SEPTIC FAQs

There are a few ways you may be able to get this information. If the former owner is available, they may be able to provide this information. Depending on the age of the home, your local Environmental Health Department may have the diagram from when the system was installed.

Every 3–5 years, more often if you have a garbage disposal or a lot of people living in residence, less often if it is a vacation home used only on an infrequent basis.

Contact your local Environmental Health Department.

Yes. Have the inspection done by a qualified septic system inspector who will perform a complete inspection? Often lenders require a home inspection but don’t include the septic system, and you will need to know if proper maintenance of the system has been done.

Consult your professional septic installer and get their opinion on different types. The permit you receive from the Environmental Health Department will identify the type of system that should be installed; however, you may be able to use another type depending on your individual circumstances. For example, if your permit has a conventional system but you want to save some room, you may be able to go with a reduction system. In North Carolina, before any system type is approved for use, the product has gone through extensive research.

Chances are there is nothing wrong with the system. Begin by checking the vent on the roof of the home; it may not be the correct height.

A pump system is generally installed for one of two reasons:

It was not possible due to the elevation of the lot to get gravity from the septic tank to the drain field.

The linear feet of the system exceeded the maximum allowed by the state without having a pump. With a pump system, there is a pump in the tank that pumps the water to the drain field area. The pump is controlled by a switch that is initiated by the water level in the tank. There is also an alarm switch that, in the event the pump doesn’t function properly and the water level gets too high, the alarm will go off inside the home to alert you of the problem.

The thing sticking out of the ground is called a riser, and it was placed there in the event you have a problem with the pump in the system. There should also be an electrical box beside the riser, which should not be covered with dirt.

NO! A good rule of thumb is, if it isn’t human waste or a human would not eat it, don’t flush it.

Go to the Services tab on this website and search by county and type of service you need. The companies listed on this site are all members of the NCSTA.