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LARGER VIEW of septic dye breakout at a basement entry from a failed septic system buried below a driveway during conduct of a septic loading and dye test
- an expert can find clues and perform tests that reduce risk of a costly surprise How to Perform a Septic Loading & Dye Test
Septic Testing Procedures Home Page

Septic dye testing procedural guide:

How to conduct a septic system loading & dye test - this septic testing protocolis used by most home inspectors and septic test consultants - How to perform a septic loading & dye test, step by step.

This article series provides the detailed procedure explaining just how to inspect and test a septic system.

We give details of the Septic Loading and Dye Test procedure for testing the function of septic systems, focused on condition of the effluent disposal section, also known as a leach field, seepage pits, drainfield or drainage field.

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HOW TO PERFORM a SEPTIC DYE TEST - How to Properly Conduct a Septic Loading and Dye Test

LARGER VIEW of
septic dye going down a toilet

[Click to enlarge any image]

Septic System Loading and Dye Tests often requested by certain lenders, involve flushing a special dye down a toilet or other drain combined with a known quantity of water sufficient to put a working load on the absorption system.

If waste water leaks to the ground surface (an unsanitary condition indicating serious septic failure) one may find dye in that water provided the septic system is flowing at common rates.

Dyed effluent usually appears in 20-30 minutes on a failed system but can take up to five days to show up. If at a building inspection suspect wet areas are observed I recommend a dye test even if one was not previously requested.

When wet areas are not found (or created by running water into the septic system) on the property being inspected, dye tests may still be performed to meet requirements of some lenders.

Although this test can often find a costly failure it does not find all possible problems. So by itself a dye test is not indicative of complete condition of the system. On the other hand, I've found so many failed systems with this procedure that it's well worth performing.

Watch out: Anyone inspecting septic systems MUST be familiar with the hazards and safety concerns discussed

at SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS

Septic dye tests involve flushing a special florescent dye down a toilet or other drain. The dye itself does not make anything happen. It is simply a colored indicator that can identify water found outside as having come from the fixture where the dye was introduced.

It's the volume of water introduced into the system that forms the actual "test". If waste water is coming to the surface (an unsanitary condition indicating serious septic failure) one may see dye in that water, provided the septic system is flowing at common rates.

When suspect wet areas are observed, if the system has no maintenance history, if the area is known to have problem soils, or if other historic or site conditions raise question about the condition of the system we recommend that the inspector perform a dye test.

A septic loading and dye test will by no means find every septic failure, but this methods finds many failures that otherwise are unnoticed by a home buyer until shortly after moving-in. Septic loading and dye tests are complimentary to and should precede any further inspection steps taken such as pumping the septic tank.

WHEN TO PUMP THE SEPTIC TANK - After, not Before Septic Tests are Performed

After a loading and dye test (which primarily tests the absorption system, leach field, or drain field), unless the septic tank has been pumped very recently, we recommend that this additional step be taken.

Before completing the purchase of a property with a septic tank and absorption system, limited but important additional information regarding the condition of the system tank and also the leach field may be obtained by having a septic contractor open, clean, and inspect the septic tank itself.

Particularly in the case of older systems that have not been serviced, if the property owner will permit this step we recommend it. When the tank is pumped, ask the pumping contractor to describe the size, type, and condition of the tank and its components, and also to tell you if s/he saw any indications that the system needs repair or that the tank or leach system are at or near the end of their life.

Do not permit the septic tank to be pumped before the septic loading and dye test - that will prevent a valid test of the system and in particular, prevents loading of the drainfield.

More details about the problem of septic tank pumpouts as a cover-up of a septic problem or failure are

at WHEN NOT TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK: warnings for home buyers about septic tank pumping.

The links given below describe the details of how to perform a septic loading and dye test, procedures, observations, water quantity, and septic dye quantity.

Where to Buy Septic Test Dye

Where to buy septic dye for septic drainfield breakout effluent indication: (the first links below allow you to purchase septic dye directly from the producer):

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2019-07-16 by (mod) - after septic tank is pumped how long do you have to wait before you can have a dye test preformed

Thanks for the useful question, Deb.

"Legal" doesn't come into play here as there's no statute on septic dye test details.

However if someone wants to perform a septic loading and dye test of a septic system, the septic tank needs to be full - at operating level; that means that the liquid level will be up to the bottom of the tank's outlet line.

Furthermore it would be a more-realistic test if, past that "tank full" point the system has been in normal use for a week or two. That usage assures that any temporary affects of soil drying that could mask a sluggish drainfield have been passsed.

The time for the septic tank to reach "full" is not a generic number like "5 days" but rather is a function of the daily wastewater into the septic system; that volume varies by number of occupants in the home and their water-using habits.

Therefore, it's better to rely on a simple inspection of the septic tank to observe its wastewater level.

A septic inspector who can safely access the tank (doing so if you don't know how can be fatal) would, before performaing a septic loading and dye test

1. confirm that the septic tank is at normal in-use level

2. confirm that the home has been occupied and in normal use for a week or two since the tank was at that level
or

3. would at the very least confirm that the tank is full, conduct the loading and dye test, and issue an appropriate warning about the limitations of the test to assess the drainfield condition

On 2019-07-16 by Deb

If you have had your septic tank pumped out how long do you have to wait before you can have a dye test preformed so it is legal.

On 2018-11-15 by (mod) -

Ella

thank you for an interesting question.

I have had cases of dye showing up days after a test when there is very slow effluent movement through soil. But not a month later.

I think good first step would be to use a UV or black light in darkness to see if the greenish water that you see will fluoresce. That's a test to confirm that a fluorescent septic dye is indeed what is being detected.

On 2018-11-15 by Ella

We have had a dye test done and nothing came out until almost a month later. Is it normal and is it possible that there is an issue if no results showed up in expected time frame, but something green (ish) was in the water almost a month later?

On 2018-05-20 by (mod) - Septic tank leaking into the creek? Creek leaking into septic tank?

Flooding of Wappingers Creek along area where septic drainfields are installed (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.comPaul

From what you describe you do not have a properly working septic system and indeed it's likely that the tank is discharging sewage into the creek. Such a system would be illegal in most jurisdictions and in any event is contaminating the creek and the environment.

You would be best served first by an onsite septic engineer who could evaluate your site to give advice on just how and what form of working septic system is feasible and most-economical for your site.

Sure you could put dye into the septic system and watch for it to appear in the creek - this article series lists sources of septic dye products. But from what you've described that's not necessary - if water is leaking into your septic tank and if the tank floods when the creek floods, we already know the answer.

See FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR - https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Flooded_Septic_Repair.php

and note my photo showing an area of septic systems located along Wappingers Creek

On 2018-05-19 by Paul d

I live close to a creek and I think my tank is leaking into the creek. I know where the tank is located but that is all I know about it. I have no idea if it is a septic system or if it was designed to empty into the creek. This troubles me and I would like to correct this.

When the creek rises so does the level of my tank. I had it pumped out and 2 days later it was half full again. 500 gallon tank. Is there a dye I can put in the tank to see if it is running onto the creek.
My email is mckeepd@amplex.net. thank you

On 2017-10-19 by Peg

To do a front load test, besides the dye, which amount of the ground surrounding the site or on top of the septic system will be disturbed.
What if there is damage to the existing system while testing is being completed.?

On 2017-02-02 by Anonymous

Not sure why it came up Anonymous, but it's Susi

On 2017-02-02 by Anonymous

@Susi,
Is there a next step we should pursue to make sure septic is safe? We are to take possession of the house March 3. We are concerned.

On 2017-02-01 by (mod) - septic test report limitations

Excellent question. I'm not sure what the inspector intended to say either. It sounds to me like a disclaimer intended to mean that you should not blame the inspector if the septic system is discovered to have failed. Certainly it's true that the inspector cannot see underground.

But that's not the purpose of the dye test. Purpose is to see whether liquid effluent or water at the surface is coming from the septic system. Since you paid for this test, it seems reasonable to me to require the inspector to be more clear.

On 2017-02-01 by Susi

Recently purchased house. During inspection, inspectors tested septic with blue dye. The report states they could not see where it emptied. What does that mean


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