How do you test an existing septic system to see if it is in good working condition?
We bought some property where a house had burnt and it has a septic system already there. We are gonna build a house there soon, but we wanted to find out how to see if that septic system and field lines were in good shape or not, anybody have any idea?!!!! Thanks
Public Comments
- Call a professional.
- you can do a perculation test on the drainfield, dig up a couple of the drain pipes and pop the cap to see what is in there. when you open it, it should smell like fresh earth. put enzymes in the tank and use the system for a few days to see if all goes well. fairly clear water should rise to the top to run to the drainfield. GOOD LUCK!
- Have the septic tank pumped out by a professional. You can find them in the yellow pages under septic. It will probably cost around $200 and should be done every 3 years or so. While they are pumping it, they should be able to tell you if the tank is filled to the proper working level, which is a good indicator of the septic system's condition. Be sure to ask for their input and any advice.
- Home inspectors flush dye down a toilet, then run a specific amount of water into the system. If the dye appears on the surface of the ground, it indicates a problem. Since there is no house, the dye and water can do doubt be added directly to the septic tank. I once considered buying a house in New Jersey, where the county health departmant did the dye test for no charge. (It turned half the neighborhood bright orange- I didn't buy.)
- Obviously no one has lived there in some time. If you can see the drain field in the grass you know it's bad. If you have a water source you can try filling the system up. It should be able to process 3 gallons per min. If all else fails you can dig down to the drain field and see.
