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When it comes to buying a new home, you will want to make sure that everything is working properly. This includes the on-site sewage facilities, such as a septic tank. A proper real estate septic tank inspection can tell you everything that you need to know about the property’s sewage disposal system. This can include whether your system will need to be replaced. Escrow septic inspections involve locating the tank, checking its conditions, checking to see if there is any backflow in the absorption area, and also checking the liquid levels for any backups or leaks. A full inspection is very helpful for new homeowners, so make sure, before buying a home in the Carbondale, IL area, you obtain a comprehensive inspection from our professionals at Skelcher-Milani Septic Services.
Real estate inspections: $150.00 – $300.00
Essentially, anyone who is involved with the sale of the property will benefit from having a septic inspection performed. The real estate agents can benefit because they will be able to avoid getting caught up in a possible lawsuit due to an ineffective or defective system.
Prospective buyers will have the benefit of knowing the system is fully inspected and is functioning properly. When it comes to the sellers, they benefit because they are legally obligated to provide any and all information regarding a property to the potential buyer.
There is so much to be gained from an inspection of your septic system. Therefore, you need to trust our team of experts at Skelcher-Milani, who understand everything about septic systems. Besides real estate purposes, our team can inspect your septic system to make sure that it is running its best and to check to see if there are any potential problems on the horizon. Make sure you give our team a call today if you are in need of an inspection of your septic system.
• Septic odor inside a home is generally a plumbing related issue.
• A dry trap in a tub, sink or floor drain can allow septic gases to escape.
• A blocked vent on the room can cause drains to get sucked dry when a toilet is flushed or a clothes washer is draining.
• A failed wax ring under a toilet that may be rocking can leak gases.
• Cracks in drain lines or loose fittings under sinks can allow gas to leak out.
• In a properly working plumbing system, the septic gases from an aeration system can flow from the surface discharge to the roof vent and not leak into the house.
In the case of aeration systems, a motor that has stopped working or has gotten plugged up will cause the water in the aeration chamber to turn septic or anaerobic and the septic gasses in the anaerobic environment can leave the tank and be noticed in the area of the tank. Repairing the motor if it is not running or clearing the filter or motor shaft, as needed for your motor will restore airflow and the smell will go away in a day or two.
In septic systems with a seepage field the smell will normally be accompanied by a pooling of effluent on the surface of the ground indicating a failed seepage system or a blockage in the exit baffle of the septic tank. A blocked exit baffle can puddle effluent water up through the baffle access ports and surface at the tank ends or send water out of a clean out access. Remove the roots, grease or paper blocking the outlet baffle, and water should drain out the exit drain. A failed seepage field will hold water in the tank and can puddle water over the seepage field in one or more places as well as over the tanks baffle access.
In a normally operating drain field or seepage system, it is common to see strips of bright green healthy grass growing over the leach lines.
As water is absorbed by the soil it supplies the grass directly above the drain lines with water filled with nutrients lending to vigorous growth. It is especially noticeable in very dry weather. If the soil is constantly wet and spongy in the drain field area it could be an indication of a failing drain field.
If there is a partial or total clog in the drain lines from the house, It could be a warning of an impending back up in the system.
A blocked vent pipe at roof level can cause fixtures to gurgle when a toilet is flushed, the clothes washer drains, or a tub is drained. If the vent cannot supply air movement to allow easy flow of full drains the system will pull air through another drain to help flow water into the drain lines.
When the house lines will not drain, there is a problem. A blockage in the drain lines, Septic tank baffles, Chlorinator tubes in an aeration system can back it all up into a home and effluent will surface in the yard anywhere it can surface,
A drain field system that has smelly water puddling over the top of it indicates a total failure of the seepage field.
A sand filter system can become plugged up if the exit baffle in the tank fails or falls. This allows the upper drip loop to become clogged with sludge or other solids. The drain loop can get plugged up at the discharge outlet. Roots can plug up or reduce the efficiency of a sand filter by infiltrating the filter media or pipes in the upper and lower loops. A blocked sand filter can be slow draining, back up the septic tank and possibly surface over the filter area.
A total failure in an aeration system that is backing up or overflowing is usually due to some sort of blockage in a line and can include a crushed line. Clear the blockage, service the motor, pump the tank and it will be up and running again.
It is not a law, but some lending agents require documentation of septic systems before processing a loan.
