Residential Septic Services

Septic System Service

Most homes in rural areas are serviced by a septic system rather than a sewer system. Septic systems are small onsite waste water treatment systems. They have a lifespan of approximately 30 years if they are properly maintained and cared for. They do not require much in the way of maintenance. Additives are generally not needed and can cause problems rather than fix them. Pumping them every 3-5 years is the best maintenance program.

Reasons for Pumping your Septic Tank...

• Provide the longest possible lifespan of the septic system
• Keep the solid levels inside the tank at a minimum
• Avoid costly repairs in the future

Common signs of system trouble or failure

• Effluent surfacing on the ground or the leaching area
• Backup problems in the house or slow flushing toilets
• Green lush growth over the leach lines commonly referred to as stripes
• Effluent showing up in the shower or bathtub when other drains are used
• Bubbling sounds coming from the toilet

One thing to remember, some of these warning signs are also signs of a blockage in the line. If you should notice any of these, proper diagnoses of the system will reveal the actual cause and in a lot of situations, a smaller, less expensive repair can be made to restore the system before complete replacement is needed.

Residential Septic Real Estate Inspection

The Buyer's Point of View As a buyer where might you run into a problem even after a satisfactory septic inspection? All septic systems have a limited capacity to handle waste. Problems with septic systems that show no defects during an inspection most often occur when an increased load is put on a septic system by the new owner. For instance, an older person may occupy a large home for many years with no septic problems. A family of three or four may purchase the home and use three or four times the amount of water. The septic system may not be able to handle this increased load and subsequent failure of the system occurs.

The age of the system should also be considered. If the system has been in use for 20 years or more without major renovations, such renovations should be anticipated. Questions you might consider: Is public sewer available if I need to connect to it? Do I have sufficient, suitable land to put a replacement system if it is needed?

What if the property is vacant when it is inspected? Vacant properties further limit the inspection of the system since the water usage is nil. For best results we recommend that the realtor, seller, or buyer run the water for one hour per day for a period of one week or more prior to the inspection to help duplicate an occupied condition.

Owning your own septic system has advantages and disadvantages. Public systems, of course, have fees associated with their use; private systems avoid these fees but are not without operating cost. When a public system needs renovation, the cost often is divided among a large number of people. When a private system fails, it's usually the owner's problem alone.

If you are buying or selling a home, a septic inspection is a good investment. While a favorable inspection does not guarantee that you will not have trouble with the septic system, it can often detect defects that would go unnoticed to the untrained eye. It could save the buyer a major expense.