Septic Secrets Unveiled: Mastering Real Estate Inspections, Maintenance, and Your New Septic System

Are you buying or selling a home with a septic system? Or perhaps you're a homeowner just looking to extend the lifespan of your system? A septic inspection is a crucial step in understanding the health of your system and identifying any potential issues.

Here at ProFlow, residential septic systems are more than just our expertise, they're our passion... Like an amazing partner in a committed relationship, we are attentive to all wastewater disposal needs. This special septic "love language" adds value to our customers and is reflected by providing in-depth inspections. Our specialized septic assessments are conducted by experienced service technicians who are certified in private sewage disposal systems. Simply put, we understand septic systems inside and out because we work "hands-on" with unique wastewater treatment packages each day. Whether it's completing repairs, troubleshooting deficiencies or installing new equipment, we are in contact with every component.

After that lengthy, yet subtly boastful introduction, you can rest assured that the following recommendations for septic inspections are reliable and trustworthy:

1. Keep all contents in the septic tank: Please ensure that the septic tank's contents are retained before any inspection takes place. This is crucial for several reasons, primarily to allow the 2-chambered septic tank to perform its primary treatment of wastewater effectively. In the first chamber, solids settle, which is a key part of the primary treatment process. The remaining forbidden drain juice, known as "effluent," then passes through the baffle wall into the second chamber, or typically referred as the pump chamber. We check the pump chamber for any solids that may have transferred. If we observe solids, we will further investigate the issue or recommend vacuum truck services to have the septic tank pumped out.

Figure 1.1

2. Baffle Wall Inspection: Capturing images and documenting the baffle wall's condition is a essential aspect of the septic tank inspection. The concrete baffle wall or separation wall's condition is vital as it determines the septic tank's ability to provide primary treatment of incoming sewage. If the separation wall has partially collapsed or if the transfer baffle plumbing becomes detached, there is a high risk of solids being transferred into the pump chamber. Without a screen or some form of effluent filter protecting the pump, these solids and rocks from eroded concrete walls can clog the equipment's impeller. More commonly, the scum and sludge can get pureed, creating a septic smoothie that wreaks havoc when it reaches the drain field. Figure 1.2 illustrates a common scenario in aged septic tanks where the baffle wall has collapsed.

Figure 1.2

3. Effluent Pump and High-Level Alarms: The effluent pump and high-level alarm must be tested during the inspection. This can be done by manually engaging the control floats or bypassing switches to verify equipment function. The high-level alarm should have both audible and visual alerts. If a high level alarm is not present, occupants won't know if the effluent is unable to leave the septic tank (due to pump burnout, obstructed plumbing, etc.). This can lead to rising wastewater levels and sewage backing up into the home, turning the basement into an unwanted pool party venue. Any absence of these safety measures should be noted in the inspection report.

4. Verify Drain Back Hole: The drain back hole in a septic system plays a fundamental role in freeze prevention. If you've ever heard of a septic mound or septic field freezing during cold Alberta winters, it's primarily caused by the absence of a drain back hole within the internal plumbing of the septic tank.

Figure 1.3

Without a drain back hole in a pressurized septic system, there is a risk of effluent remaining the delivery line, the drain field laterals and also crossover plumbing. After a pump cycle, the drain back hole allows any remaining water in the delivery line to drain back into the tank. During a cold snap, if the system isn't being used for an extended period of time, that standing fluid can then freeze in frigid temperatures. These blockages can cause potential system damage and sewage back ups into the home. ProFlow Septic frequently handles emergency calls during winter, efficiently thawing out these unwanted poop-sicles from frozen lines. More often, our technicians will be lowered into the septic tank to install the drain back hole or replace the plumbing entirely.

5. Inspect Drain Field: Toss on a pair of rubber boots, because next step on the septic inspection is a real swamp dance! We will be identifying soft spots, mushy areas, unusual wet spots, black slimy substances, and pooling of water on the leach field. These are indications of a saturated or failing drain field. Additionally, physical damage from vehicles, equipment or livestock, can compress soil and damage pipes, hindering effluent flow.

Here's a fun knowledge nugget: During the lifespan of a septic drain field, large volumes of effluent is treated through natural soil filtration. The effluent percolates through the soil, removing harmful bacteria, pathogens, viruses, and other contaminants from the wastewater. This treatment process and additional bacterial action creates an accumulation of tarry biological material "biomat" in the soil. This leach field pudding can block or hinder effluent flow into the soil, leading to surface discharge.

Summary: In addition to the above, we also inspect all other components of the septic system. Whether you're buying, selling, or maintaining a home with a septic system, a septic inspection, assessment or on-going maintenance by an experienced septic professional with extensive field experience is paramount. It's recommend that real-estate septic inspections should be performed by certified Private Sewage Installers. ProFlow Septic is fortunate to have a team of technicians and installers listed as certified contractors with Alberta building & safety codes, along with Alberta Onsite Wastewater Management Association. If you're located in Parkland County, Sturgeon County, Strathcona County, Leduc County or surrounding Edmonton areas, please contact us for any septic system services.