What Lid Am I Looking At – And How Do I Fix It?
Posted on by Jim Anesta
When arriving on site to perform a septic tank pump-out, you never quite know what you’re going to run into. It could be the system’s first pump out or its tenth, it could be a concrete or thermoplastic septic tank, or it could be a 5,000-gallon tank or a system that will fill your whole truck! What remains consistent, is the need to ensure that tank lids are properly secured when you leave the site to keep your customers and their families safe. In all circumstances, when a lid is damaged, it needs to be replaced. However, just like the septic system itself, there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. We’ve provided some guidelines to help you identify and remedy some of the lid related challenges you may run into on site.
How Do I Determine the Lid Type?
- EZsnap Lid: The EZsnap lid is the most recent addition to Infiltrator’s tank riser and lid offering. It was added to the market in 2018. The EZsnap lid is easiest to identify through its trapezoidal notches on either end as well as its diameter. While the inner diameter is 24 inches, the outer diameter measures 29.7 inches, and this applies to all EZsnap lids as they are only manufactured in one size.
- EZset Lid: Infiltrator acquired EZset in 2011, and it’s primarily found on concrete tanks that have EZset risers cast into them. Depending on the year of production, the lid may have the letters “EZ” stamped all over, or “EZset” stamped in the center. The EZset lids come in three different sizes, and all these sizes relate to their internal diameter: 20 inches, 24 inches, and 30 inches. The external diameter will measure about 2.5 inches greater than the internal one.
- TW-Lid: The TW-Lid is Infiltrator’s legacy lid, with the lid first being used with the original TW-Series Infiltrator septic tank in 2008. The TW-Lid is easiest to identify by the lack of trapezoidal notches and the word “Infiltrator” being molded into the center. If your customer has an Infiltrator tank installed prior to 2018, odds are high that this is the type of lid securing their system.
How Do I Fix It?
- EZsnap Lid: A replacement EZsnap lid is available for purchase at your nearest Infiltrator tank distributor, where replacement risers can be purchased as well.
- EZset Lid: EZset lid replacements are available at designated EZset distributors along with replacement EZset risers.
- TW-Lid: The TW-Lid is still manufactured and can be ordered from your nearest Infiltrator tank distributor if they do not have any in stock. The 6-inch TW-Riser is still manufactured as well, and this riser is compatible with EZsnap risers. If your customer is looking to install a riser section on an existing Infiltrator septic tank that utilizes a TW-Lid, it may be best to install a 6-inch TW-Riser and adapt it to EZsnap risers then an EZsnap lid.
No matter which situation you run into, it’s not a complete fix until you add a secondary safety lid like the Infiltrator Safety Star. A secondary safety lid is becoming a required component in many areas. Be sure to check your local code.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (800) 221-4436. We’d be happy to assist you!
About the Author:
Jim Anesta Sales Development Representative
Jim Anesta is the Sales Development Representative for Infiltrator's Eastern Sales Region. Jim has been involved in the onsite wastewater industry since joining Infiltrator in 2021. He supports the Eastern Sales Region and is an active member of the Infiltrator Tech Line, responding to septic inquiries from homeowners, contractors, engineers, and regulators. Jim has an eclectic background in customer service, residential and commercial security, and event coordination. He holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Hamilton College.