Residential septic tank inspection checklist
This residential septic tank inspection checklist is used by home inspectors to ensure the good working condition of a septic system prior to buying or selling a house. properly inspect the septic tank, pump tank, and drain field and conclude with a statement of condition with the use of this checklist.
What does this form include?
This form contains 12 sections:
General Information
- Capacity of septic tank
- Number of bedrooms
System type
Location of the system
Septic Tank
- Are the manhole covers exposed to allow for a complete inspection of the septic tanks and its components?
- Are manhole covers functional and without damage?
- Was the septic tank pumped at the time of inspection to allow for an interior tank inspection?
- Does the septic tank appear to free of apparent visible physical damage?
- Are the inlet and outlet baffles present and with out visible damage or deterioration?
- If an effluent filter is present, does it appear functional?
- Does the current effluent level and scum line appear to be normal within the septic tank?
The construction material of the septic tank
Does the pump chamber appear structurally functional?
Pump Tank
- Do the electrical connections appear undamaged and functional to the effluent pump within the pump chamber?
- Do the activation floats for the effluent pump appear functional?
- Is the pump elevated 6” off the bottom of the pump chamber?
- Is there a functional warning alarm present? And does it go off at 75% capacity?
Drainfield
- Is the drainfield (absorption) area able to be located?
- Was a load test able to be performed?
- Was functional flow observed from the dwelling to the septic tank without signs of back-ups or effluent break out onto the surface of the ground?
- Are the lateral clean-outs visible and do the lateral clean-outs appear function and in tact?
- Was the drainfield able to be probed?
- Did the drainfield appear functional without signs of saturation?
- If used, did the dye stay contained and not visibly break-out onto the surface?
- Was the septic tank absent of back flow from the outlet line or drainfield?
- Is the maintained area of the lawn absent of lush green grass or vegetation?
- Does grey water discharge into the septic system and not on the ground or in a near by stream?
- Does the effluent appear to distribute evenly the drainfield?
Additional Observations
Sign Off
Inspector Name & Signature
Name & Signature
Use this template