How much does a septic inspection cost?
Updated
Short answer
A septic inspection costs $150 to $450 and takes 60 to 120 minutes. There's no DIY version worth attempting, because the inspection means opening the tank and measuring the sludge, and the gases in an open tank can overcome a person in seconds. What you can do for free is watch the yard and the drains for the warning signs between inspections. The price buys the measurement that tells you when to pump, which is what protects a drain field worth many times the fee.
Cost breakdown
| Item | DIY | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $0 | included |
| Tools you may need to buy | not recommended | included |
| Labor | not recommended | $150 to $450 |
| Total | not recommended | $150 to $450 |
The DIY column holds nothing to buy and a job you shouldn't do. The pro price covers opening the lids, measuring the scum and sludge layers, checking the baffles and the effluent filter, testing any pumps and alarms, and walking the drain field.
What drives the cost
- Finding the lids. A tank with risers that bring the lids to the surface is a quick visit. A tank whose lids are buried takes digging, and the inspector charges for it.
- The system type. A basic tank and drain field is the low end. A system with pumps, floats, an aerobic treatment unit or an alarm panel takes longer to check.
- A camera. Some inspectors run a camera down the lines or into the drain field, which costs more and is worth it when a problem is suspected.
- Combining with pumping. An inspection done on the same visit as a pumping, when the tank is due, costs less than the visits apart.
- A sale. A real estate septic inspection is more thorough, often includes a load test of the drain field, and costs more than a routine one.
DIY vs. pro
This is a pro-recommended job, and the price is for expertise and safety rather than labor. How often a septic system should be inspected is every 1 to 3 years, and every year for a system with mechanical parts, so the fee lands once every year or few.
What's yours to do costs nothing: watch for slow drains, gurgling, smells and wet or lush patches over the drain field, keep grease and wipes out of the drains, and keep vehicles off the field. Any of the warning signs means call for the inspection now rather than waiting for the schedule, because the drain field it protects costs $5,000 to $20,000 to replace.
FAQ
How much is a septic inspection?
$150 to $450, depending on the system's type and whether the lids have to be dug out. A real estate inspection costs more.
Is a septic inspection worth it?
Yes. The sludge measurement tells you when to pump, and pumping on time is what keeps solids out of the drain field. The field is the expensive part.
Can I inspect my own septic tank?
No. Opening the tank exposes you to gases that can knock you down in seconds, and measuring sludge properly takes a tool and experience.
How can I save on septic inspections?
Install risers so the lids are at the surface, keep records of each pumping so the inspector can judge the fill rate, and combine the inspection with pumping when the tank is due. Risers pay for themselves within a couple of visits.