Is Your Septic System Failing?

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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Wastewater should not be backing up into your home, nor should your yard become full of foul smelling liquid bubbling up; this is an obvious sign of a septic system failure. If these symptoms are not present, you may think that your septic system is running smoothly.  However, contaminants could be reaching your well water, which means your system is failing. You won’t know, however, if your system is leaching out contaminants unless you are aware of the warning signs.

Here are some things that you can look for to determine if you have a serious problem. Is sewage backing up in your drains or toilets or are they flushing slowly? Despite your best efforts at home repair, many of your household drains will seem much slower than usual if you are developing a problem. You may notice the ground around your septic system is wet even when there hasn’t been any rain. If your property is close to a lake or pond and you observe an unusual increase in algae or weeds, it is possible that your septic system is seeping into the surface water. Additionally, you may notice disagreeable odors round the house if the system is failing or improperly vented.

Should any of the above indications exist, you may want to contact your local septic professional and arrange for a septic tank inspection. You should also have your drinking water well tested to ensure that there hasn’t been any seepage from your system. The presence of bacteria would indicate that septic system seepage has gotten into your well water. Your service professional can pump your septic tank, inspect the entire system, and give you the appropriate options for making any septic system repairs.

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The Importance of Regular Septic System Maintenance

March 26th, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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If you live in a rural area or one in which sewage treatment plants are not accessible, your home almost certainly relies upon a septic tank for the management and treatment of waste from your bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. When your septic system is working properly, it’s easy to take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to maintenance; after all, there are so many pressing things to worry about over the course of a day! Unfortunately, neglecting your septic system and the routine maintenance it requires can be a messy and expensive mistake.

Your septic tank should be inspected by a license professional on an annual basis, and pumped when the tank exceeds one-third of the tank’s volume as a general rule. Commercial products marketed as an alternative to regular septic tank inspections, maintenance and pumping may seem like a bargain, but they can actually upset the microbial balance of your system, liquefy sludge and send it pouring into the drainfield. Drain cleaners and heavy bleach usage can also kill the beneficial bacteria that break down solids in your septic tank.

Don’t use fertilizer on the grass surrounding your drainfield, as it will cause nutrients to saturate the soil to the point that it stops removing those nutrients from wastewater. Rainwater and surface runoff should be directed away from your drainfield, and you should never park or drive over the area.

A licensed and experienced septic system professional in your area can help you determine the most effective maintenance plan, and give you valuable advice for increasing the life of your septic system.

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Recognize a Failing Septic System

March 19th, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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The way a septic system functions is that it collects solid waste in the septic tank and allows wastewater to flow out into a drain field where it percolates into the soil.  As the wastewater seeps through the soil, natural biological activity treats the waste water.  Most of the solid waste in the septic tank decomposes naturally and any residual solid material is pumpied out of the tank periodically.  Septic systems are used in areas where a municipal sewer system is unavailable, such as isolated homes or larger subdivisions away from urban areas.

When a septic system is beginning to fail, it can become a very serious matter, as well as a health threat to anyone near it. If you ever decide to sell your home, having a failing septic system can have a drastic effect on the bottom line, impacting the sale price of your home and causing it to drop significantly. You should take care and be certain that you can afford to both keep and maintain the septic system you use at your home.

Be aware of any telltale signs that your septic system might be failing. If you see deep green grass over the drain field of your tank, more so than other places in your yard, that might be a cause for concern. If you notice standing water or liquid in the drain field after a heavy rain, it’s possible that it could be sign of a larger problem. Also, any foul or unpleasant odors in the area or even in your own home are a possible sign of a failing septic system.

The health and longevity of any septic system is of vital importance for those that live in its vicinity, and the environment at large around it. If you have any concerns about your septic system, contact a reputable sewer-septic contractor and arrange for a septic system inspection.

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Septic System Inspections and Repairs

March 19th, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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Failing septic systems and cesspools are a major cause of contaminated drinking water, tainted shellfish beds and polluted beaches. You should protect yourself, your family and your neighbors from these public health threats by having an inspection of any private sewage disposal systems before the sale, expansion or change in use of properties where they are present.

Most systems will pass inspection, and systems that fail must be repaired or upgraded. If you own a home with a septic system and have plans to put it up for sale, add a bedroom or convert it for different use, you will also need to have your septic system inspected.

When you need to hire a septic system inspector, there are two important things you need to bear in mind. First, inspectors can charge whatever their customers are willing to pay so it often pays to shop around. The fee also may vary depending on the complexity of the inspection. Second, only certain professionals are qualified to perform certain septic system inspections. For a list of qualified system inspectors in your area, consider contacting your local health department.

Before hiring a septic tank inspector, do some comparison shopping. Get written estimates from several septic system inspectors. One key question to ask is whether the price of the inspection includes pumping the system.   Before signing any contract, be absolutely certain that it spells out precisely what work is going to be done, how much it is going to cost, what the payment terms are, and whether the septic tank inspector stands behind their work. Once the inspection is complete, make sure the person who signs the form is the same person who conducted the inspection.

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Professional Septic Tank Cleaning

March 19th, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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All homeowners whose home is on a septic system rather than a municipal sewer should make certain that have the septic tank inspected, cleaned and pumped on a periodic basis, as necessary. The typical septic tank will need to be pumped every three to five years, but every septic system is unique so septic tank pumping frequency can vary.  The size of the septic tank, number of people living in the home, kitchen waste disposal habits, and other factors affect how quickly solid material will accumulate in a septic tank and need to be removed.

Seeking the advice and service of a qualified septic specialist should be at the top of everyone’s priority list. A septic tank inspection will give you a good idea of the condition of your septic system and also tell you if your tank needs to be cleaned, or how long it is until you need it cleaned.

Whatever you do, don’t put septic tank cleaning on your own “to-do list.” Only trained and experienced professionals should come and do the job for you, whether it’s cleaning, pumping, inspecting or otherwise. A septic system creates dangerous fumes and only a trained septic system contractor should clean your septic tank.  A sewer-spetic professional will know what to check, what to look for, and how to do a safe and thorough cleaning without damaging your system.

Getting your septic tank cleaned and inspected regularly will help it continue to work at peak efficiency. It also gives a professional septic specialist a chance to spot and warn you of any problems or concerns that might arise, things that you need to be aware of before they become much more serious, or even critical. It’s important to know how full the tank is and when it needs to be pumped, so as not to overfill the system or ruin it, requiring a costly replacement.

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Septic Tank Inspections and the Prospective Home Buyer

December 19th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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If you’re considering the purchase of a new home, you already know that there can be a variety of expenses involved before you ever take ownership of the property. If saving money is a concern, you may be tempted to forgo some inspections in favor of pocketing the cash for upgrades and personalization of your new home. However, opting to skip the septic tank inspection can be a mistake that costs you far more money than you bargained for.

Your mortgage lender will probably require you to have the structure, HVAC and internal plumbing of a property inspected before they will approve the loan. Because sewer inspections aren’t always required by all mortgage companies and banks, it’s easy to either forget the inspection or deliberately opt not to obtain one. That leaves you essentially purchasing a home blind to any issues that could present themselves with the septic system down the road.

Replacing or even repairing a septic system that has been damaged or has degraded over time can be exorbitantly expensive and very time consuming. By having the septic system inspected before you complete the purchase of a new home, you will be able to learn more about the condition of the existing system.

In some cases, the condition of that system may be precarious enough that you choose not to purchase the home after considering the potential cost of future repairs or full system replacement. Buying that home without an inspection, however, leaves you with no choice but to take the risk of running into severe septic system problems down the line, and to foot the bill for those repairs.

 

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Improve the Life of Your Septic Tank With Good Laundry Habits

November 22nd, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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If you are one of the many homeowners why rely on a septic system rather than a municipal sewer to dispose of household wastewater, you probably know that taking good care of it is very important to preventing problems and prolonging the life of the system. Regular septic tank inspections and pumping are important and need to be done by a sewer septic professional.  Your sewer septic contractor will ensure the entire system is working properly and will be able to let you know whether or not the septic tank needs to be pumped. In addition to having your septic system serviced regularly there are a number of good habits that you and your family can get into that will help to keep the system in good operating condition.

One of the most important things to know about a septic system is that when too much water flows into the septic tank at one time, there is not enough space left for the waste to properly settle to the bottom of the tank and decompose. The result is that too much solid material will be suspended in the water flowing out into the leach field and after a while the leach field can become clogged with solid material.  A clogged leach field will eventually fail and cause serious problems with your septic system.   Having said that the best thing you can do is prevent this from occurring in the first place.

Taking care of your laundry habits is one way of ensuring that excessive amounts of water don’t get send through the system at the same time. Many households have a “laundry day” on which all of the laundry of everyone in the house that has been building up for the last week is done at the same time. Take care of your septic system by doing a laundry load every day rather than 10 loads all on the same day.  Similarly, try to avoid taking showers, running the dishwasher, and doing laundry all at the same time.

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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Septic Tank or Sewer Line Repairs?

October 29th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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If something goes wrong with your septic tank or sewer line, it can be quite costly to repair. Replacing an entire home sewer line, for example, could easily cost well over $10,000.  For a new septic tank, you’re looking at $2,000 plus the cost of excavation. It’s easy to see why homeowners often question whether insurance will cover this costly and seemingly sudden expense.

Homeowners insurance generally will cover a repair if the damage is unrelated to the regular care and maintenance of the sewer pipe or septic. An example of this would be if there is a fire and the sewer line is destroyed because it was located beneath the house. The insurance might cover replacement of the sewer pipes in that situation, but not if the pipes failed because they were old.

As a general rule, insurance policies do not cover sewer line repairs, but it is sometimes possible to purchase a special endorsement beyond your regular policy. It is also sometimes possible to obtain insurance coverage through your local water utility. And if you purchase a new septic tank or sewer line, it may even be possible to purchase an extended warranty to cover any problems over a five year period.

There are several important points to stress about sewer line or septic repair coverage. First, examine your current homeowner’s policy and ask questions about your coverage now. In the event of a failure, it is already too late. Second, avoid potential pitfalls by having regular scheduled septic tank inspections and maintenance of your lines by a professional sewer septic contractor. After all, nothing will be covered if it is due to your negligence.

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Sewer or Septic System Inspections For Home Sellers

August 2nd, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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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.

 

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Buying a Home With a Septic System

November 7th, 2011 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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If you are in the market for a new home, you will probably find out as much as you can about any house before you make an offer on it.  Remember not to overlook the septic system.  Many buyers pay for a home inspection, but a typical buyer’s home inspection does not include a thorough septic system inspection.

Don’t assume that just because the toilets flush and the sinks drain that the septic system is in good shape.  Replacing a septic system can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 so it is well worth it to have the system thoroughly checked out by a sewer septic professional with experience in septic tank inspections.

A septic system inspection should include having the septic tank pumped out, opened, and visually inspected.  The inspection should also cover the pipes leading to the drain field and typically includes a dye test to look for problems with the drain field.  The inspection may also include detailed inspection of the inside of the pipes using digital video cameras.

It is a good idea to be present during the inspection if possible.  Your inspector will be able to discuss any issues with you and also show you the location of the septic tank and drain field for future reference.  If problems are identified with the septic system, you can use the inspector’s report to negotiate a lower price for the home, have the seller make any necessary repairs, or you may decide not to make an offer on the home at all.

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