This document describes how to inspect the condition of a septic tank, providing special considerations for inspecting home made or site built septic tanks.

Inspecting home made septic tanks is a key component in onsite wastewater disposal systems and can involve special risks of collapse or early failure since often home made septic tanks are constructed too small, or are built using marginal materials or have unsafe tank covers.

The septic tank shown above was excavated after a simple septic test found evidence of septic system failure. We found that there was an under-sized home-made "tank" built of hollow concrete blocks. This septic tank was not only not usable, the system was unsafe, risking a cave-in or collapse.

Home made or "site built septic tanks

The photo at page top shows a home made septic tank which was being excavated after discovery of sewage effluent in the drainfield.

Watch out: This was not only a failed septic system that the buyer's inspector failed to detect, it was also a life-safety hazard should someone fall into this collapsing "tank".

This DIY site built septic system had been tested and inspected prior to sale, but the inspection and test procedure were not properly performed.

The result was a SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT

This article series answers just about any question about septic system design, installation, inspection & maintenance or repair procedures: defects in onsite waste disposal systems, septic tank problems, septic drainfield problems, checklists of system components & things to ask.

Site built systems, in my experience, are often under-sized and worse, dangerous. There is a serious risk of collapse of old rotting wood covers, collapsing concrete block dry-laid tank or "cesspool" walls, etc.

The septic tank shown in this photograph was "home made" using concrete blocks stacked to form the tank sides (and maybe bottom) and covered with a poured-concrete lid which has been tipped over and can be seen on-edge in the left side of this photograph.

The home made septic tank was so small that it would need to be pumped more frequently than normal to protect the drainfield.

In this particular case the home made septic tank was found to be completely filled with solids, and the leach field was found to be filled with solid waste as well.

An improperly-conducted septic dye test failed to detect this condition even though even a small and inadequate test, had dye and water been run into the main waste line, would certainly have caused a backup - which is what happened within hours of the new buyers moving into the home to which this septic non-system was attached.

While building your own septic tank is not an impossible task, proper sizing of the tank, and construction of materials to be sure that the tank and its cover are safe from collapse, are critical considerations.

At SEPTIC TANK, DRAINFIELD INSTALLATION - you can read details on how to build & install your own septic tank - not something we recommend.

Bottom line:

Watch out: If a tank is made of concrete blocks it's a homemade system with no predictable life. Usually such septic tanks are

• home made
• under-sized - which means drainfield is at risk of being ruined because when a septic tank is too small there is inadequate net free area, inadequate settling time, so floating solids are pushed out into the drainfield.
• Worse, it could be unsafe, risking a collapse: if someone falls in it's likely to mean they die.
  

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

I just found out we have a hand-built septic tank

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, and a great service you and the whole team have done!! Just found out yesterday that we have a hand built septic tank that is about 300 gallons. (no records in the county of our septic, so must be pre 1980 !)

We actually don’t have a cesspool- it’s site built septic connected to site built seepage pit (and I only know these terms and the difference because of your site!).

Upgrading the septic tank asap after reading your page on site built systems.

SEPTIC TANKS HOME MADE SITE BUILT

With 2 small children absolutely terrifying. Though for now seems to be in working order.

I don’t even bother to google issues anymore- I just come straight to this site ! Thanks again. On 2022-03-03 by Bekah -

by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - important safety concerns

@Bekah,

Thank you so much for the lovely note about your new -old home, the silly septic "pro", and our website.

We've worked hard on this material since the 1980s, and in its website form for many years too, so we are especially grateful when a reader finds it useful and trusted.

I agree with you that SEO'd pages, aka "clickbait" are worse than a disappointment, and to that end we very much welcome questions, content suggestions, and criticism of our own work. It's not just a platitude when I say that "working together makes us smarter".

Indeed as a long time resident of the Hudson Valley too, I've a long affection for old houses and for many years worked on old house inspection, renovation, and repair. Our intent at this website is to include information on what goes wrong, what stumbling blocks occur in making homes comfortable, safe, and appreciated, and what to do about those conditions.

Cesspools are a particular worry as they can be a fatal safety hazard: I know from first hand consulting in such a death, so I'm especially glad that you discovered that installation at your own home.

It was an in-expert "septic pro" who pumped out a site-built cesspool built of concrete blocks that later led to a death when the homeowner stepped over the cesspool only to fall into it and be buried alive. Share that with your own septic pro as a warning.

Thank you too for the offer of having me inspect your home. After decades of field investigation and forensic lab work, with exception of a few pro-bono or research assignments, I have retired from field work and also from forensic laboratory analysis work to concentrate full time on pure research and writing for InspectApedia.com.

But indeed if you haven't already done-so, it would be useful to have your home inspected by a person who has experience and interest in old farmhouses and who will actually inspect thoroughly and provide a report that helps set priorities of attention for your home: things that are causing rapid expensive damage, things that are dangerous, or things that just don't work with acceptable reliability.

We will welcome seeing and trying to respond to any specific questions that arise.

The most immediate step you should take is to rope off and keep people away from the area where they could possibly walk over the site built septic tank because we don't know the safety of its cover or its construction. And obviously falling in would likely be fatal.

We also are grateful for your kind comments.

We have worked on developing this information for many years, so we are especially grateful when readers find it useful and trusted.

We also very much welcome to your questions, content suggestions, or critique.

Bekah - thank you so much for creating this incredible and detailed actual home encyclopedia.

I just want to say thank you so much for creating this incredible and detailed actual home encyclopedia.

As a new home owner of a very old farmhouse in Hudson Valley - previously a life long renter - this has been beyond helpful. It’s essential. I work in marketing and appreciate that you don’t have the same over SEO-ed listicle with useless regurgitated “information “.

The work you’ve put into this - I’m sure it’s hard to find a book that comes close.

Because of your site I was able to discover that we had a seepage pit and how exactly our septic is connected and the issues and limitations. I had to explain it to countless “septic pros” before finding anyone with experience dealing with it.

I dealt with getting literally laughed at by a young septic pro who pumped our tank and dismissing my concerns because he had never seen one before - until I was able to explain it properly thanks to your site.

Just a comment to let you know what a valuable resource you’ve created and wondering if you still work in the field ! Would love to have you assess our very old home!

We think our home built concrete block septic tank and system is fine but we're selling our house and want an other opinion

We are selling our home. We have never had a problem with our septic. We have a family of 12-14 there a few times a year other than that it is only 2 or 3 of us and only for half the week.

We never hear gurgling, have no wet near or around the septic tank. We had it inspected when we bought the property 14 months ago.

All that was needed then was a new lid. Their inspector said "the tank is homemade made from cinderblocks. Water leaks through the cracks." How would he know that? Is he just assuming it? And then he says "I did a water load test on drain field, rain water for less than a minute and it back up into tank" If that were the case wouldn't we have had issues by now?

We have had as many as 15 people sleeping there and showering, washing dishes etc. We have a guy coming out that inspected it last year but was wanting another opinion. On 2019-11-10 by Mb

by (mod) - your buyer should conduct their own septic inspection / test; important septic safety warning!

Surely your buyer will need an accurate inspection of the septic system including the tank.

Watch out: If a tank is made of concrete blocks it's a homemade system with no predictable life.

So let's get that information accurately stated by an independent inspection. It is possible to inspect inside the tank and depending on its level and condition to see what materials it's made of. But that's just one of the important questions to be resolved.

Be sure to read the article above on this page.

by Mb

Yes we have arranged for a septic person to come take a look.

He did say concrete cinder block construction but will verify that soon.

But what about him putting the hose into the drain pipe does that reveal an issue when water came back out in less than a minute?

by (mod) - If water flows backwards into the septic tank from the tank

If water flows backwards into the septic tank from the tank outlet then either that pipe is blocked or the drainfield has failed

Details of a thorough and proper septic test are

at SEPTIC LOADING & DYE TEST PROCEDURE - home

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Continue reading  at SEPTIC TANKS, STEEL or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT
• SEPTIC TANKS - home
• SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND
• SEPTIC TANK SAFETY
• SEPTIC TANK SIZE
• SEPTIC TANK, DRAINFIELD INSTALLATION

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SEPTIC TANKS HOME MADE SITE BUILT at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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