Septic inspections in Oxford County

Pre-purchase inspections

A general home inspection usually doesn't cover the septic system in any depth. A septic system can cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace, so on a rural property a separate septic inspection is one of the most useful things a buyer can pay for. Many buyers make their offer conditional on it. See our guide to buying a home with a septic system.

What an inspection looks at

• The tank. Pumped and checked for cracks, leaks, the condition of the baffles and the right liquid level.
• The leaching bed. Signs of saturation, ponding, soggy spots, odours or lush grass.
• Flow. Water run through the house to see how the system takes it.
• Pumps, alarms and filters, if the system has them.
• Records. The permit, the system layout and the pumping history, where they exist.
• Camera inspection of the pipes, when there's a reason to look inside.

Troubleshooting

Slow drains, gurgling pipes, sewage smells or a wet patch in the yard all mean something needs looking at. Sometimes it's as simple as a full tank or a clogged filter. Sometimes it's a broken pipe, a failed baffle or a bed that's at the end of its life. An inspection finds out which before you spend money on the wrong fix.