Septic tank inspections don’t sound too hard . . . An inspector comes and looks around, sees if anything is leaking or smells bad, and moves on, right? The truth is that there are two types of inspections. There is the visual inspection and the full inspection. Of course, the full inspection is going to be the most detailed and time-consuming, but it may be warranted.
Visual Septic Tank Inspections
There are risks to the visual inspection because the inspector isn’t going to know what can’t be seen. Here is a list of issues that can’t be detected during a visual inspection:
- Tank is too full
- Tank is leaking
- Backflow
- Roots
- If the baffles are in place
- Corrosion
- Tank size
- How much sludge is in the tank
- If the dividing wall is loose or broken
Full Septic Tank Inspections
The full inspection is going to be the most thorough. The tank is actually opened so the liquid level can be checked. This can also be an indicator that the tank is leaking or too full. If the level is normal, water is introduced to the system to make sure water is flowing properly. If it is, it is checked to see if water is making its way to the drain field. The liquid level shouldn’t rise in the tank, and there should be no water surfacing in the drain field area. The tank can also be pumped to uncover any additional problems.
When you have our team at Sauer Septic perform your septic tank inspections for you, you can expect a thorough inspection that will get to the bottom of any problems.