Home Inspections
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Gerardi
Engineering Home Inspections |
Septic System Dye Test
Test Protocol
The septic dye test done by most home inspectors, myself included, consists of adding about 180 gallons of water to the septic tank in an hour. This is done by running the water in the tub at about 3 gallons per minute for an hour and also adding a florescent dye to the toilet. Then checking to see if the dye and or water is backing up into the house or coming out of the ground in the septic field. The theory is that an average family uses 180 gallons of water in a day and adding 180 gallons of water in an hour is a stress test. The water must go somewhere and if the field is not able to handle the percolation of the water into the ground, it will come out of the ground and be visible. Unfortunately theory and practice depart in this situation. The test very rarely fails. When the dye is visible it is because the septic system is extremely clogged up, in which case there is probably a very noticeable problem already without doing the test, i.e. swampy ground, foul odors, sewerage backing up into the house. Of the hundreds of septic system dye tests I have performed in my career, only a handful have failed. The test is not an examination of the inside of the septic system and in my opinion is not very thorough. Therefore I do not recommend that you use this test. I will perform the test at your request, but I believe that the test is a waste of your money.
Recommendation.
Instead of the dye test, I recommend that you arrange to have the septic system pumped out and examined by a septic system contractor. This will allow you to find out the size of the tank, whether any repairs are needed and what condition the system is in. The tank should be pumped out every 5 years, give or take depending on the number of people using the system. You may be able to negotiate with the owner to have the system pumped out and then have it examined at the same time. If the system is not pumped out regularly, there is a possibility of sludge building up in the tank which will eventually clog up the septic field. If the owner has had the tank pumped out recently, there is probably no cause for any further action on your part. Ask to see the bill; usually if the system is pumped out, any necessary repairs will be indicated on the bill.