Buying a home with a septic tank
If you are buying a home with a septic or private sewage system, ask these questions:
What is a Septic Tank?
What is a Leach Field?
How does a septic system work?
What does the existing septic system consist of at my new home?
Do I have a Cesspool or Dry well?
How do I know if the septic system is working properly?
What septic inspections and tests should I have performed when I am buying a home?
How long will a septic system last?
Is septic system maintenance necessary?"
To help buyers obtain the necessary information to address these questions, we have put together this document to guide them in
making informed decisions regarding the potential problems and costs associated with a property's septic system.
Things you need to know and do:
How Septic Systems Work. Here is the minimum you need to know and what you need to do (or have done) when buying a property
with a septic system.
So how does a septic system work? A private on-site septic system means that the waste from your building drains (sinks, showers,
toilets) goes into a septic tank which retains the solids and lets the effluent flow into the soils on the property.
Properly designed and installed these systems are functional and sanitary. Private septic systems serve more homes in the U.S. and are
quite common in the Houston area. But the components are costly and do not have an indefinite life.
Because of the potential repair/replacement costs involved, and because the system is buried and cannot be exhaustively inspected
and tested, you want to do what you can to evaluate the condition of the septic system before you complete the purchase of the
property.
If you are buying a home with a septic tank and drain field, here's what you need to know and do.
Synonyms for "septic system" used by the general public include septic waste system, sewage systems, and water sewage systems,
even Roman sewage systems. All of these refer to on-site systems which hold and separate sewage waste from its liquid effluent which
is treated further and then disposed-of by any of a variety of means which we will discuss. At this site we also discuss special
considerations for handling septic waste such as garbage disposal septic tank waste volume and what to do about it.
Ask About the Septic System - where is it, what's installed, what's the service and repair history
Make a Visual Site Inspection for signs of trouble
Perform a Septic Loading Test to see if it produces evidence of a failure. Hire a home inspector who knows how to perform and will
include this test.
Pump the Septic Tank and inspect for additional clues.
Additional Septic System Physical Investigation might be needed
Get Outside Information Sources about Septic Systems if you're being really thorough
Neighboring Septic System Problems - advice for dealing with a neighboring septic system producing odors or seepage
3-SEPTIC SYSTEM COMPONENTS - the Basic Parts of a Conventional Septic Tank and Leach field
The purpose of a septic system is to retain solid waste in the tank and to dispose of effluent waste water into the ground without
contaminating the environment.
To accomplish this a septic system consists of the elements shown in the sketch above. In simplest terms, a septic system consists of a
holding tank which retains solid waste and grease from household waste water, and an absorption system or "leach field" which
disposes of liquid wastewater or "effluent" which leaves the septic tank for absorption below ground into soils at the property.
Let's just outline these main septic system parts in a little more detail:
The main waste line or "sewer line" connects the home's plumbing to the septic tank.
The septic tank which is often buried just a few feet from the house foundation wall, receives all waste (solid and liquid) and has the
main job of retaining solids and grease. Solids settle to the bottom of the tank as sludge. A floating scum and grease layer forms at the
top of the tank. Baffles at the tank inlet and outlet reduce the velocity of liquid moving through the tank and prevent solids and floating
scum from leaving. Clarified effluent is allowed to flow out of the tank into a soil absorption system.
A effluent distribution pipe direct the flow of effluent from the septic tank to the leaching system, often connecting first to one or more
distribution boxes which in turn distribute flow of effluent evenly into the leaching system.
A leaching system, or soil absorption system, also called "drain field", a soak-away system, leach field, or seepage bed disperses the
sewage effluent into the surrounding natural soils. There are many types of leaching systems but the most common is a network of
perforated pipes buried in gravel-filled trenches. The specific type utilized on a particular property depends on the soil conditions and
the amount of space available.
Galleries or "septic galleys", seepage pits and sand beds have historically been used.
Most distribution piping and leaching systems are "gravity" systems, meaning the flow runs through piping and distribution boxes
without the assistance of any mechanical device, such as a pump or siphon, but some homes pump their effluent uphill into a mound
system.
Contact ATEX Inspects before you buy a home with a septic or private sewage system, we include septic system inspections for an
additional fee as part of our overall home inspection process. Contact us at 281-216-1171.
If you are buying a home with a septic or private sewage system, ask these questions:
What is a Septic Tank?
What is a Leach Field?
How does a septic system work?
What does the existing septic system consist of at my new home?
Do I have a Cesspool or Dry well?
How do I know if the septic system is working properly?
What septic inspections and tests should I have performed when I am buying a home?
How long will a septic system last?
Is septic system maintenance necessary?"
To help buyers obtain the necessary information to address these questions, we have put together this document to guide them in
making informed decisions regarding the potential problems and costs associated with a property's septic system.
Things you need to know and do:
How Septic Systems Work. Here is the minimum you need to know and what you need to do (or have done) when buying a property
with a septic system.
So how does a septic system work? A private on-site septic system means that the waste from your building drains (sinks, showers,
toilets) goes into a septic tank which retains the solids and lets the effluent flow into the soils on the property.
Properly designed and installed these systems are functional and sanitary. Private septic systems serve more homes in the U.S. and are
quite common in the Houston area. But the components are costly and do not have an indefinite life.
Because of the potential repair/replacement costs involved, and because the system is buried and cannot be exhaustively inspected
and tested, you want to do what you can to evaluate the condition of the septic system before you complete the purchase of the
property.
If you are buying a home with a septic tank and drain field, here's what you need to know and do.
Synonyms for "septic system" used by the general public include septic waste system, sewage systems, and water sewage systems,
even Roman sewage systems. All of these refer to on-site systems which hold and separate sewage waste from its liquid effluent which
is treated further and then disposed-of by any of a variety of means which we will discuss. At this site we also discuss special
considerations for handling septic waste such as garbage disposal septic tank waste volume and what to do about it.
Ask About the Septic System - where is it, what's installed, what's the service and repair history
Make a Visual Site Inspection for signs of trouble
Perform a Septic Loading Test to see if it produces evidence of a failure. Hire a home inspector who knows how to perform and will
include this test.
Pump the Septic Tank and inspect for additional clues.
Additional Septic System Physical Investigation might be needed
Get Outside Information Sources about Septic Systems if you're being really thorough
Neighboring Septic System Problems - advice for dealing with a neighboring septic system producing odors or seepage
3-SEPTIC SYSTEM COMPONENTS - the Basic Parts of a Conventional Septic Tank and Leach field
The purpose of a septic system is to retain solid waste in the tank and to dispose of effluent waste water into the ground without
contaminating the environment.
To accomplish this a septic system consists of the elements shown in the sketch above. In simplest terms, a septic system consists of a
holding tank which retains solid waste and grease from household waste water, and an absorption system or "leach field" which
disposes of liquid wastewater or "effluent" which leaves the septic tank for absorption below ground into soils at the property.
Let's just outline these main septic system parts in a little more detail:
The main waste line or "sewer line" connects the home's plumbing to the septic tank.
The septic tank which is often buried just a few feet from the house foundation wall, receives all waste (solid and liquid) and has the
main job of retaining solids and grease. Solids settle to the bottom of the tank as sludge. A floating scum and grease layer forms at the
top of the tank. Baffles at the tank inlet and outlet reduce the velocity of liquid moving through the tank and prevent solids and floating
scum from leaving. Clarified effluent is allowed to flow out of the tank into a soil absorption system.
A effluent distribution pipe direct the flow of effluent from the septic tank to the leaching system, often connecting first to one or more
distribution boxes which in turn distribute flow of effluent evenly into the leaching system.
A leaching system, or soil absorption system, also called "drain field", a soak-away system, leach field, or seepage bed disperses the
sewage effluent into the surrounding natural soils. There are many types of leaching systems but the most common is a network of
perforated pipes buried in gravel-filled trenches. The specific type utilized on a particular property depends on the soil conditions and
the amount of space available.
Galleries or "septic galleys", seepage pits and sand beds have historically been used.
Most distribution piping and leaching systems are "gravity" systems, meaning the flow runs through piping and distribution boxes
without the assistance of any mechanical device, such as a pump or siphon, but some homes pump their effluent uphill into a mound
system.
Contact ATEX Inspects before you buy a home with a septic or private sewage system, we include septic system inspections for an
additional fee as part of our overall home inspection process. Contact us at 281-216-1171.
| Buying a Houston Home with a Septic or Private Sewage System |