A septic system receives, treats and disposes of unwanted wastewater and solids from the house’s plumbing system. Solids are partially broken down into sludge within a septic tank and are separated from effluent (water) and scum (fat, oil and grease). Effluent regularly exits the tank into a drainfield where it is naturally filtered by bacteria and reentered into the groundwater. Scum and sludge must be pumped periodically and should never enter the drainfield.

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What we are looking for:

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• Last pump date - sludge level should determine whether a tank should be pumped, but knowledge of previous pumping dates can be a helpful reference

• Sludge level - sludge accumulates on the tank bottom and should not occupy more than 1/3 of the tank’s total volume or rise to the level of the baffles

• Location - tank and drainfield should be far from wells and streams

• Size (capacity) - is the system large enough for the home

• Surface seepage - this condition is unsanitary and indicates that the system is overloaded

• Riser lids - If present, inspected for cracks and made sure they are secure

• Baffles - ensure that the baffles are firmly connected to the tank’s inlet and outlet pipes

• Drain lines - ensure that there is an even distribution of water to each line