What a septic inspection covers
A septic inspection starts at the access risers. The technician opens the tank and measures the depth of the scum layer on top and the sludge layer at the bottom. Those measurements tell whether the tank is due for pumping and whether it has been maintained on a reasonable schedule. A tank that is two-thirds sludge tells a different story than one that was pumped last year.
The inlet and outlet baffles are checked next. A missing or deteriorated baffle is one of the most common problems found during inspections, and it is also one of the most consequential: without a functioning outlet baffle, floating solids travel straight into the drain field lines and start clogging them. The repair is simple if caught early. Left alone, it becomes a drain field replacement.
The drain field gets a visual check for standing water, soft ground, or unusual odor at the surface. In some cases a dye test is run: dye is flushed through the system and the field is watched for surfacing colour, which would indicate a break or blockage in the distribution lines. The tank walls and seams are checked for cracks and root intrusion while the tank is open.
Lacey's Digging Services has been inspecting systems across Flowood and Rankin County for over three decades. Whether you are buying a property, selling one, or just want to know where your system stands, the inspection gives you a clear picture and a written record of what was found.
