAN!! Risers For Your Lids Is SMART!! Digging Up The Yard Every Time You Have Septic Tank Pumped Is OH OH BOY! Young Man's Job!! Nice System!!😉👍👌

@vaalrus 21 сағат бұрын

I’ve been installing septic tanks (on and off) in the land of -40 winters since the 80s, and I’m astonished that burying the lids is common practice. I can’t imagine not having risers.

@chrissmyers2884 2 күн бұрын

Those infiltrator panels are tough....I've got an above ground 18' swimming pool placed over my leach field. No problems for 6 years now

@nevillewaite7308 2 күн бұрын

Thanks for my Sunday fix of "Ambition Strikes"!😊

@Pets-n-Treats 2 күн бұрын

You are rich even if you didn't find gold. Life is good.

@KillingMachine96 Күн бұрын

Kids, this video was worth waiting for, like a year or more. Clues observed: several mentions of that which we do not mention (the failed poop-burning toilet), the lack of the giant toy storage building and deck (shout out to the Canuck ladies, The Vanwives, who ALSO had their poop-burning toilet fail) and the smaller Oliver. Fantastic video, Courtney, your editing skills are terrific, I can't imagine the sheer volume of raw footage you had to edit. I was particularly impressed by the extensive use of the live narration, rather than a 2024 voice-over. Can't wait for Part 2.

@AmbitionStrikes Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment and compliments on the video! Just for clarification, our incinerator toilet still works perfectly fine and we still use it on a daily basis. The container structure that the Vanwives helped build exists in this video, it's just in a spot that's out of camera shot of the septic install. Thanks for watching!

@ELEAByahera Күн бұрын

It's the vanwives with failed incinerator toilet

@ahorseman4ever1 Күн бұрын

Very cool! This will be a game changer for you! I loved watching Andrew covering the infiltrators. Since you can't drive over them, the fact that he planned his retreat so he could cover them up was cool.

@suzannekrause9601 2 күн бұрын

Well, I am impressed and I thought it could not get any better. This project is excellent. Oliver by osmosis will be a walking talking encyclopedia of how-to knowledge. 💕

@janetkoball44 Күн бұрын

I have never heard of a septic system like this before. I would think that the weight of the back fill would be too heavy for those big light weight black pipes. But im glad that huge and important project is done. An exciting video. Hi Oliver!

@user-pp4ve6qo1b Күн бұрын

In Canada we put a light-weave poly fabric over top of the infiltrators before infilling.

@stephenreese5921 Күн бұрын

“Slow is smooth and Smooth is fast.” said every firearms instructor I’ve ever had. From basic to advanced courses!

@ericpl7227 16 сағат бұрын

It's what an EMT instructor told me once! When you hurry, you make mistakes!

@elwoodlindquist9324 2 күн бұрын

Awesome video, you can really learn something on this channel Thanks great job

@AmbitionStrikes 2 күн бұрын

We learned so much on this project!

@ralphjelomono1066 15 сағат бұрын

Beautiful septic system install. I used infiltrator drain fields on my last two systems and they were excellent. I believe you will be very pleased with this installation. Hats off to Andrew's skill with the JD135.

@mkllove Күн бұрын

Liked the Monty Python reference re Ridge Wallet ! Man ! That land is chock full of big rocks ! Congrats on approval, Oliver really helped you sell that story to Courtney, he definitely has a future as a YT'er... he he

@carlthor91 Күн бұрын

Yep, plumb in the house, and Mother in Law's cabin.😂👍👍 Best wishes all.

@ewanstewart8011 Күн бұрын

A good machine operator has to know how to work the 1RB 💪🏻 that is a shovel for those young people watching 😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏻

@petereckerwall9423 2 күн бұрын

I cant belive how different your drain is from those we make in Sweden. Yours is problebly 3 times bigger then we need for 1 house, and then we would have a cesspit with one regulator for every string that goes out to the bed. I have never hade mlre then 3 strings out. You had like.. 10? Then you dident even need a fiber cloth over those plastic diffusers.. I can promise that in a few years there will be a lot of roots drinking from that sludge!! But i hope it will work great for you!! ❤🇸🇪

@johneubank237 Күн бұрын

Now you have the perfect spot for a great garden nice loose soil with no rocks. Everything grows better on top of the train field.

@ColeMarkusen 2 күн бұрын

Congrats! That's a great setup. It was great seeing the process of getting that entire system in place. Can't wait to see you guys get everything connected to it now. Having the extra parking and a nice big lawn will be great!

@Truthvector Күн бұрын

croquet on the way

@BobBohner4851 Күн бұрын

Wow. Never seen that solution before. Amazing amazing. Love it. Oliver wants to drive the excavator!!!!!

@nickbrown4470 Күн бұрын

Border the lawn with raised planters and you can start growing fruit and veggies. Great work guys, this project and what comes from it is going to make the place feel more like a home and less of a project site.

@waituntilthebeep Күн бұрын

I live on a rock in Idaho and if I scraped the entirety of the topsoil off my 18 acres, I wouldn't have as much as you dug out of the area that you are putting the tank itself. I am quite literally installing a Presby system for my addition and I have to truck in 440 yards of topsoil to do so. Count yourself lucky.

@OZ6JO Күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing. The moment you said that Andrew was to help you.. one thing went through my mind... but never mind!

@Indigo_1138 Күн бұрын

I like when people rig up a cheap septic using a few 50 gal drums, because those work almost just as well for an average size home.

@vaalrus 21 сағат бұрын

They work well enough to dispose of waste-water, but it’s pretty much guaranteed that it’s insufficiently treated before the effluent reaches groundwater. Undersizing your primary treatment component (your tank) is a common failure condition. Up in my neck of the woods, you can barely get approval for a 650 gallon tank for a 2 bedroom home, and I generally provide my clients 1200 to 2500 tanks depending on their project.

@KelleyORoos Күн бұрын

Who ever said the septic tank looks high, needs to look at the grade from the tank to the building. Looks to be 15 to 20' of depth. Septic and leech fields have come a long way. That system is engineered and permitted to local codes. The sewer to the inlet of the tank should be schedule 40 ABS or PVC.. Using thin wall piping in a traffic area could lead future issue's. Also, you should use 4" pipe, then you'll be able to use 1/8" per foot of fall or grade. Make sure you put a clean out for every change of direction of your sewer. Keep having fun.

@toddjensen5689 Күн бұрын

Great video and thanks for sharing! Glad to see I'm not the only one that turns a blind-eye to a cracked pickup windshield. Sláinte!

@fina-q8e 2 күн бұрын

SHE CARRIES HERSELF WITH A RARE BLEND OF GRACE AND HUMILITY❤️❤️

@fredericrike5974 Күн бұрын

A toilet with running water, in your neighborhood? Now that is Ambitious! Hugs for Oliver, and Riley, will we get a financial rundown?

@johnwalterc 2 күн бұрын

You should consider doing a geothermal system if you can dig down 10 plus feet. I know I would have a low tech cooling system in the garage to cool the shop, You could cool your solar container in the summer and warm the container to 45deg in the winter. You could build a box for the back of the solar array and pump cool air to cool the cells in summer and warm them in the winter. It would keep the snow off. Think how nice it would be to cool your home without the heatpump. Just power a water pump and some fans.

@Truthvector Күн бұрын

I like it.

@Juergen_Miessmer 2 күн бұрын

I was always wondering how you handle your sewage. Now there is the answer. Thank you ❤

@Stuart123 Күн бұрын

It’s a real pleasure watching a true professional work. Andrew is a treat to watch.

@mongo1982 Күн бұрын

Strongly urge you to consider acquiring a Toto S350 Washlet bidet. It is a simple replacement for your toilet seat that adds full bidet functionality. Warm water, warm air dry, multiple spray patterns - it has everything you need. It will reduce your toilet paper usage by 99%, and is way more comfortable. I get it…it’s just poop and your butt…but this thing totally changed our #2 experience. And all that toilet paper that DOESN’T GO INTO YOUR SEPTIC TANK ANYMORE makes a big difference in maintenance costs. Life-changing…weird, but truly so.

@masontrep 2 күн бұрын

Looks awesome! One more step along the way. Cannot wait to see how it looks in a year or two with some good grass over it.

@donaldfrazier5244 Күн бұрын

Nothing says off grid like a massive septic system? So glad to see you you’re using the timber for lumber and fuel,having resources is great but managing them is paramount and Oliver will thank you later for saving him some trees!

@russellharrison619 2 күн бұрын

goodness that boy is getting big....before long he's gonna be running the equipment lol and ah septic....so much fun we had to do it for ours and man so tedious.

@georgedreisch2662 2 күн бұрын

That y’all can get equipment and dump trucks in and out so readily, should be a measure of the scale of y’all’s accomplishments…

@AmbitionStrikes 2 күн бұрын

It’s so easy to forget how far we’ve come with the road! But it wasn’t that long again we were having trusses and shipping containers dumped at the bottom for us to drag up ourselves… 🤪

@VowellVentures Күн бұрын

Congratulations! That is a truly momentous milestone! When ours went in it was a huge game changer for our off grid property!

@charlesheinlein1923 Күн бұрын

Nice work Great to have experienced frinds to make a tough job go well. Keep up the great videos Can"t wait to see the tiny house get placed. Ollie is growing fast

@heathmichaelhomestead4462 2 күн бұрын

Love the shout out to Andy's little homestead

@juliussigurorsson3509 Күн бұрын

I have learned so much from you guys. Bought land that has asphalt road next to it, all agricultural, but of low quality - so building permit is not problem. I have two rivers on my land - that i can take 1350 gallons per day for personal use. Plenty land for leach field. And yesterday I found out that both my rives have Gold in them.... from half bucket, 2,5 gallons, I had 3 specs of gold! So all your problems, I have learned from and avoided! Good luck guys!

@Rickmakes 2 күн бұрын

I had a basic idea of how septic systems are set up but this video really gave a clearer picture. I can't wait to see how you hook into it.

@chandrasutton4669 2 күн бұрын

Yes, but he is putting it back minus the huge rocks!!!😊🎉❤ Whoot Whoot

@freddien7 2 күн бұрын

So glad you did the job from Start to Finish in 1 video!! Thanks.!! When Andrew was back filling at the green pipe end, were there supports under the green pipes??, Lovely bit when Oliver said "Oh No"!!. funny Thanks for the video, Love from UK. x x

@AC-pr9vr 2 күн бұрын

Yes. Concrete blocks and native soil was placed under all of the exposed pipe. Initially dug trench for outlet pipe and manifold. Encountered solid rock in one corner of drainfield which necessitated adjusting drainfield location resulting in changes to outlet and manifold location.

@elizabeththomas8746 Күн бұрын

You earn something new every day. Great work guys.

@gnomish844 Күн бұрын

re: red quartz -- Clean the chunk up and see if you can see gold/silver flakes/wire in it. You can usually see it inside. If you want to see if there's smaller chunks, you can pulverize it and then pan it to see if you have an fine bits.

@jamesgaul1022 Күн бұрын

Great job. I've never seen a septic installation like this one.

@Skattie 2 күн бұрын

Omg ,i am so proud of you, you got a chipper ,yah❤

@TheCluckingCoop 2 күн бұрын

8:00 I'm no expert but I think you are right. That's definitely a rock.

@joeldurheim5831 2 күн бұрын

That will be a great place for a garden 🪴

@alexe1563 2 күн бұрын

I'm liking before watching

@VCooper52 2 күн бұрын

I love the tutorials, uhm videos that you guys post. You are definitely helping me towards my goals!! 🤗💯‼️🔥

@permanick Күн бұрын

Great system! If you want your septic tank to last pretty much forever without having to pump it out, I would recommend to put your toilet paper in a bin and not the toilet. Usually the septic fills up because of the toilet paper and not just solid waste. Microbes will do all the cleaning for you.

@carefreeclubhouse1714 2 күн бұрын

Oliver is just to cool for school!

@CaptainKseadog1 Күн бұрын

Ĝreat learning video. I have used the snap together leach field in the past, and it is so easy to work with. Nice job. YOU GUYS ROCK.😁❤❤❤

@cjg8822 Күн бұрын

Wow what a job but super glad it looks so awesome, grass will be super nice and a bonus parking spot too🎉

@martinmalloy8119 Күн бұрын

This was a major step forward greetings from Germany Grüße aus Deutschland

@ZeroHarry Күн бұрын

I was introduced to your channel during your collaboration with the awesome @Woodbrew team... Can't stop watching your video's. Keep up the great work.

@DougPoulton 2 күн бұрын

The lawn idea at the very end sounds great. Kids need a nice lawn to play with their dogs. You don't want them wrestling with the dog on gravel.

@AmbitionStrikes 2 күн бұрын

I think the dogs and Oliver both vote for a lawn.

@Truthvector Күн бұрын

Better to wrestle with other kids.

@JayMcGinness574 19 сағат бұрын

Congrads, that's a big step getting that inspection done!

@nealforney7279 Күн бұрын

Ok, that was a mean joke! Congrats on your new system. We use a similar set up for storm water retention where I live. We have to ( theoretically) retain the first hour of rain fall on site in our little coastal community. I bet your septic is going to work a lot better than our storm water.

@RPM-sr2gn Күн бұрын

Great job.I didn't know that there was so much work involved.Thanks for sharing.

@jackcoats4146 Күн бұрын

Riley, you need to get the old book "The Grass is Glways Geener Over the Septic Tank" by Erma Bombeck

@davidrose2382 33 минут бұрын

Australian guys invented a worm based septic system,worms eat all incoming at top water filters down through layers comes out drinkable at bottom of tank,but then goes into a sand filter and marsh grass

@trevorgreene5059 Күн бұрын

This is an awesome video. I have never seen a very detailed process of installing the septic system along with drain and leech fields and it gives me a good idea of how they did the septic and drain field at my house. Like you, my house is built on shale lines and I'm fortunate to have a leech field that is built on the hillside.

@trevorgreene5059 Күн бұрын

By the way, Riley, you can expect for Courtney to pay back for pranking her about the inspector. You got her good.

@stuartbaker666 Күн бұрын

You guys Rock, love your material, I look forward to watching what you have been up to. Keep it up regards, from Down under. Some one who also lives in the bush.

@1conmayco 2 күн бұрын

Hi Guys, Great looking septic system. Looks like it will work very good. I also like the size of the leach field. Good luck with the rest of your install