Hi everyone - i need some help with a problem i have with my septic field.
I live in a home with a septic field. I have my house listed for sale and a recent home inspection said my septic field is failing. I am not so sure it is failing - how can I tell if they are right ??
I do not have nor have ever had problems with odor, a wet or slushy yard where the field is, no back ups or slow flushings with the toilets...... I do not have a washing machine nor garbage disposal and live alone in the home. 2 out of the last 4 years the home was pretty much vacant, except for a 6 month time frame in which there was 1 person occupying the home.
In 2014 I was having some home improvements done and was going to have the roof done and a new tank put it, but the Septic company told me I did not need a new tank because mine was working fine. I had the tank pumped at that time and that was the last time I had it pumped because:
1. ) I was the only one living in the house
2.) The home was vacant for the majority of 2 out of the past 4 years so it had VERY little usage
At that date, the County came out and I was talking with their inspector who was overseeing the roofing and septic jobs. We were talking about my tank and field. He asked how long I had lived there........ and told me he thinks my field should last another 10 years or more if I keep the usage as low as I have been for the past 4 years. I kept it even LOWER than what it was.
I just don't understand how 4 years later and with the LESS usage the field has dealt with - that my field coul be failing !!! The recent inspector said my field was saturated and not draining properly. He said he dug a spot in the yard and could see sludge , ground water and " untreated sewage" under the ground but on top of the field. I just don't understand how there could have been " sewage" if no one had been living in the home for 6 months. Also, it had rained pretty heavy the day before the inspection - wouldn't that affect the water level and saturation ?
I would appreciate any input anyone can give me. I don't really know what to do and due to a severe medical issue, I have not been able to work in over a year. I have no income right now and no means to fork out money for all kinds of testing or inspections .......... let alone a new septic field !!!!!!!!!
I live in a home with a septic field. I have my house listed for sale and a recent home inspection said my septic field is failing. I am not so sure it is failing - how can I tell if they are right ??
I do not have nor have ever had problems with odor, a wet or slushy yard where the field is, no back ups or slow flushings with the toilets...... I do not have a washing machine nor garbage disposal and live alone in the home. 2 out of the last 4 years the home was pretty much vacant, except for a 6 month time frame in which there was 1 person occupying the home.
In 2014 I was having some home improvements done and was going to have the roof done and a new tank put it, but the Septic company told me I did not need a new tank because mine was working fine. I had the tank pumped at that time and that was the last time I had it pumped because:
1. ) I was the only one living in the house
2.) The home was vacant for the majority of 2 out of the past 4 years so it had VERY little usage
At that date, the County came out and I was talking with their inspector who was overseeing the roofing and septic jobs. We were talking about my tank and field. He asked how long I had lived there........ and told me he thinks my field should last another 10 years or more if I keep the usage as low as I have been for the past 4 years. I kept it even LOWER than what it was.
I just don't understand how 4 years later and with the LESS usage the field has dealt with - that my field coul be failing !!! The recent inspector said my field was saturated and not draining properly. He said he dug a spot in the yard and could see sludge , ground water and " untreated sewage" under the ground but on top of the field. I just don't understand how there could have been " sewage" if no one had been living in the home for 6 months. Also, it had rained pretty heavy the day before the inspection - wouldn't that affect the water level and saturation ?
I would appreciate any input anyone can give me. I don't really know what to do and due to a severe medical issue, I have not been able to work in over a year. I have no income right now and no means to fork out money for all kinds of testing or inspections .......... let alone a new septic field !!!!!!!!!
