15 Most Underrated Skills That'll Make You a Rockstar in the Tennessee Industry

[Arlene Kimble]

Buying a home in Texas? This might mean that you're buying one that has a septic system. As part of the home inspection process, I always recommend that the buyers order a septic inspection from a licensed septic servicing company early in the option period of the contract.

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A septic system inspection isn't inexpensive, but it can prevent future headaches. The price may be anywhere from $400 to $750 depending on the type and the size of the system. The more expensive inspection is for aerobic septic systems.

There are several types of inspections that a septic company can do. A walk-over is a very simple inspection and really doesn't tell you much. For about $250, an inspector will open many faucets in the house to flood the septic system. When the inspector is certain that the system has water flowing from through the septic tank to the drain field, he walks over the drain field to see if there is any visual evidence of sewage at the surface.

I recommend ordering a more detailed inspection, which usually takes about two hours. The inspector uncovers the tank lid or lids and then pump the tanks. After this has been done, the inspector checks the tank visually to make sure the structural integrity of the tank is good. If the septic system is an aerobic one, the inspector will run water through the entire system to test all valves, mechanical parts and the sprinkler heads.

If something is discovered about the septic system that isn't in good condition, the buyers can get an estimate of what it will cost to make repairs. This can then be used to negotiate the contract or you can walk away from the sale.

If the septic system is close enough to a body of water, an authority determined by the state may require an inspection so that the new owner can obtain a license to operate the system. A Buyer's Agent should be able to assist buyers with this in addition to the regular inspection.

Repair or replacement of a septic system Check over here can be very costly. This is exactly why I recommend that buyers order a full inspection. I would rather see them spend $500+ during the option period even if the pull the plug on the contract than $15,000+ later for repairs.

In North America, septic systems are still super popular. One reason is that they are much cheaper than being connected to city sewer and another reason is that there are a lot of areas that do not have access to a centralized city sewer system. The key to keeping your septic apparatus humming along with no problems is proper maintenance.

Septic tank cleaning is part of that proper maintenance and many people wonder how much does septic tank pumping actually cost? That is a fair question, but it has a somewhat unfair answer.

A good rule of thumb (I love rules of thumb!) is that it will cost between $125 and $250 (or more) to have a septic system cleaned. Why the price variation? Simple.

Here is another rule of thumb, the more difficult it is for the septic cleaning guy to access your septic system, the more it will cost you to have it pumped. As you may know, most septic tanks are meant to be buried under ground. If you do not have a septic riser installed, then you or the septic tank guy will have to dig a hole down to the septic container lid. A backbreaking job, no doubt, and the contractor will want to be compensated. If there is digging involved you will be looking at closer to $250 for your septic tank pumping cost.

Some people do not even know where their septic tank is; let alone where to find the access lid. Luckily, there are septic system service companies that have special tools used to locate septic containers.

One is a simple plumbing snake, with a not-so-simple radio transceiver attached to the end. The plumbing snake is fed through the house pipes and into your septic container. Then the contractor goes out and uses a radio receiver to determine where the end of the plumbing snake is and voila! There is your septic container.

A more sophisticated tool is ground penetrating radar (GPR), which can find a septic system much more quickly and with a lot less effort.

If either of those tools is required to find your septic apparatus then you can bet that your septic system cleaning cost will be over $250.

The bottom line is that the easier it is for the septic system pumper to find and access your septic container the lower your septic tank pumping cost will be.

Tips to Minimize Septic Tank Pumping Cost