Septic inspections
Buying or selling a home on septic? An inspection tells you what condition the system is in before you close.
A home inspection usually doesn't include the septic system. A separate septic inspection looks at the tank, its components and the drainfield, and can save a buyer from inheriting a failing system.
Who can inspect?
Under North Carolina law, anyone who conducts an inspection of an on-site wastewater system must be certified under the state's On-Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board rules. Ask the inspector for their certification.
What does an inspection cover?
- Locating the tank and drainfield and comparing them with the county permit
- Pumping or checking sludge levels and the tank's condition
- Inlet and outlet baffles and the effluent filter
- Pump, floats and alarm, if the system has a pump tank
- Signs of drainfield trouble: wet areas, odors, surfacing effluent
Get the permit and layout
NC DHHS recommends getting a copy of your septic permit and system layout from the local health department. In Brunswick County, that's Brunswick County Health Services' Environmental Health section. The permit shows what was approved, including the design capacity, which matters if the house has had bedrooms added.
Timing for a sale
Schedule the septic inspection early in your due diligence period so there's time to get repair quotes if something turns up.
The septic company prices the job after learning about your system and, for repairs, seeing it. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Does a home inspection include the septic system?
Usually not. Most home inspectors don't evaluate septic systems. Order a separate inspection from a certified septic inspector.
What is the design capacity on a septic permit?
It's usually based on the number of bedrooms. If a home has more bedrooms than the system was permitted for, the system may be undersized.
Related services
More background: Brunswick County septic guide.
Slow drains, soggy yard or a septic alarm going off?
Call now and a local septic company will help you sort it out.