What is a well system inspection
Water tapped by a private well is often of the highest quality. When buying a home with a private well, your home inspection should include a well system check up to ensure the well is in good working order and the quality of the water produced meets health standards.
Prior to the inspection, you should obtain your well’s log or record, which contains information on the history of the well and the ground surrounding it. Contractors must file well logs with their respective states upon completion of all new wells. However, well owners should also own a copy in case the well needs to be serviced at any time.
Your well water inspection will include:
- A flow test to determine system output and a check of the water level before and during pumping, pump motor performance (check amp load, grounding, and line voltage), pressure tank and pressure switch contact, and general water quality (odor, cloudiness, etc.).
- An inspection of well equipment to assure that it is sanitary and meets local code requirements.
- A test of your water for coli form bacteria and nitrates, iron, manganese, water hardness, sulfides and anything else of concern in your area that could pose problems with your plumbing, staining, water appearance, and odor.
- A concise, clear, written report explaining results and recommendations for your well that include all laboratory and other test results.
Septic Inspection
Our 3rd party partners are licensed by the state of Missouri to ensure your septic system meets state and local codes so you can be assured of an accurate evaluation.
How often you pump your septic system is determined by the amount of people in the home, the amount of water used and the size of the tank. It is not based on the amount of bathrooms located in the home. The size of the septic tank should be determined by the number of bedrooms in the home. For an average home the following schedule is recommended for pumping septic tanks:
1 Person: Every 5 years
2 People: Every 4 years
3 People: Every 3 years
4 People: Every 2-3 years
5 People: Every 1-2 years
6+ People: Every year
If homeowners follow a recommended pumping schedule, it can prolong the life of their leach field. The average life span of a leach field is approximately 20 years. The cost of replacing a leach field once it fails is approximately $10,000. Economically, it is a lot cheaper to have your tank maintained properly and extending the life of the field, then paying for a new leach field.
If your home has a garbage disposal it can cut the life of your septic tank and field in half. A garbage disposal puts straight food waste into your tank and the bacteria in the tank cannot digest raw food.
If your home has a water softener, it can also cut the life of your septic tank and field in half. The salt that is dispensed through the water in the tank corrodes the cement of the tank, eventually weakening the tank.
Do not drive over the leach field, this may crush the pipes and prohibit the drainage of water. Do not plant bushes, trees or any plant which produces a lot of roots, this can clog up your septic pipes. This also applies to the pipe running from the house to the tank and the pipe to the leach field. Do not cover the leach field with anything other than grass. Grass helps prevent erosion and also helps with the absorption of the water.
It is suggested that any tank that is deeper than 2 feet have a well riser installed.
Tanks are installed by contractors and the lid can range from being on the surface to 6 feet below the surface.