InspectAPedia ^TM

FAILURE SPOTS - Where Septic System Trouble is Likely to Show Up Regardless of Dye Testing SepticAPedia © How to Perform a Septic Loading & Dye Test: Septic Testing Procedure Details - a chapter of "Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems" Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com

This document page describes where trouble tends to show up at properties with septic systems - if the system is failing, here's where you're likely to see evidence. A visual inspection of these locations before and after a septic dye test, or a mere inspection of these locations even if no dye test is going to be performed are steps that give key information about the condition of the septic system. An earlier page (see links at the left) OUTSIDE INSPECTION described other indicators of a site where septic difficulties may be expected, even if there is not any current evidence of a failure. Anyone buying a property or owning a property and needing to assess the condition of the septic system should consider this easy procedure. Simply paying attention to a building site's shape and other visual clues can give critically important information. These pages are part of our SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE for testing septic system function. Technical review by industry experts has been performed and is ongoing - reviewers are listed at "References." Comments and suggestions for content are welcome. Use of this information at other websites is prohibited; reproduction in electronic or printed form is prohibited. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

FAILURE SPOTS - Where Septic System Trouble is Likely to Show Up

Signs of Trouble in the Septic Leach Field or Drainfield Area: Look in the area where you think the leach field is or is most likely to be. Look over the edges of mound systems, steep banks, and nearby culverts. In the photo shown here, where the most-likely leach field location was on the flat filled area above the landscaped bank shown, we were concerned about effluent breakout under the dense shrubs (where it would be hard to spot). But we suspected (age, size of fields, etc) that septic problems might be present. In what was reported to be a drain system installed to remove water from the driveway a simple lift of the driveway drain cover on a concrete box found at the bottom of the bank and edge of the drive, you can just see this component at the lower right of the photo by the bush in the larger version of the photo above, showed our septic dye running happily along. The "driveway drain" had actually been installed to carry effluent from the failed leach field across the drive to a nearby storm drain.

Mound systems: Look over the edges of mound systems, banks, and nearby hills, slopes, or culverts. In this photo our client is pointing to a mound system which was installed across a natural drainage area. Surface runoff water from nearby properties, and originally this property, used to run along a natural drainage pathway between the road and the lots. When the builder placed this mound system in the front yard he set it atop that drainage pathway - which means that underground water was running a foot or less below the level of the leach field trenches. The system delivered its effluent right into the surface runoff and together they appeared as dyed effluent at the down slope end of the mound.

• Common but illegal effluent discharge pipes: Some "repairs" to a failed septic system are made by simply running a hidden pipe to a nearby pond, stream, or public storm drain. If there is a nearby common improper pipe target or an unexplained pipe sticking out of a bank, have someone watch this area from the moment dye is placed in the system since if there is a direct drain carrying effluent to such an improper (and illegal) destination, the dyed effluent may pass by quickly.
• Streams, ponds, storm drains: These are common illegal septic effluent discharge targets, especially at sites with limited space, remote country properties, wet areas, and old properties. Look at near by streams, ponds, wet areas that were present before the test. Warning: If you're looking in a nearby stream or storm drain, watch or have someone watch this area from the moment dye is placed in the system. (Some "repairs" to a failed septic system are made by simply running a hidden pipe to a nearby pond, stream, or public storm drain.) If there is a free-running pipe carrying effluent to an illegal destination it may flow so easily and quickly that your dye may pass by in just a few minutes, so watch suspect areas closely early in the test as well as throughout.
• Examine low areas near the septic drainfield, soggy areas, areas of dense or lush vegetation, edges of mound systems, and any nearby pond, stream, storm drain, or other surface drainage systems for signs of leakage or dye.
• Leaf and brush piles or grass clippings are often piled atop "trouble spots" where there has been a history of septic problems and breakout.

• If the ground surface around the septic system is frozen solid at the time of a septic test (which is not usually the case over an in use drain field, the system is stressed in a different manner, as the leach field does not have the option to relieve its failed absorption area by sending effluent to the surface. In this condition we have produced backups in the building or at the septic tank during the loading and dye test, so be sure to watch lower floor drains for backups if your test water is being run at upper floors of a building. (Warn clients about the help but also the hindrance provided by snow cover in this regard.)
• Look more than once: Do this visual check before starting the test, during the test, after the test, and up to five days after the site inspection (an added service or an admonition to the client) since it is possible in odd cases for effluent to appear on a property days after the initial test. Fortunately, in cases of a failed or marginal system this procedure often shows breakout in 20-30 minutes.

Navigating in the Septic Dye Test Procedure Text

If you are reading by scrolling down in this document instead of using the links at left, continue reading with SPOTTING BREAKOUTS

More Information About Septic Systems - Onsite Waste Disposal Design, Maintenance, Repair

• Return to the septic system textbook: Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems
• The Septic Information Website
  
  
• Safety Warnings to Septic System Inspectors
• Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - Water Test Cheating Warnings for Home Buyers and Home Inspectors.
• Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements
• Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow calculating septic tank volume and septic tank size required
• How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
• Material Safety Data Sheet MSDS for Red Septic Dye from Tramfloc.
• MSDS for Septic Dye Tablets from Tramfloc.
• MSDS for Septic Dye Liquid from Tramfloc.
• Septic Dye Technical Data Bulletin from Tramfloc.
• Tramfloc, Inc. source of septic system testing tracer dyes
• Bright Dyes Inc. source of septic system testing tracer dyes
• Pollard Water source of septic system testing tracer dyes

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com