I'm thinking about purchasing a house that seems great overall, but I'm concerned about a septic issue that's been pointed out by the inspector. They installed a new 1,250 gallon concrete septic tank, which is over 50 feet from the well, but the seepage pit isn't functioning well enough to pass a certification. They mentioned that if a new drainfield is ever needed, it could require hauling in a lot of topsoil and waiting years for it to be tested. Until then, the current system could work, but I might need to pump it more frequently. I have about $25,000-$30,000 in savings to handle any potential future costs. Any advice would be really helpful!
3 Answers
I'd suggest getting a second inspection from a different company, especially since the original one seems suspect. If they did a poor job on installation, you might get the seller to replace the system entirely. If there's a chance to connect to city sewer, that could save you a lot of trouble. Just be cautious—a newly installed septic that doesn't work well will lead to endless problems.
I really wouldn’t trust that septic company that just installed everything. If they can't certify their own work, that's a huge red flag!
Honestly, no alternate drainfield and the risk of the current one being clogged? I’d say RUN! Unless they’re willing to drop at least $25,000 off the price, I wouldn’t even think about it. You're likely looking at regular pumpings, maybe even every month if water use is high. It sounds like a headache waiting to happen.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely look into getting another inspection since I want to avoid this kind of issue in the future.