Your septic tank is responsible for safely transporting wastewater from your sinks, washer, showers, and toilets and filtering it out before sending it back into the ground. When it fails to work properly, you can be left with some serious damage to your plumbing system and property. That’s why routine septic tank inspections are incredibly important. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about septic tank inspections.

What Happens During Septic Tank Inspections?

If you have an inspection coming up, it is a good idea to know what you can expect.

During a septic tank inspection, a septic professional:

• Locates the septic tank
• Inspects and tests the control panel
• Tests the alarm system
• Turns on the faucets in your home to check water pressure
• Checks for odors or leakage
• Inspects the drain field
• Removes the cover and checks water level

The goal of a septic tank inspection is to ensure the septic tank is operating properly. Inspections also allow your technician to identify and resolve problems before they cause plumbing disasters.

How Often Should I Schedule an Inspection?

How often your septic tank needs to be inspected and pumped depends on a couple of factors: how many people live in your home and the size of your tank.

Below is a breakdown of how often you should schedule an inspection:

• Tanks with a 1,000-gallon capacity
• If 1-2 people live in your home, schedule an inspection every 4 years
• If 3-5 people live in your home, schedule an inspection every 2 years
• If 6 or more people living in your home, schedule an inspection every year
• Tanks with a 1,250-gallon capacity
• If 1-2 people live in your home, schedule an inspection every 6 years
• If 3-5 people live in your home, schedule an inspection every 3 years
• If 6 or more people living in your home, schedule an inspection every 2 years

*Note: You should also always be sure to schedule an inspection before buying or selling a home.

Signs You Need to Schedule a Septic Tank Inspection Right Away

While sticking to a regular inspection schedule is normally ok, there are times when you will need to schedule an inspection right away. As we mentioned before, septic tank problems can cause plumbing emergencies, so it is always a good idea to become aware of the signs that your system needs to be examined by a qualified professional.

You need to schedule an inspection if you notice:

• Foul odors: Sewage odors are never a good sign. If your home or yard start to smell like sewage, chances are something is wrong with your septic tank.
• Clogged drains: Slow and clogged drains can indicate several plumbing problems, including overfilled septic tanks.
• Extra-green lawn: If the patch of lawn above your septic tank appears to be greener than the rest of it, it is possible that your tank overflowed and the sewage acted as a fertilizer for the grass.
• Sewage: Raw sewage backing up is a sure sign of a septic tank problem. Be sure to schedule an inspection right away.

Handling Your Every Septic Tank Need!

Here at The Plumbing Experts, our plumbers are here to handle your every septic tank need. As the most trusted and recognized plumbing team around, you can always count on us to get the job done right the first time around.

Our septic services include:

• Septic tank repair
• Septic tank installation
• Septic tank pumping
• Septic tank inspection

For any more questions about septic tank inspections, please call (864) 210-3127 or contact us online.