SEPTIC SYSTEMS HAVE TO BE CHECKED!!!

Did you know that a new septic tank and septic drain field could cost you anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000?  Don't you think you need to know what condition the septic system is in BEFORE you buy the house?  Of course you do now that you know what it could end up costing you. 

Won't a home inspector take care of that for me?  It could happen, but probably not. 

Here is what the Texas Real Estate Commission requires for a home inspector to inspect in a septic system:

Report as deficient:            

i.Visual or olfactory evidence of effluent seepage or flow at the surface of the ground; In other words, if he sees or smells fecal material, he can tell you about it just in case you were incapable of seeing or smelling the obvious...

ii.Inoperative aerators or dosing pumps; and An "AERATION" system uses an electric motor to stir the tank and requires full time electrical connection.  A home inspector will tell you if the motor is not running, something that you can probably determine for yourself and which does indicate a considerable problem;

iii.Deficiencies in:

a.Accessible or visible components;Nothing here you can not do so they are not telling you anything such as the condition of the septic tank;

b.Functional flow;

c.Site drainage and clearances around or adjacent to the system; and This is again only the obvious - water seeping up to the surface and the inspector will tell you about it in case you can't see it or would think water seeping upward was normal...

d.The aerobic discharge system.  He is only going to know if it is activated while he is there... not certain to happen anyway.

The inspector does not have to report or do the following:

i.Excavate or uncover the system or its components; This is exactly what you want to know - the age and condition of the system.

ii.Determine the size, adequacy, or efficiency of the system; or Once again the information you really need is not going to be provided...

iii.Determine the type of construction used. 

The end result is that an inspection by a TREC licensed home inspector is just a "feel good" moment that appeases the buyer into buying the house without asking too many questions.  Don't do it!

Get a qualified septic inspection.  All you have to do is Google "Septic System Inspection with Name of Your Town". 

In the Austin area, I came up with www.AllSepticCheck.com in the Manchaca (South Austin) area.  I spoke with Judy Sullivan who was both very knowledgable and very concerned for home buyers.  She has seen multiple problems that new homebuyers have encountered AFTER they bought the house and found out how bad the septic system condition really was. 

Here is their website link:

http://allsepticcheck.com/  or Call them at (512) 961-4972