Portland / Vancouver Metro – The Dalles – Hermiston OR & Tri Cities WA
Have you been experiencing issues with your septic tank or septic system? You should call Speedy Septic for a professional inspection. Our technicians will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your entire system – and we can often spot minor issues that would turn into major repairs if not addressed early. You know your septic system best, so if you sense something is wrong, it might be trying to tell you something. Our expert septic tank inspection services can tell you exactly what that is.Speedy Septic offers septic tank inspection and septic system inspection services in the Portland OR – Vancouver WA area, The Dalles OR, Hermiston OR, and Tri-Cities WA. Call us to schedule your hassle-free appointment.
What Happens During a Septic Inspection?
When you call us for a septic inspection, we go above and beyond figuring out the cause of whatever issue you called us about. We perform a complete septic tank and system evaluation including a 21-point stress test so you can have total confidence in it going forward.
- Before an inspection, the technician will usually need to pump or empty your septic holding tank so they are able to observe the interior of the tank.
- They will inspect the septic tank, drain field, distribution box, and other components of your system, looking for any signs of leaking, damage, or aging.
- The technician will perform tests to check for leaks and ensure that your system is draining properly.
- Our 21-point stress test uses state-of-the-art technology including camera footage of inlet line and video location of system components, analysis of tank sludge accumulation, and a comprehensive review of system conditions, components, risks, and recommendations.
What Do We Check During a Septic System Evaluation?
We perform our comprehensive analysis during every residential septic pumping service. During this process, our technicians will identify your septic tank’s material and its size, and ensure it is up to code and operating properly.
Other metrics included in the Septic System Stress Test include:
- Condition of the septic tank and cleanout
- Tank draining properly
- Tank Lid properly sealed
- Condition of the drain field
- Drainfield appears free of excess moisture, sewage or odor
- Proper slope of inlet line from the house to the tank
- Signs of sewage above normal level and properly flowing
- Signs of root infiltration
- Internal tank plumbing adequate
- Outlet line has the proper slope
- Pipes free of buildup
- Condition of the distribution box
- Distribution box draining properly
- Solids present in the distribution box
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Why Do I Need A Septic Inspection?
Septic inspections are an important part of maintaining your home. Some reasons you may need a septic inspection include:
- Routine Maintenance: Inspecting your septic system will ensure it is functioning properly and identify any issues before they lead to major problems and costly repairs.
- Buying or Selling Your Home: Most home buyers will ask for a septic inspection as a condition of buying a home. It is important to know the condition of a septic system being purchasing a home as septic repairs or replacement can be extremely costly.
- Septic Issues: If you begin to experience slow drains, foul odors, backups, or other issues with drainage, you may need a septic inspection to fix any problems with your system.
Your Comprehensive Septic Evaluation
With every septic pumping job, you’ll also receive a Septic System Evaluation—a service only Speedy provides!
Common Inspection Findings and Costs
After your technician is finished with their inspection, they will provide you a report with their findings. Below are some of the common issues found during a septic inspection:
- Swampy Drain Field: If your drain field is not properly draining and holding on to water you may need to rejuvenate or replace the field. Drain field rejuvenation can cost between $1,500 and $5,000, whereas replacement can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.
- Pump Failure: The pump is responsible for ensuring water is pumped into the drain field. A failing septic pump can cause sewage backup into your home. Replacing a failing pump will cost $500 to $1,500.
- Damaged Tank: Although septic tanks are built to last for 30 or more years, they occasionally crack and leak. If your tank can be repaired, it will cost an average of $2,000 but a tank replacement can range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on size and material.
- Need Pumping: It is important to have your tank pumped regularly to keep your system functioning properly and avoid backups. Septic pumping can start at $250 for a simple pump but can increase if other issues arise.
Septic Tank Inspection FAQs
Ken is one of the most experienced technicians here at Speedy Septic. We recently asked him which questions about septic tank inspections homeowners ask most often when he gets out of the truck. Here’s what he had to say.
Typically, the buyer will request the seller pay for the cost of the septic tank inspection. Local rules and regulations for real estate contracts can vary and may dictate who pays for the septic inspection.
At Speedy Septic, we perform a septic tank inspection every time you get your septic tank pumped. At a thousand-gallon septic tank, which is most common, and let’s say four people live in a house, we like to pump every three and a half to four years.
Every pump job that we do, we like to clean the tank so we can do an evaluation of the working components inside the tank, whether they’re baffles, seams, integrity of the tank/cracks in the concrete. So we evaluate the system after every pump job so we make sure you don’t have any problems in the future.
When we get a call and the customer says they don’t know where the tank is located, our office staff can look up the county records and see if there’s a permit, and if there’s a permit, it usually shows where the tank is located.
It makes the easiest way to access the tank in case you have a backup issue, some kind of problem with a leaky tank or maybe something not operating correctly, it’s the quickest way to get into it, to get it pumped out. Also, a riser is code to today’s standards. It brings the lip to grade. One thing you don’t have to worry about is having to tear up your yard to locate the tank every time. A riser makes it very easy.
I’ve gone on jobsites where the customer says I’ve been putting additives in my tank every month. What’s wrong? I explain to them you have to remove everything that’s in the septic tank. You can’t just put additives in and expect it to go away. You have to remove everytnhing that won’t break down. And there’s material in there the bacteria can’t digest, so we remove it, and that’s the best method I’ve experienced.
What I run into the most is the one thousand gallon septic tank. If you have a larger home, maybe five bedrooms or more, then you might have a fifteen hundred gallon tank.
For the sale of a home, lets say, we always have to pump the tank completely empty so we can check out the integrity of the tank, size of the tank, components in the tank, to make sure it’s draining properly and make sure it’s up to code.
Professional Septic Inspection Services
Septic inspections are an essential part of maintaining a healthy and efficient septic system. By scheduling regular inspections, homeowners can identify potential issues early on, prevent costly repairs, and ensure efficiency and longevity. For over 40 years, Speedy Septic has served both residential and commercial customers in Oregon and Washington. Our technicians are fully licensed, bonded and insured – and they have the experience and knowledge to handle any septic issue quickly and efficiently.
Don’t wait until problems arise! Contact Speedy Septic today to schedule your septic tank inspection!
Septic Inspection in Portland OR and Vancouver WA
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