Septic System Inspection
If you’re buying property, a septic system inspection should be on your list of ‘must haves’ before finalizing the purchase. Septic systems are a major component of homes without municipal sewer service and are not included in standard home inspections. The majority of home inspectors do not know how to inspect them. Our team of home inspectors are certified and trained by the National Association of Wastewater Technicians and can inform the buyer of potential issues and provide a certified opinion which is needed at closing to satisfy the lender.
Why Do You Need a Septic System Inspection?
Septic systems are very common in areas where municipal sewer systems are not available to service the homes and businesses located there. If a septic system is deficient, replacement or repair of the system may be needed and can be very expensive. A deficient system can also cause health and safety issues and can also cause adjacent foundations to fail or deflect.
The only way to determine that a septic system has been maintained and is operating properly is to have a septic inspection.
Each septic system is specifically designed to service the home or building on that piece of property. Our inspector will inspect the system to identify if it is adequately operating at the time of inspection. To do this, it requires our inspector to locate and identify all parts of the onsite treatment system. Then, our inspector will assess the condition of each part and determine whether it is operating properly (if possible) or if there are system deficiencies to be corrected. To do this, it requires that all parts of the system be accessible and opened for inspection. This includes septic tanks, pump chambers, pretreatment media filters, aerobic treatment units and soil treatment units. It may be possible that not all components will be available at the time of inspection, however, our inspector will dig to find the components that are available. We do not pump out the system.
Septic systems are normally inspected upon installation to verify that it was installed according to the approved septic system design. If changes are made to the building, such as adding bathrooms or bedrooms, or a residence is transformed into a business, a new septic system permit must be obtained. The septic system may need to be modified to accommodate the changes. A septic system inspection will determine if the existing system is designed to handle the size and type of building it is servicing.
A septic system inspection fee is minimal compared to the costs that can quickly mount up if a septic system needs repair or replacement.
Call and schedule your septic system inspection.
Who Should Perform Your Septic System Inspection?
Your septic system inspector should be able to provide you with documentation of their current certification and what that entails. You will find that not all certified inspectors have the same level of training and experience. Not all “septic system inspections” are the same. If your home inspector doesn’t plan on bringing a shovel to locate the system to dig and open the lid, they aren’t a professional.
Mortgage lenders will require and want to see that your inspection analysis was performed by a NAWT Certified Septic Inspector.
If you want to make sure the home inspection is as thorough as possible, hire the most qualified home inspection company. Hire Crosstown Engineering & Inspections.
Don’t wait. Get on our inspection schedule today.
Manual Versus Aerobic Septic System Inspections
Manual septic systems generally require no more maintenance than regular pumping of the tank. Most older homes have this type of septic system, but they are also installed with newer homes. Quite often, new homes are receiving aerobic septic systems. These systems function well, but do require a bit more care than the manual style. The tubing needs to be flushed periodically to keep it from clogging. A vehicle driving over the area can also the tubing, requiring it to be replaced.
No system lasts forever. If your septic tank is over 20 years old, it may need to be replaced in the next 5 to 10 years. Replacing a tank or replacing a tubing system can cost several thousand dollars. If you wait until the system actually fails, the costs involved could be considerably higher.
Texas Septic System Inspectors
Our inspectors have attended the most comprehensive septic inspection courses. They have studied the terminology, treatment, tanks, construction methods, function, and field application of septic systems. They are all certified by the National Association of Wastewater Technicians. We will even do the digging to open the lid to your tank. (Something that many Texas septic system inspectors expect you to do for them.)
Call Crosstown Engineers for the most thorough home inspections, septic inspections, and foundation inspections.
