Here we have a picture of a severely clogged or a complete septic tank failure think my money is on failure the whole system needs replaced if not for sure the tank the system has failed to rid the tank of water assume this is a very old system
Flood damaged buildings read this because their was recently a flood in my area where my family was affected after witnessing it first hand it is a catastrophic event learned quit a bit from the article there is a lot of hidden damage and the mud and silt is in crazy amounts and the smell awful hope I never see it again you literally have to inspect everything
The septic system effluent is surfacing on land over the drain field area. This is an unsatisfactory condition in a waste treatment system that indicates an issue with the drain field effluent distribution network. Recommend evaluation and repairs be completed by a qualified contractor.
Conserving water is a more pertinent topic for homeowners who have an on site sewage system. Average indoor water use in the typical single-family home is almost 70 gallons per person per day. Dripping faucets can waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day. The more water a household conserves, the less water enters the septic system.
This image is from the course. It shows improper improvements made above the septic system. As inspectors it is our job to look for defects such as these and report them. Unfortunately most homeowners do not pay attention to septic systems or well systems.
I researched the article 10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home. I did not realize just how much energy can be saved by changing all the bulbs in your home to LEDs. Living in Florida, reducing the load on the A/C in your home is worthwhile and cost saving.
This is a stock image of one example of perforated pipe that can be used in a drainage field. Level installation and proper spacing is needed to assure even distribution and absorption throughout the field. As inspectors we do not get to see this piping but it is important to know how this assists with the proper functioning of the septic system.
I was reading the article about septic systems. It is important to educate the new home buyer to what the best practices are for managing and maintaining a healthy septic system. Things most people do not realize is just how much water they use and how excess water can over load their system. It is not just what you flush but how much.
This picture shows the inlet baffle and interior of a 1500 gal plastic septic tank after it has been pumped. The baffle is in good condition, and after the tank was pumped and sprayed clean there did not appear to be any cracks in the interior of the tank. The seal on the lid of the tank appeared in good condition.
The first step in the inspection of a septic system should be to contact the local health department and gather as much information as possible about the system as possible. Talking to the present homeowner and finding out the maintenance that has been performed on the system can help you identify if there are any recurring problems. There are several things that can be done as part of a visual inspection, however since most of the system is located below the ground, the inspection is very limited. The prospective buyer should be made aware of the limitations of a visual septic system inspection.
These risers, unlike many we find on-site, were easy to find and ready to inspect. The installers placed them above grade in an easily accessible, readily visible location. We were able to locate them quickly and begin inspection immediately, allowing us to spend more inspection time and energy on the rest of the system.
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The two-chamber tank is most common here, and it operates in many cases passively. Once it is set up correctly and protected from damage, it only requires periodic pumping and normal life-span replacements. Often we can see the distribution box and the absorption field as well.
I just checked out a newly installed 1500 gallon single compartment tank. You can see the outlet sanitary tee which allows the clear effluent to be emptied into the leach field. Looking in the tank I can also see the inlet baffle.
Inspecting roof sheathing. Most sheathing is OSB, composite or plywood. Sheathing should be laid horizontal and should be nailed using 8d nails every 6 inches at the ends. The panel ends should be joined over a support and have at least 1/2 inch of bearing.
Inspection on a 1000 gallon tank. The effluent filter was clogged enough that the water pushed the filter out of the housing. Water was pouring over top of filter housing into outlet.Inspector cleaned filter and water level returned to normal. Drain field continued to accept all water throughout the load test. Scum was about 4-5 inches deep and sludge around 12 inches. Test hole in drain field indicated the drain field was still accepting water.
One of the primary reasons for sewer gases in a home is from unused drains, typically floor drains in basements and utility rooms. If you often smell “rotten eggs” in a basement or other confined room in your home, find the drain(s) in that room/space and pour water into it. This should alleviate the issue. If it does not, then there are other issues at hand and should be investigated further.
This picture depicts two each effluent filters. The dirty filter was removed after 7 months of service in a household that has a purely vegetarian diet. The other filter is the spare clean filter and was installed for continued service. Noteworthy is the very little amount of scum observed in the 1,000 gallon capacity concrete single chamber tank, presumably due to the low fat diet of the home occupants.
I chose to read the following:
https://www.nachi.org/inspecting-septic-systems.htm
This article highlights the importance of regular yearly septic system inspections for both the homeowner, prospective buyer and the environment.
A poorly maintained system can cause home occupants to become ill from wastewater back-ups.
Entering tanks without the proper gear and training can be fatal.
HI Ben
I am taking the How to Inspect Septic Systems . Do i need any other licensing in the state of Pennsylvania ?
John
I chose this photo because it shows the system as a whole. From the tanks to the distribution to the leaching field. This system functions from the waste materials coming from the home to the holding tanks. Which is separated and the effluent liquid is directed to the distribution box. Once at the distribution box. It is distributed evenly to the leaching field.
