Sewer or Septic System Inspections For Home Sellers

If you are trying to sell a home in today’s depressed housing market, you know how hard it can be just to get a potential buyer in the door.  Having a sewer or septic system inspection done before the first potential buyer arrives is an excellent way to give your home an edge over similar homes on the market.

With so many homes on the market, buyers are looking for any reason to eliminate homes from consideration and narrow down the list.  Don’t let any uncertainty about your sewer line or your septic system be a reason for potential buyers to move on to the next house.  Repairs to sewer lines and septic systems can cost thousands of dollars and a dodgy septic system or sewer line can make a buyer lose interest in your home.

If you have a septic system, have the septic tank pumped and thoroughly inspected.  Ask for a septic tank inspection that includes a video camera inspection of the inside of your pipes and a written report on the condition of the septic tank and septic field.  If your home is connected to the municipal sewer system, have a video inspection done of the sewer lateral.

If there are any problems, have them corrected before the report is prepared. When a prospective buyer appears, provide them with a copy of the video and any written reports on the sewer line or septic system.  Providing the buyer with evidence of a healthy septic system or sewer lateral can help give buyers the incentive they need to make a good offer on your home.

 

Snowmelt Over Your Septic System

If you have noticed melted snow over your septic tank or septic field, you may be wondering if this is an indication of a problem or if this condition is normal.  Snowmelt over your septic tank or drain field is not necessarily a sign of problems with your septic system, but it should be checked out to be sure it is normal.

Your septic tank is buried in your yard and accumulates waste water from your home.  Solid materials settle to the bottom of the septic tank where it decomposes.  This decomposition process generates some heat and if your septic tank is close to the surface of the ground, the heat may be enough to cause snow over the septic tank to melt.

Hot water from you home can have the same effect.  If you are using hot water for laundry, dishwashing, or showers, the waste water may be warm enough to melt the snow over your septic tank.  The same is true for your septic field, especially if the ground is not frozen or if there is a light snowfall.

Check the area in and around the leech field and septic tank for any soft, mushy ground or foul odors.  If there are no odors or mushy areas in the yard and your drains and toilets are working properly, the snowmelt is probably normal.

If you find any wet, mushy areas or puddles in the yard around the septic tank or leech field, notice any odors, have slow or backed up drains and toilets, or just want to be certain, you should have your septic system inspected by a sewer-septic professional with experience in septic tank inspections.