Marty and Sharon were so excited to move into their new home. After living in the city for 10 years, they were looking forward to finally moving to a more rural area. Their new home sat on 5 acres, with some rolling hills and a small pasture. Their friends and family helped them move all their furniture in and said goodbye. They breathed a sigh of relief and looked around their new home, imagining how great it would be to live this new, quiet life.
As they entered the bathroom, they discovered something they weren’t expecting – they had a clog!
They quickly called a local plumber and asked them to fix their clog. The plumber asked, “Are you on septic or sewer?”
They looked at each other and said, “We don’t know.”
“I know the area you are in; most of those homes are on septic. You really need to call a septic company.”
Marty and Sharon quickly googled and found a local septic company that sent a technician to their new home.
The technician arrived and asked if the homeowner knew where the septic tank was. They smiled and said, “We have no idea!”
The technician began using a ground-probe device to locate the tank, which turned out to be about 15 feet from their house in the backyard. The technician marked out the tank and dug up the lids.
“Uh oh! Did you get an inspection on this system before you bought the house?”
Marty and Sharon looked at each other and confessed they did not.
Purchasing a home is often the most significant investment most people will ever make. As more and more people buy homes in more rural areas, the issue of septic system inspections for home purchases is rising.
In fact, many lenders will require a detailed septic system inspection by a licensed professional before approving funding for a new house purchase.
While this hidden asset is one of the most unseen, it represents a significant part of the value of the home you are paying for and is a critical system to making your home safe and livable.
If you need an inspection of a septic system for a home purchase, here are 6 steps to a septic system inspection for a new home purchase:
1. Get a Septic System History
It’s essential that you obtain records from your local government regarding when the septic system was installed and whether any maintenance records are available. This can help you determine the age of your septic system and identify any past issues.
2. Locate Your Tank
Local health officials often recommend that your septic system be pumped out every 3-5 years. This will require a certified professional to locate your tank and remove its contents. Locating a tank can be difficult. In fact, even if permits and plans are on file with your local health department, the installers often have to make adjustments during installation, and the tank may not be where the plans indicate. Your septic professional can use multiple tools, from ground probes to ground-penetrating radar, to locate your septic tank and provide you with a drawing showing the tank’s location for future maintenance.
3. Observe Ground Conditions
Oftentimes, the most challenging part of inspecting your septic system is that it’s underground. But there can be clues above ground that help us discern the condition of the tanks. For example, inordinately green grass around the tank can result from a leak that releases more nitrogen into the area. Additionally, pooling water or a foul odor can indicate a clogged or overflowing tank. Any inspection should include inspecting above-ground before it goes underground.
4. Confirm Tank Integrity
The heart of your septic system is your septic tank. It’s here that much of the magic of the system begins. Once the tank is located and the lids removed, the inspector must review the levels of the material inside, the condition of the tank components, such as baffles, tees, and pipes. Once the tank is pumped out, an inspection of the tank walls should be included to reveal any cracks or weaknesses.
5. Ensure System Function
Ultimately, the septic system is not static; it is a flowing process. It’s critical that the inspector sees the system at work. This will often be done by adding water, either by flushing the toilets or by manually running water through the system and observing the system at work to ensure adequate flow and drainage. If your house was built after 2000, there may be a filter that needs to be inspected as well.
6. Receive Detailed Reporting
The output of a proper inspection should be a detailed report that addresses the tank’s locations, system function, tank integrity, and any recommendations for repairs and maintenance.
Home buying can feel scary, like a big leap of faith. However, with a proper septic inspection done before buying a home, you, as a homeowner, can have peace of mind that you have a great understanding of the function of your most hidden assets, and be empowered to resolve issues before the purchase, saving you time and money.
At Guardian Septic Services, we love septic inspections for home purchases. We consider it a great privilege when someone allows us to help them protect their new home purchase. Our trained technicians have a multi-step process that ensures you as a home owner have everything you need to have a safe, sanitary and functioning septic system day one and with our 24-hour turn around goal, you will have the information you need right away.
If you need a septic system inspection for your home purchase, please call us today at 706-247-6500 to schedule your inspection.