When buying a house that is serviced by an On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF), there are many factors that need to be considered. It is always a good idea to have an inspection done by a professional. Many home inspectors offer "septic inspection addons" to a standard home inspection, but these are often of little value. There are many different type of septic systems in Texas, and each operate differently and have different warning signs of failure. This is more information than can be learned in the "crash course" that most home inspectors take.
A proper inspection involves pumping the tanks. It is important to make sure that the tank does not have cracks that could lead to collapsing and future replacement.
If this condition exists, costly repairs are usually in the future. In addition to checking the integrity of the tanks, pumping the tanks before buying the house is a good idea because previous service records may be unknown.
You wouldn't buy a house with waste in the garbage cans, so why buy one with waste in the septic tanks? Mechanical components should be checked as well for proper operation.
County and city health departments should have records from when the system was installed and inspected, so it is a good idea to give them a call to obtain the records prior to purchasing a home on septic. Give us a call to schedule your septic inspection today.