Homes on Septic Should Have Inspection and Certification
Some homes in rural areas may not have access to a public sewer system, instead relying on private septic systems on their property.
If a home has a septic system, the buyer should always request a septic inspection and certification from the seller. A home without a properly functioning septic system is an uninhabitable home. In the Inland Empire, sellers typically provide that certification, but it must be in the purchase contract.
Lenders will often require septic certifications if the loan program requires a low down payment (0 percent to 10 percent).
A septic inspection and certification should be performed by a licensed and bonded septic company.
Septic Inspection
A septic inspection is a visual inspection of the septic tank or cesspool, with a report that details any problems and prescribed repairs/costs.
The inspector will fill the tank with a specified amount of water and then time how long it takes for the water to drain through the leach lines, which extend past the septic tank and disperse the liquid waste.
Septic Certification
The certification includes inspecting the system, pumping the solid waste from the tank and making any repairs required to make the system functional.
The certification is a warranty of the system for a set period of time.
Sewer Inspection
Older homes that are connected to a public sewer system may also need to be inspected. Some homes in the 1950s used material for sewer pipes that after decades can collapse. Homes built at the turn of the century may have cast-iron pipes that over time can clog, crack and break.
Properties with large trees nearby can suffer from tree root incursion to the sewer pipes. Roots can be unclogged, but they will always come back. The trees may have to be removed.
Sewer inspections can be done with a camera sent down the drain to inspect the pipes.
Need a referral to a good septic company? Call us today at 951-778-9700 or use the form below.
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Septic Inspections and Certifications | Home Purchase Septic Tank | Buying a Home in Riverside CA | Brian Bean and Tim Hardin Dream Big