Buying a Home With a Septic System

Start with the records

Ask the seller and the county for the permit, as-built drawing and pumping history before you schedule anything else. In Oregon, Washington and Idaho these records are usually held by the county health department or the state environmental agency.

Get an independent inspection

A real-estate septic inspection is not the same as a pumping visit. A full inspection should include tank condition, baffles, lids, the drainfield and a hydraulic load test where appropriate.

Red flags

• No permit or as-built on file
• Soggy ground or unusually green grass over the drainfield
• Tank never pumped, or pumped far more often than expected
• Drainfield sized for fewer bedrooms than the house has

Budget realistically

A pumping visit is a few hundred dollars. A failed drainfield can run into five figures. Ask what a replacement would cost on that specific lot before you waive anything.