Septic System Inspection | Can Septic Issues Impact a Home Sale?

You’ve found your dream home. And now you need a septic inspection as part of the contingency for buying a home with a private septic system. What lies within that dark five-foot tank buried in the back yard could either solidify or liquify your deal.  

Whether you are buying or selling your home, you’ll want to pay close attention to the results of the septic inspection and heed the advice of the inspector.  Major issues uncovered during septic inspections in either the septic tank or the drain fields could affect the sale of the home. 

Septic issues are money issues 

If problems with the system are severe enough, it may affect a buyer’s loan approval. The bank may be unwilling to approve a loan for a home that requires extensive repairs.  If the septic is functional but old, buyers will need to budget extra money for future repairs as major septic work can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Worse yet, an older septic can increase the likelihood of a backup into the house causing costly clean-up. 

Watch us follow a septic inspection here: Your Septic System | Worst Mistakes YouTube video

Looking into the tank 

Before the inspection, the home’s water should run for an hour before the inspector arrives. This helps the inspector see if the tank and drain fields are properly functioning.  The inspector begins by opening the inspection pipe located on top of the tank. Inside the tank are baffles which filter the contents of the tank as it enters from the main house pipe and exits into the drain fields. These baffles will be inspected as they are critical for the proper function of the system.   

Grease is dangerous 

Yes, the inspector can see what is being flushed down the drains. Grease, for instance, will appear white or yellow in the tank. If large amounts of grease are being poured into the home’s drains, it will drastically shorten the life of a septic system by solidifying and clogging drainage holes.  The inspector will likely warn the homeowner if grease is spotted, especially if the home is a rental. Other flushed materials that can have a negative impact on the life of the septic are food scraps, toilet paper and flushed baby wipes.  

What about Drainage fields  

The last thing the inspector will do is test how well the drain fields are working by walking around the yard to inspect for mushy soil. A standard drain field can be 100 feet in length, dug in two 50-foot trenches, two feet wide, and ten feet deep filled with eight feet of stone.  On top of that stone is a four-inch pipe with holes where the liquid in the tank filters out. All of this is covered with mulch and earth.  Wet areas in a yard can signify that the drain field is no longer functioning. Probing into the earth can reveal any wet areas that might also warn of the drain field’s end of life.   

 The Long-Term Prognosis  

The septic inspector may estimate how long the septic system can last if treated properly.  Systems can last anywhere from 35 to 50 years. The inspector will take into account the home’s age, the presence of grease and other solid wastes like food or baby wipes, and the location of the septic. Septic systems located in low lying or wetland areas may not function as well. 

The inspector will also gather the history of the septic system from the County Health Department. This is especially important for older homes as it will reveal whether the home is on its second septic system. A buyer should then confirm if there is room for a third system in the future.  

Learn More  

Educating yourself is key to protecting your future investments. Check out Todd’s Simple Home Buying Course to learn more about the many inspections home buyers need to successfully buy a home. Todd’s course is 14 self-paced lessons teaching you everything from start to finish; how to evaluate a property, best negotiation tactics, understanding property restrictions in homeowner's associations, how to buy a house without a REALTOR, and so much more. You’ll even get worksheets and resource guides to help you through the process.  

At Sachs Realty, we strive to help our clients make the best decisions when buying, selling or investing in real estate. Sign up to learn more today!