What to Expect When You Get a Septic System Inspection

Septic system inspections are recommended every few years if your home relies on a standard gravity-fed wastewater system. And it’s a good idea to stick to this inspection schedule, as delays can lead to expensive and messy problems.

A professional septic tank inspection will include a detailed assessment of the system’s overall health and performance and identify emerging issues that should be corrected to restore reliable function.

What Does the Septic System Inspection Process Include?

It’s highly recommended that homeowners bring in an experienced septic system technician for their inspection. Expert septic companies are methodical in their approach and ensure all system components are in good working order. Specifically, this is what homeowners should expect during a full septic system inspection:

Reviewing past maintenance records – Prior to arrival, your septic system technician will first perform an assessment of prior system maintenance. This includes previous inspection reports and any maintenance history, giving the technician a clear idea of which parts of your system need focused attention.
Locating all system components – Once your septic technician arrives on site, their first task is to locate the system itself and all major components. Experienced technicians have access to sophisticated locator technology that will pinpoint underground elements like the septic tank and risers.
Septic tank inspection – Every system inspection includes a close look at the septic tank. During this visual inspection, your technician will assess the tank’s overall condition, looking for corrosion, cracks or vegetation growing into the tank. Your septic professional will also measure the level of solid and liquid effluent in the septic tank in order to determine whether the tank needs to be pumped out.
Pump and alarm testing – If your septic system includes a float alarm or a dedicated pump chamber, your technician will check both to determine that the pump is cycling properly and that alarms are going off when they are supposed to.
Distribution box and leach field inspection – Not all septic systems have a distribution box, but if yours does, the technician will evaluate it to confirm that it is evenly distributing effluent to each drain line. The technician may physically assess each drain trench to ensure there is no pooling or clogging in the drain field.
Effluent filter check and cleaning – Some septic systems are designed with an effluent filter attached to the outlet baffle. This filter will improve effluent quality and prevent drain field clogs, but it can become overly soiled itself and reduce wastewater flows. If necessary, your technician will inspect this filter and power wash it.
Leak inspection – Septic system leaks can be detected through several means. It’s common for such leaks to produce foul odors or cause wastewater to back onto the property. Leaks can also be spotted by monitoring wastewater flows and noting when water levels are dropping too fast.
Inspection report – Once your septic system inspection is complete, you’ll receive a full report from the technician detailing the system’s performance and whether additional maintenance is recommended.

As you can see, there’s a lot to every septic system inspection. That’s because weaknesses and potential issues can develop anywhere in the system, including the septic tank, drain lines, the pump or the distribution box.

What Are the Cost Factors Involved in a Septic System Inspection?

There are a handful of factors that may influence the cost of a full system evaluation. Those factors include:

The type and size of your septic system – The larger and more complex your septic system, the longer it will take the technician to inspect, which will increase the cost of an evaluation. Conventional septic tank systems are generally faster and less expensive to evaluate than an aerobic or commercial-grade wastewater system.
How your septic system is arranged on property – Labor is the primary cost factor during a septic system inspection, so if your system is unusually designed for any reason (high water table, small property size, interfering onsite structures, etc.), it may take longer for your technician track down every system component.
Whether additional system diagnostics are required – If your septic system is showing signs of potential issues, then your septic expert may perform additional diagnostics to uncover the root of the issue. For example, your technician may drop nontoxic dye into the system to determine where wastewater is flowing and to check for potential leaks.
Whether additional services are needed during septic inspection – Many homeowners schedule basic septic tank maintenance during an inspection, in order to save money and time avoiding two separate calls. It’s common, for instance, to pump the septic tank out during evaluation. This will increase the cost of inspection but will likely reduce the total cost of maintenance over time.

What Are the Benefits of a Septic System Inspection?

There are several reasons why homeowners should consider a septic system evaluation if it has been a while. Here are three benefits of an inspection:

Optimizing septic system performance – Regular septic system inspections will uncover minor issues that may not be enough to cause significant downtime, but could affect septic performance in other ways, like lower quality effluent or reduced wastewater flows through the system. By correcting these problems proactively, your septic system will reliably perform at full capacity.
Avoiding expensive septic system problems – When septic systems fail, they tend to fail quickly and sometimes catastrophically, with wastewater backing into the home or flooding the property. This is, of course, a health risk to everyone living on the property, in addition to being a major inconvenience. It’s in the best interest of property owners and homebuyers to avoid a complete system failure, not only to prevent health risks, but expensive septic system repairs as well.
Reducing the cost of future septic tank maintenance – In general, homeowners will pay less for septic system maintenance over time if regular inspections are scheduled. For example, it’s easier, faster and less expensive to address a small leak or septic tank crack than a full-blown tank rupture. Your septic tank may be out of sight, out of mind, but scheduling on-time inspections will ensure it stays that way.

Expert Septic System Inspections are Important for Homeowners and Homebuyers

Septic systems are designed to run reliably and with minimal maintenance. In general, a full system inspection every few years will be enough, unless your property features a more advanced wastewater system, like an aerobic treatment unit.

It is highly recommended that prospective homebuyers have the septic system inspected beforehand. It is difficult for homeowners to do this on their own (and most would rather not deal with septic issues). It’s also common for homeowners to put off septic system maintenance, as the system sits underground and can run without issue for years. Schedule an appointment with a reputable septic expert for a full inspection so you’ll know the condition of your septic system and what to expect from it going forward.