When people begin their search for a home, it's common practice to thoroughly inspect the important systems of the house's structure. Unfortunately, many stop at electrical, plumbing and mold inspections, and completely forget about their sewage system. In fact, some homeowners may sign on the dotted line without even being aware that they have a septic tank. The consequences of neglecting your tank can have tremendous consequences. Septic system replacements can be very expensive. It's worth the small cost to ensure that the property's septic system is healthy. Otherwise, moving into your dream home could quickly become your worst nightmare.
Find Out the Septic System's Specs from the Current Owner
The first step is to ask as many questions as possible to the current owner of the home. If you're dealing with a real estate agent or bank, then you may have to press for details. Knowing the answers may send red flags up immediately, letting you know that the purchase won't work out right from the start.
Size of the Tank
Be sure that the measurement of the tank matches the size of the house. The homeowners may have had their smaller septic system installed decades ago - before they had children or in order to save on installation costs. Or it may have been used as a vacation home and they chose a septic tank that isn't suitable for your current needs. A standard 4-bedroom home needs a tank that has a capacity of at least 1,250 gallons. If your tank is too small, you run the risk of overburdening your tank too quickly. Septic Tank Pumping Atlanta
Materials
Most septic tanks are made of concrete, metal, plastic or fiberglass. The best choice depends on a number of factors such as budget, soil conditions and property location. Be sure to do your research and find out if the home's current tank material is optimal for your area and individual needs.
Frequency of Cleaning
If you can, try to find out how often the previous homeowner scheduled septic tank cleanings. Unfortunately, many people neglect getting a regular cleaning, which means your tank may have years of built up, hardened sediment on the bottom. If this is the case, you might be looking at the possibility of replacing the tank in the very near future. Be sure to allocate this in your cost of purchasing the property.
Always Get a Professional Inspection
Regardless of what answers you are given, always get a professional opinion. Buying a home is a big commitment, and even the most well intentioned real estate agent may not be knowledgeable enough about septic systems to give you good advice. Always get an inspection from a reputable and trustworthy septic specialist. It's important that you get reliable information about the house's system as a whole, so that you can factor in the cost of any repairs, replacements or upgrades that may be needed. Even if there are no issues found, getting a quality inspection is still necessary, because you can now be assured that your new mortgage is worth the purchase.
Schedule Your Septic Tank Inspection with the Experts at Mr. Rooter
If you are interested in buying a property with a septic system, be sure to schedule your inspection with plumbing and septic experts you can trust. Mr. Rooter has built a national reputation of excellence, and we are proud to serve our local Atlanta community. If you need to schedule an appointment, give our friendly customer service team a call today.