Septic Inspections

What A Septic Inspection Covers

A septic inspection is a full evaluation of your system. Tank, pipes, baffles, drain field, and the soil conditions around them. The goal is simple: tell you whether your system is working correctly, what condition the components are in, and what (if anything) needs attention.

There are three situations where most homeowners need an inspection. First, when you're buying or selling a home. Second, when something's already wrong and you need a professional to figure out what. Third, when you just want to know where your system stands after years without thinking about it.

Real estate transactions are the most common trigger in Northwest Ohio. Lucas, Fulton, Henry, and Wood County all have point-of-sale inspection requirements. Requirements vary by township, so it's worth checking with your local health department early in the process.

Our inspection reports are accepted by all the local health departments. Buyers, sellers, lenders, and county officials around here know our paperwork. We've been doing this since 1960, so we've built a reputation the health departments trust.

What We Actually Check

Our inspections are thorough but practical. We're not running tests to pad a bill.

The tank. We open the access lids, measure sludge and scum levels, inspect the inlet and outlet baffles for damage or blockages, look for cracks in the tank walls, and assess the structural integrity. If there's an effluent filter on the outlet, we clean it and check it.

The pipes and distribution box. Inlet and outlet piping get checked for proper slope, root intrusion, and visible damage. If the system has a distribution box (most do), we open it and verify even flow to the drain field laterals.

The drain field. We walk the area looking for signs of failure. Soggy spots, sewage odors, unusually green grass, surface ponding, or any visible breakouts. If we suspect drainage issues, we can do a hydraulic load test to see how the field is really performing.

The written report. You get a plain-English document with findings, photos where helpful, and clear recommendations. If repairs are needed to pass a real estate inspection, we outline exactly what's required and provide a separate estimate.