a CLOSER look home inspections

We do not recommend non-invasive inspections

Very little can be determined about the condition of your system without getting into the tank itself, which almost always requires digging. This is due to the large amount of stone in this area of the country. When septics fail in SW Missouri the sewage goes down into the rock – not up. Therefore we offer only invasive septic inspections.

Invasive Septic Inspection – State approved inspection requiring water system flush, internal tank inspection, sludge layer measurements and report – $150 *

* Price does not include site preparation, which is usually the responsibility of the seller in the Springfield, MO area. Tank access must be made available prior to the inspector’s arrival. Pumping ports will not provide the required access to most tanks. Tank cover removal is necessary.

Septic Myths

You don’t have to pump your tank unless there’s something wrong with it.

Sludge is formed by the natural action of bacteria digestion within the tank. As sludge layers build up there is less room in the tank for the bacteria to work. Tanks should be checked and pumped periodically to ensure the most efficient system.

I’ve been in this house for 20 years, the tank has never been pumped and the system works fine.

Either there is a leak in the system or no room left in the tank due to sludge, and effluent is pouring through directly to the leach field without treatment. This condition can be nearly impossible to detect without an invasive inspection.

The tank pumping port is good enough access to inspect, so we don’t have to dig.

It is rare that the pumping port is wide enough to allow a State Certified inspection. Many modern systems have a green domed lid that is roughly 2 feet in diameter for inspection access. If your tank has this lid, you will not need to dig anything, as we can unscrew the lid to gain inspection access to the tank.

We can fix it by putting additives down the system.

So far, according to the State of Missouri, no additive has been proven effective in a controlled scientific study. Many company’s make claims that their additives work, and may even be able to provide you with a brochure that says they have been laboratory tested and proven, but it has not been recognized by the State of Missouri.