Septic Inspection
If you’re considering a home with a septic system, you’re probably wondering what exactly that means. For you, and for your wastewater.
Homes with septic tanks don’t have to rely on municipal sewer and water services to ensure that all their plumbing keeps running smoothly.
Instead, a septic system works by treating and disposing of both wastewater and solids created by a home. These solids are then broken down into sludge with a septic tank. This sludge is then separated into effluent (or, water) and scum (or, fat, oil, and grease). The effluent leaves the tank and enters a drain field, where it is naturally filtered (thanks, bacteria) and the final product re-enters the groundwater. Scum and sludge on the other hand, do need to be pumped periodically and should not be able to re-enter the groundwater.
Septic inspections look for a wide range of items that indicate a safe and successful system. For example, it looks to see when the tank was last pumped and what the sludge level of the tank is. It also checks to see that the septic system is big enough for the home it serves.
If a prospective home has a septic system, getting it inspected prior to purchase is definitely a worthwhile investment. To book your home and septic inspection in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington, DC, contact us today. Curious what it’ll cost? When you schedule your home inspection, we’ll find out an estimate for the septic inspection; but in the meantime you can see how much a home inspection costs.
Septic Inspection FAQs
How long do septic systems last?
A septic system is designed to be a long term solution to the wastewater needs of your home. However, failure can occur when a septic system is not maintained properly. A septic system isn’t just the tank, but also includes the drain field, which must also be maintained.
How often should I drain my septic tank?
The standard household septic tank should typically be pumped every three to five years. Factors such as how often you do laundry, what products you use, and how often you have visitors can impact how often it is necessary to drain your septic tank. Your home inspector can likely recommend septic pumping services near you.
What is a drain field?
Also known as a ‘leach field’, a drain field is a network of pipes, gravel, trenches, and soil. Wastewater travels through perforated pipes and into trenches that are filled with gravel. From there the it passes on to the soil, which filters the wastewater and returns it to the groundwater.
What if the house I’m considering has been vacant?
An empty house means that a septic system hasn’t been working under ‘normal’ conditions. This can cause the drain field to dry up. To test how a system would operate when a home is occupied, a hydraulic load test is often executed.
Are well and septic the same thing?
No, but usually a home with one, has the other. The biggest difference is that the septic system doesn’t make water drinkable. Instead, it just treats it so that it can be safely returned to the groundwater without causing contamination. A septic inspection does not include a well inspection.
Does a septic tank have to be drained for an inspection?
Yes. This is because the physical condition of the entire tank cannot be assessed if it still has waste in it. Many inspectors will request that the tank is pumped during the inspection so that different components can be tested.