Buying a House with a Septic Tank

Buying a new home is exciting, whether it’s your first house or your twelfth. Finding a house that meets your needs, suits your lifestyle, and fits your budget in the Boise area can be a bit of a challenge.

Let’s say you’ve found the perfect property. You are looking over the property disclosure and you find out that it is on a septic system. You’ve heard rumors like, “Never buy a house with a septic tank,” and you know nothing about septic systems. It can feel a little scary.

Before you decide, learn about the pros and cons of a septic system.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Septic Tank

Advantages:

1)                 You won’t pay expensive sewer fees.

When you are hooked up to the city sewer, you are sharing a system with the entire city. That means you pay the local government for sewer services. When you have a septic tank on your property, you service your own septic tank, as opposed to paying monthly fees that could increase at any time. If you pump and maintain your septic system properly, it can last from 25-50 years.

2)                 Septic systems last a long time when properly maintained.

A professionally installed, well-maintained septic system can last up to 50 years. Rarely will you have to replace the entire system. As long as you have your septic tank pumped every 1-3 years, depending on the size of your household, schedule annual inspections, and clear thegrease out of your drains, you will have a well-functioning system for a long time.

Disadvantages:

1)                 You have to be careful with what you flush.

If you have ever been on a public sewer system, you were able to flush just about anything with no trouble. With a septic tank, however, you need to be more careful of what you put down the drains. Paper towels, tampons, sanitary napkins, cotton balls, kitty litter, Clorox wipes, “flushable” wipes, household chemicals, and oils can be extremely damaging to septic systems. This can lead to sewage back-ups, putrid odors, and a host of other problems, and call for expensive repairs. It may take time to adjust, but flushing only toilet paper will keep your septic tank functioning at its best and save you money down the road.

2)                 Conserving water.

Shorter showers and alternating laundry days with the days you run the dishwasher might seem like a big adjustment, but there are advantages. It’s better for the environment and less taxing on your septic system and drain pipes, especially if you have several people living in your home. When you have a septic system, you should conserve water by running full laundry and dishwasher loads, and don’t do all your laundry on the same day.

Your dream home can still be a dream, even with a septic system. With the help of ASAP Septic, you can be sure your system will run well for years to come. For septic inspections and services, contact us at  (208) 991-7184 today.

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