New Home Buyers: What to Expect During a Septic System Inspection

 
You’ve been house-hunting for a while and you’ve finally found the perfect home for your family. Your offer got accepted—now, it’s time to make sure that this new home really is as perfect as it seems, and your septic is functioning properly.

While it’s tempting to save a little money by skipping important inspections, we’d caution you otherwise. In fact, we think a septic system inspection should be an essential item on your home-buying “to do” list. But, what exactly is a septic system inspection?

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here is everything you’ll need to know, and exactly what you’ll get from a quality septic system inspection.

First, what is a septic system?

Almost all septic systems are made up of three parts: a septic tank, a distribution box, and a drainage field. Septic tanks are built of concrete, steel or fiberglass, generally hold up to 1,500 gallons of waste, and are buried a few feet under the ground’s surface.

One end of the tank connects to the main sewage line coming from the house, and the other end connects to the distribution box. Every tank has a covered opening, through which it can be accessed for pumping and cleaning.  In a functioning septic system, wastewater from the house flows through the sewage line and into the tank.  From there—as the liquid in the tank rises, —it flows into the distribution box, which distributes the waste into the drainage field by way of perforated plastic pipes (which are, of course, buried underground.).

You’ll know if your septic system works

Since septic tanks and drainage fields are buried underground, hidden from view, any problems present will not be immediately obvious. The sanitation of a septic system may be compromised, or its efficiency or it may not have been pumped for a decade. Just because the toilets flush and water drains down the sinks, doesn’t mean everything will be working as it should be next week—or several weeks after you’ve already bought the house. That’s why, as a potential homebuyer, it’s important that you know how a septic system works so you can make an educated decision when looking to buy a property with a septic system.

You’ll know if your septic system is compromised

Even a properly functioning septic system can be compromised by overuse—and compromised septic systems lead to disaster. Poor maintenance will also cause long-term problems. When looking to buy a property, the only way to really know the condition of its septic system is to find out as much information as you can about its maintenance and past owner(s), and to hire a professional to inspect the system for you.

By having your property’s septic system professionally inspected, you will save yourself time and money in the future, or the knowledge you gain from an inspection could steer you away from a bad investment.

At the very least, having the foresight to inspect the septic system of your would-be home could save you from an urgent phone call and an expensive bill later on. To put it in simple terms: some problems stink more than others, and not all of them can be flushed away.

For home septic systems in Northeastern Indiana

If your new home happens to have a bad septic system, you may want to think twice about purchasing. Give us a call before you make a final commitment, because as a family-owned company, we understand the standards a home septic system needs to meet.

At the end of the day, you need a safe and worry-free place to raise your family, and with families of our own, you can trust our knowledge and expertise to the fullest extent.

Reach us by phone at (260)-982-7111 or by e-mail at steven(at)shanksterbros(dot)net—and we’ll help you make sure the “perfect” house is perfect, after all.