Buying A Home Soon? Don't Forget To Inspect The Septic System First
Purchasing or financing a home is something you shouldn't take lightly, especially if the home uses a septic system. Although septic systems make great alternatives to traditional plumbing systems, septic systems can experience some problems over time. Clogged septic tank lines and even an overflowing leach field can cause extensive problems throughout your home. Here are reasons to inspect a home's septic system before you buy it.
What Common Problems Can a Septic System Experience?
A private septic system's tank should be secure enough to keep water and waste from leaking out of it and into the surrounding soil. The system also relies on two separate underground lines to convey water and waste from the home. One line connects the home's plumbing system to the septic tank, and the other line connects the tank to the leach field. If the tank or leach field isn't properly maintained, the lines can become clogged.
Since the septic tank and leach field lie underground, you might not see any problems until well after you purchased the home. However, some things can happen inside the home's plumbing system that indicate a problem with the tank or leach field. Your sink and bathtub drains might drain slowly, or not at all. Your toilet may also back up with waste.
The issues above are just a few disasters that may occur from a poorly managed or damaged septic system. You can prevent unnecessary headaches by inspecting the septic system before you purchase the home.
How Do You Inspect a Private Septic System?
If you follow a simple steps, you can inspect the septic system yourself. The first thing you can do is walk around the property and look for signs of seepage. Seepage occurs when affluent, or wastewater, overflows a leach field and seeps to the surface of the ground. You might also notice a strong sewer odor waffling around your property.
Also, inspect the inside of the home for plumbing issues. If the home's water supply is on, flush the toilets or run water into the sinks to see if they drain or flush properly. If the drains or toilets bubble or back up with water, there may be a problem with the septic tank or leach field.
You can also have the septic system inspected by a professional contractor. A contractor will be able to perform different types of tests on the tank and leach field to see if they have any major issues to fix. If the problems are minor enough to repair, you may consider purchasing the home. If the repairs are significant, you may be able to have the home's seller fix them for you.
You can obtain a private septic system inspection for the home you plan to purchase by contacting a business such as Wadsworth Inspections.