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Mortgage
Septic Inspection
Realty Septic
Inspections
Before purchasing an existing home,
old or new, an investigation of the septic system is warranted.
Taking the time to investigate the home’s septic system may save
you from making costly repairs or replacement later.
Newly Constructed Home:
Before Purchasing a newly constructed home, you should:
- Contact your local health
department for information on the type of onsite sewage
system which was installed. You should learn if the system
installed was a standard system, such as septic tank and
laterals or was the system installed modified to service the
home. Possibly an alternative system or experimental system
was installed.
- Verify the location of the
onsite system and its proximity to the house, trees, etc.
Knowing the precise location of the system is important so
that future landscaping, and/or construction of patios,
swimming pools (including above ground pools), outbuildings,
etc., do not damage the system or render it inaccessible for
maintenance or repairs.
- Check with the neighboring
homeowners about the types of sewage disposal system they
are utilizing. Ask how long their current system has been
installed and their likes and dislikes about their
particular system.
- Examine the property deed for
easements, right-of-ways, etc., which may restrict or
prevent the modification of the present system should
repairs or alterations be required at a later date.
Existing Home:
- Have the present owner verify
the type, size and location of the system installed.
- Question the owner about the
age of the system, what repairs or maintenance have been
done and how often the septic tank has been pumped. (Septic
tanks should be pumped every three to five years depending
upon the usage and size of tank.)
- Carefully examine the area for
evidence of system malfunction, such as surfacing sewage,
excessively wet spots, areas with dense growths, uncut grass
or weeds or recently excavated areas.
- Check the property boundary
lines (especially in rural areas) for evidence of sewage
being piped into gullies, streams, wooded areas, etc. (This
is not an acceptable method of sewage disbursement)
- Obtain a signed affidavit from
the present owner certifying the size of the system. ( size
of septic tank, length of lateral field, etc.)
- Request the monthly water
usage from the current occupants of the home, as additional
waste flow loading by a larger family, or a different
lifestyle, could result in a system which was adequate for
the present occupants but completely inadequate for your
family.
- Check with the neighboring
homeowners concerning the operation of their onsite systems
as well as the system serving the home you are considering.
You should also consider having a
complete and detailed Realty Septic Inspection performed by a
certified installer with a local septic system company. The
technician can assist you in determining if the existing onsite
system is adequate for the size home it is servicing as it
relates to meeting present requirements as based on waste flow
sizing calculations. This is important as older systems may have
been installed prior to the establishment of new guidelines and
regulations or the current system may have been installed
improperly or undersized. With a complete Realty Septic
Inspection you should receive a typed written report, drawing of
the system located as well as care and maintenance information
regarding the system inspected
Level One – $175
Visual and Dye Tests. Open access ports & inspect
equipment. Sludge readings taken.
Level Two - $250
Locate, open, inspect tanks, baffles, determine capacity
of tanks. Record thickness of floating scum thickness.
Level Three - $350
All of the above plus test openings in leaching areas.
Soil percolation test
All
Major Credit Cards Accepted
Payment due upon acceptance of written report!
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