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PLUMBING TOPICS SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SEPTIC INFO ARTICLES Info for Home Buyers or Owners Septic or Sewer Connection? What to Ask About Sewers or Septics What if Nobody Knows if its Sewer or Septic? Clues Indicating a Sewer System is Present Clues Indicating a Building is Connected to Sewer Guide for Buildings Connected to a Public Sewer Guide for Buildings Pre-Dating Sewer Installation Guide for Buildings Connected to a Private Septic Septic System Design Septic Inspection Testing Septic Maintenance Repair Septic Component & Product Suppliers Septic Videos HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC TREATMENTS SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC AUTHORITIES SEPTIC SYSTEM BOOKS REFS CODES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL - Online SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE List Your Service/Product More Information InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Privacy Policies Contact Us |
This article introduces a property buyer to homes using a private onsite septic system and provides key articles on how to inspect and test septic systems when buying a property. Earlier sections of this article discussed how to determine if a building is connected to a septic tank or to a public sewer main. But sometimes in older communities, especially if the age of a building is greater than the age of the community sewer system, even if a sewer is installed right in the street in front of a building, that building may never have been connected to the sewer line. If you discover that your building is not connected to the sewer, or that no sewer line is even available, here we provide links to our key articles on what you should do when buying a home with a septic tank and leach field or any similar private onsite waste disposal system. Don't worry, millions of property owners get by just fine with these systems, but some steps are needed to avoid costly or dangerous surprises when buying a property with a septic tank. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical reviewers are welcome and are listed at "References." This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. © Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. What Do I Do if the House I'm Buying has a Septic Tank
See our very thorough guide for buyers of homes with septic systems: Home Buyers Guide to Septic Systems which discusses the inspections and tests that should be performed, introduces the need for septic system maintenance, and describes how to find septic tanks, distribution boxes, and drainfields. Our photo shows a private septic tank being pumped - one of the last steps that may be appropriate when someone is buying a property served by a private septic tank and drainfield or by similar private onsite waste disposal systems like aerobic septic tanks, mound systems, sand bed systems, etc. All of these use the local site to treat and dispose of septic effluent, and all deserve inspection, possibly testing, and certainly maintenance. Don't just let the seller pump the septic tank before your other building and septic system inspections and tests have been performed if you are buying a property with a septic tank.
If you cannot find the septic tank, see these very detailed "how to" articles, photo guides, and videos that aid in finding the septic tank, distribution box, drainfield, etc.:
... Technical Reviewers & References
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
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Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include
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10/23/2009 - 06/06/2008 - InspectAPedia.com/septic/Septic_or_Sewer5.htm - © 2009 - 1988 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved - InspectAPedia® is a Registered U.S. Trademark