Five Things To Check Out With A Septic System When Shopping For A House
When shopping for a new home, one major point of concern is whether or not it has its own septic system. If it does, then you will want to have it inspected before making a final offer on the property. The following are a few key things you should have the system checked for.
#1: Access
Being able to access the septic tank is important, yet many homeowners are completely unaware as to where the access point and drainfield are located. If the current owners or the last company to service the system cannot give you this information, the septic inspection company will have to perform a location to find it. Consider it a red flag if the access port has been covered over or otherwise looks poorly maintained.
#2: Size
The size of the tank and drainfield is very important, since this will tell you how much it can handle. If you have a large family, you will either want to look for a home with a larger tank or you must plan to schedule more frequent pumpings. For a small family, homes with small systems aren't usually an issue.
#3: Drainfield condition
A damaged drainfield can be expensive and time consuming to fix, so it makes sense to have it inspected before making a final offer on a house. The drainfield is where the water that drains off the septic system percolates through the soil before being returned to the natural water cycle. When a drainfield is damaged, you end up with standing sewage. This is both a health and an environmental hazard.
#4: Location
Location is not the same as access. The location of a septic system should be well away from the home, any water wells, and any natural streams or ponds. There shouldn't be any structures built on the drainfield. It also should not be located in a place where the drainfield could become easily damaged. For example, you don't want a drainfield right off a driveway where someone could accidentally drive onto it. There also should not be any large trees or shrubs planted on or near the drainfield, as the roots can eventually ruin the system.
#5: Condition
The condition of the tank is as important as the condition of the drainfield. The tank should not be full or overflowing. Have the interior inspected to ensure it has been maintained and that all safety valves are fully operational. An inspector can put a camera into the tank to perform a full inspection and look for problems.
For more help, contact a septic tank company or system inspector such as Rob's Septic Tanks Inc.
