Septic System Inspection
Our family has been providing quality septic certification since the 70’s. Our septic inspections include a complete evaluation of the septic tank and the absorption system to ensure that your septic system is in excellent operating condition. Our septic inspections come with a one-year warranty when the following conditions are met:
- The home is currently occupied.
- The number of people moving in is not greater than the number of people moving out.
- The system has not been cleaned in the past 30 days.
If these conditions cannot be met then the septic system would have to pass a two-day hydraulic load test in order to verify that the absorption system can handle the additional water that would be generated, in order for us to honor the one-year warranty.
A standard inspection currently costs $340. A two-day hydraulic load test costs $595. If they can be done at the same time the price would be $680.
Please refer to our question and answer section for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should the septic tank be pumped before the inspection?
- Under what circumstances should a hydraulic load test be performed in addition to a standard septic inspection?
- When is a drain field considered to be overfull?
- When will it be required that a septic tank has to be cleaned in order to pass a septic inspection?
- Does a septic tank have to have a cleanout pipe in order to pass a septic inspection?
- Can a cesspool pass a septic inspection?
- If a homeowner has never had their septic system pumped, can we assume everything is fine?
- Should soil fracturing ever be recommended to correct an over full drain field?
- Can a septic system pass an inspection if the washing machine water has been removed from the system?
- How many companies offer one-year warranties with their septic certifications?
- What factors are important when inspecting a septic tank?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of a drip irrigation system?
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Should the septic tank be pumped before the inspection ?
No! If the tank is pumped before the inspection, we will not be able to properly evaluate the system, costing your client time and/or additional money?.
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hydraulic load test should be performed if:
- The home has been vacant for more than 7 days or
- If the number of people moving in is greater than the number of people moving out of the home.
*A hydraulic load test is a 2-day test to determine the absorption capacity of the absorption system.
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When the water in the drain field is above the top of the stone.
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When the thickness of the floatable solids and the depth of the settled solids are equal to or greater than 20% of the total depth of the tank.
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In order to pass a septic inspection, the system must meet all the regulations that were in affect when the septic system was installed. All tanks installed after 1983 are required to have main access risers no deeper than 12 inches below grade. Therefore, if the system was installed prior to 1983 a riser will be recommended, but not required. After 1983 all tanks are required to have main access pipes if the septic tank is more than 12 inches deep.
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It is possible that cesspools can pass septic inspections. The problem is that cesspools have not been installed since 1969 and therefore they are at least 34 years old. Most septic system have a life expectancy of 20 – 25 years. We have, however, seen 50-year-old systems that are still working fine.
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No. Just the opposite is true. A septic tank that has never been cleaned is like a car that has never had its oil changed. A septic system will fail prematurely if it is not properly maintained.
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As of July 2006 DEP no longer allows soil fracturing.
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No. The washing machine water will have to be put back into the septic system. However the septic system will have to pass a hydraulic load test first.
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Only one! Eldredge Septic Management.
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- The structural integrity of the tank.
- The liquid level of the septic tank.
- The amount of accumulated solids in the septic tank.
- The condition of the baffles.
- The inlet inspection port, as well as the main access clean out pipe.
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There are many advantages. The greatest advantage is aesthetics. Drip irrigation systems are installed just below grade so there is no mound in the yard detracting from the view. Another advantage is the flexibility. Often you can avoid cutting down that favorite tree that you've grown to admire. It's also a great way to irrigate your lawn by recycling the water you've already used for other purposes.The disadvantage is the relatively short amount of time they have been in use. They contain many moving parts and its difficult to predict how expensive they will become to maintain as they age..
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Check for Leaks
Check Your Water Fixtures for Leaks
To check to make sure your toilet's reservoir isn't leaking into the bowl add a few drops of liquid food coloring to the reservoir (back of the toilet) ensuring that all the water in the tank changes color. If the dye shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes, the reservoir is leaking and repairs are needed. We recommend calling your plumber to resolve the problem.
A small drip from a faucet adds many gallons of unnecessary water to your septic system every day. This can cause your septic system to fail prematurely. To see how much a small leak adds to your water usage, place a cup under the drip for 10 minutes. Multiply the amount of water in the cup by 144 (the number of minutes in 24 hours, divided by 10). This is the total amount of additional water traveling to your septic system each day from that little leak.
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Frequently Asked Questions
