Septic System Inspection is Crucial When You Buy a Home
You might be wondering whether a septic tank inspection when buying a new home is necessary. Montgomery Sanitations suggests to new home buyers that you should get an inspection of your septic tank before buying the house. There are so many things to consider when you are making such a huge purchase, including submitting an offer and getting a loan. New homeowners might think this is an unnecessary extra step, but a septic inspection could save them a lot of money.
At Montgomery Sanitation, we have many years of experience in providing septic tank inspections for new home buyers. We want to pass on what we have learned over the years when homeowners have gotten septic tank inspections. Sometimes not getting an inspection is a serious mistake. The good news is if a septic system fails inspection during the buying process, the buyer can terminate the sale.
Not Getting a Septic Tank Inspection Can Prove Costly
You might be wondering what the big deal is in getting a septic system inspection before buying a new home. The easy answer is the septic system is one of the most expensive parts of a home. When the septic system malfunctions, it can cost thousands of dollars for homeowners to replace. Malfunctioning septic systems can frequently back up and cause awful odors. Home Advisor.com breaks down the cost of installing a new septic tank:
“Septic tanks cost between $3,061 and $9,795, or $6,400 on average. A typical 1,000-gallon tank installation for a 3-bedroom home ranges from $2,100 to $5,000. Materials cost between $600 and $2,500 without labor. A complete septic system, including a leach field, tank and piping costs $10,000 to $25,000. Installing a leach field costs $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the type. You’ll need all the components of a system. Ultimately, what you’ll pay to install a septic tank depends on the type of system, material and size. This guide covers the two types of systems – aerobic and anaerobic. It’ll also cover the various types of setups, from conventional to drip, mound, evapotranspiration, recirculating sand, built wetland and chambered.”
Source: 2021 Septic Tank & Leach Field Installation Cost Guide – HomeAdvisor
Montgomery Sanitation Provides Various Types of Inspections
Montgomery Sanitation provides various types of inspections and evaluations for your septic tank. We can perform a septic walkover inspection, which is really the simplest inspection we offer. The technician will walk over the septic system watching for any obvious signs of drain field leaks. If we find leaks during an inspection before you buy the home, that is obviously a red flag warning that maybe you should pass on the home.
Septic System Evaluations are the Most Thorough of Our Inspections
We also provide septic system evaluations, which are the most thorough of our septic system inspections. Our technicians will find the septic tank and uncover it as well as the distribution box. We will also evaluate the inlet line, septic tank, outlet line, and distribution box. The technician will water test the drain lines to determine the condition of the septic system. We finish up the evaluation by writing a full report and provide a sketch of the system.
Septic Tanks Aren’t Included in a General Home Inspection
You might be wondering if septic tanks are included in a general home inspection. Don’t count on it. Home inspectors might flush the toilets and even take the lid off of the septic tanks, but that’s not enough. Home inspectors know about many of the components of a home, but they don’t have the equipment or training to inspect a septic tank. Montgomery Sanitation uses a pump truck to empty septic tanks so that we can properly examine the septic system. We can also probe into the ground as part of our comprehensive septic tank services. The probe locates the septic tank and measures the saturation level.
Ask These Questions Before You Buy a New Home
In addition to getting a septic tank inspection of a new home, there are also some questions you should ask the seller of the house like:
- Did you inspect the septic tank or get it pumped? If you did have it inspected or pumped, when did that happen?
- Has the homeowner ever had to repair the septic tank?
- Have there ever been back-ups or standing water problems over the septic system?
- How old is the house?
We Are Happy to Help Home Buyers with Septic Tank Issues
Montgomery Sanitation knows buying a new home is an exciting time for a homeowner. There might be a tendency to rush through the process to finish the deal and move into the home right away. But we don’t want you making a possibly costly mistake like not getting septic tank inspected. We are happy to help make your new home buying dreams come true.
Give Montgomery Sanitation a call at (540) 382-2205 or follow us on Facebook. Talk to our team today to learn if you need a septic tank inspection when buying a new home.