The Home Inspector Inc.
Septic Inspections
We can evaluate and certify that your septic system meets PSMA/NOF Standards.
PSMA/NOF stands for the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association and the National Onsite Foundation. These organizations have developed a septic system inspection protocol that allows us to give you a clear picture of how your septic system is working. This is typically a non-evassive test and is designed to give you the information you need to properly maintain your septic system.
Septic systems located at homes that are unoccupied for more than one week are considered "out of service". The only way to adequately evaluate an out of service system is to perform a Hydraulic Load Test. We specialize in Hydraulic Load Tests and provide prompt, professional service. We bring the water for the test to the site rather than using the homeowners well as the water source. Hydraulic load tests are the only reliable way to tell how a septic system is operating when a home has been unoccupied for more than one week.
Description of a Hydraulic Load Test
A hydraulic load test simulates the daily flow as determined by the PA DEP and entails introducing a volume of clean water directly into the absorption area on two consecutive days. The liquid level in the absorption area is measured after the first volume is added. The second volume of clean water is added after 24 hours and the liquid level is measured again. For a satisfactory system, the second day’s liquid level must be lower or equal to the first day’s measurement and below the top of the aggregate in the trench. This would indicate that the liquid from the first day was fully absorbed into the soil and the absorption area is satisfactory.
For more information about septic inspections visit our site: http://www.pasepticinspections.com
