3 Ways to Prepare for Your Septic Inspection

Whether you are preparing to buy or sell a home with a septic system, chances are you're going to need a septic inspection. Under normal home sale agreements, buyers are responsible for the cost of a septic inspection, while the current owner is responsible for the septic pumping/clean out. Think of it this way - it's the seller's waste we're pumping out! Give us a call to schedule your inspection, or keep reading for some simple ways you can better prep for the big day. We've been performing septic inspections in Lancaster, Pa and the surrounding areas for decades and our team is happy to answer your questions.



1. Know where the components of your septic system are located.
   Before your inspection, it's important to make a note of where your access point or manhole cover is located, along with the general location of your drainfield. If your manhole cover is buried, you'll want to mark it for us to dig it out, or you can do this on your own and save our technician time.
   
   
2. Avoid high water usage on the day of the inspection.
   We'll need to evaluate the liquid levels in your tank and the flow to the absorption area, so on the day of your inspection avoid activities that could cause a spike in these levels. We recommend postponing your laundry and turning off your sprinkler system for 24 hours. You may also want to wait until after the inspection for baths and showers.
   
   
3. Educate yourself on the functions of a healthy septic system.
   Just because you haven't been experiencing problems, does not mean the system is working perfectly. Many issues in the tank won't trigger a problem when you flush, so it's easy to think things are fine, when in reality your system is damaged or experiencing problems.
   
   

What does a septic inspection entail?
A septic inspection is fairly straightforward, but if you're not in the industry, here's a breakdown. First, we'll conduct an evaluation of your septic tank, including the condition of the bottom walls, roof and baffles. This will help us determine the size and type of absorption area your system has and we will inspect for any presence of liquid in your absorption area. If there is a dosing or lift tank we will inspect the condition of the floor, walls and roof of the tank as well. We will also make sure your pump and floats are working property. Inspecting the pump includes checking all wiring and ensuring your pump alarm is in working order. 

During the inspection of your tanks we'll evaluate the liquid levels and check the flow from your home to your treatment tanks, along with the flow to the pump tank if applicable, followed by the flow to the absorption area. We'll verify proper plumbing hookups too, and ensure that the appropriate plumbing fixtures are connected to your system. 

Lastly, we'll measure the distance from your tanks to your well, and your well to your absorption area. We do this to ensure there is no possible contamination of your drinking water. In most cases we'll perform a routine septic tank pumping at the time of your inspection as well. 

Ready to schedule your inspection? We're happy to work with homeowners or to make your life easier we can go directly through your realtor to arrange the inspection and handle any follow up - click here to get started. Kyle Kline is our certified septic inspector and he'll walk you through each step of the inspections process.