Septic Tank Problems- Ask About the History of the Tank

When purhcasing a home with a private septic system, you should make sure that the system is working properly. Make sure you get an inspection before you blindly accept that the septic tank is working. Even though you may not find all the defects or problems, you substantially reduce the risk of having costly repairs and replacements of your septic system. A simple inspection can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars! So, if you do not hire someone to inspect the septic system, then you can do a little detective work on your own.

The first thing you should do is ASK the owner about the septic tank. Has it had any problems? How has the septic system been working for them since they owned the house? How long as it been sinced they pumped out the sludge from the septic tank? Get a good general history and background on it, and that should take care most of the common simple septic tank problems. The second thing you should do is ask a third party (like a neighbor or company that has done repairs or check-ups in the past) about the septic system. This can be time consuming, but well worth it if you want to be thorough. Then, when in doubt, just make a visual inspection of the septic tank and system. Does it look like it has been properly maintianed? If you want a professional inspection, then your chances of catching a defect or problem will increase.