If you’re looking for a new home in Georgia, there’s something you should know — a septic tank inspection is not required by law when buying a home.
Even though that’s the case, you should insist on an inspection to ensure the system is operating well and as it should – before you sign on the dotted line and have to pay for large-scale repairs or a replacement.
A basic septic system consists of three parts:
1. The tank itself where waste from the home is sent
2. A small box on the outlet side of the tank where the distribution box sits
3. The drainfield
A problem with one or a combination of these parts can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs or even more if you need to install a new tank or drainfield.
A septic inspection involves pumping the tank, evaluating the entire system, looking for parts that are worn, the tank’s condition, and so forth.
The inspector can identify problems such as these:
A blocked drainfield. If the current homeowner hasn’t serviced the tank regularly, there could be an imbalanced level of solids in the tank. When the solids are allowed to rise to the top and access the outlet, they’ll be sent out to the drainfield. Here, they wreak havoc with the distribution box and the drainage process.
Over use. If the septic tank isn’t the right size for the home, it can cause problems. An abundance of wastewater wreaks havoc with the proper breakdown of waste. The drainfield won’t be able to deal with the waste, and the balance of the tank is thrown off, too.
Green grass. Or rather, grass that’s too green. If there’s very green grass directly over the tank, that usually means that there’s water pooling near the surface. If that water eventually floats up to the top and resets on top of the grass, the health inspector can shut the system down at will. You won’t have a septic system to deal with your home’s drainage or wastewater.
With a proper inspection for the septic tank, you can be confident that your new home will shine—and you won’t have the unpleasant experience of dealing with a malfunctioning septic system.
It makes sense that as a potential homebuyer, you should find out everything you can about the home and its condition — that includes the septic tank. Insist on getting a septic tank inspection so you have a clear understanding of the systems’ condition before you buy. For answers to your questions, contact the Pink Plumber today.
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