Real Estate Septic System Inspections

What’s a Septic Inspection?

Septic systems are often overlooked when it comes to maintenance. They can last for several long years; however, structural and systematic problems may appear over time so it’s important to keep your septic system in check. Have a routine inspection performed by a professional to check for any pipe damage, the current situation of the tank, and any leakages around the area. They’ll report back to you and inform you if you need septic tank repair or any other replacements.

How Inspections Work

• Pre-Inspection: The first step of the inspection process is an examination. This is when the inspector will gather information about your septic system and ask you questions about any signs you’ve been noticing lately to understand the current condition of your system. They’ll try to find clues on where the problem lies if there are any. Your inspector may ask you questions about the last time your septic tank has been pumped, the location of your septic tank, a map of the septic system location on your property, and any other available history for the maintenance of your septic system.
• Flow Test: Next, the inspector will likely do a flow test. For this test, the technician will turn on all the water in the house to charge the system with the amount of water needed to support the number of people in the household for 24 hours. If little to no water flows, this means there is a problem in the system’s pipes. They may be cracked or clogged, blocking the flow of water. If this happens, you may need to call for sewer line repair. On the other hand, if water is flowing too quickly and fills up the tank, this shows that the problem lies downstream. A properly operating system should force effluent to the outlet pipe and into the drain field as water flows in.
• Tank: The next step of inspection should be to check the tank itself and the levels of each layer in the tank. Both the scum and sludge layers should each take up about 30% of the tank, the rest should be for the effluent layer. The effluent layer should take up the most space because the solids need time to settle. The solids and scum should stay away from the drain field because they can cause clogs and lead to expensive septic tank repair.
• Drain Field: The final area of inspection will be the drain field. There will first be a visual examination, checking for any areas flooded with water or bad odors arising. The inspector will then use a probe to test if the drain field is flooded. If the holes made by the probe constantly fill up with water, your drain field is likely flooded.

Act Quick

As shown, there are a lot of areas in which a problem can occur in the septic system. Therefore, it’s important to be proactive and call for inspection with Charlotte Septic Pros before making any investments.