How long does a septic inspection take?

Most take one to three hours. Time depends on how easy the system is to find, whether the tank is pumped during the visit and how much testing is done on the drain field.

Is a home inspection enough for a septic system?

Usually not. General home inspectors often do only a quick look at the septic system. A septic company opens the tank and evaluates the drain field, which gives a much more complete picture.

Who pays for a septic inspection during a sale?

It depends on your contract and local practice. Buyers often pay for their own inspection, while some sellers order one before listing. Your real estate agent can tell you what is typical in Ward.

How often should I inspect my septic system?

A professional inspection every few years is a good habit, often at the same time as pumping. Systems with pumps, aerobic units or known problems may need more frequent checks.

Septic Inspection in Ward, AR

Most septic problems are cheaper to fix when they are found early. A professional inspection in Ward checks how the system is built, how it is performing and whether anything is close to failing.

You might be under contract on a house or have owned your home for years. Either way, a local company that works across Lonoke County can give you a clear written picture of your system.

What a septic inspection covers

A full inspection usually starts with locating the tank and drain field and reviewing any records on file. The inspector opens the tank, checks the liquid level and sludge depth, and looks at the inlet and outlet baffles, the tank walls and the lid. Water may be run through the house to watch how the system handles flow. The drain field is checked for wet spots, odors and signs of surfacing water. Pump chambers, alarms and filters are tested if the system has them.

Visual inspections and full inspections

A visual inspection is a quick check of how the system seems to be working, often by running water and looking for problems. A full inspection goes further: the tank is opened, levels are measured and the drain field is evaluated. For a home purchase in Ward, a full inspection is usually the better choice because it finds problems a quick look can miss. Ask the company which type they are quoting before you book.

Good times to have a system inspected

The most important time is before you buy a house with a septic system. Sellers often inspect before listing to avoid surprises, and lenders sometimes require one. Outside of a sale, an inspection every few years, often done along with pumping, catches small problems before they become emergencies.

Why the written report matters

The report is what you, your lender and the other party in a sale will rely on. It should describe the system in plain terms, note its condition, and separate urgent problems from routine maintenance. A report with measurements and photos is far more useful than a single line saying the system passed.

Before the inspection day

Make the inspector's job easier by locating the tank lids or marking where you think they are, and moving vehicles away from the area. Have a list of questions ready. If you are a buyer, ask the seller for any septic records the Lonoke County health office may have on file.

What to ask when you book an inspection

Ask exactly what the inspection includes, whether the tank will be opened and pumped, and whether the drain field will be tested. Ask about their experience with your type of system, how long the report takes, and whether the report format is accepted by lenders in Lonoke County.

Septic inspections in Lonoke County

Inspection requirements differ across Lonoke County and neighboring areas, and some local health departments keep records of past permits and inspections. Ask the Lonoke County health department whether there is a file for the property. An inspector who knows local rules can tell you what a buyer or lender will expect.

What inspectors look at closely around Ward

Because most mapped soils near Ward are rated very limited for septic absorption, inspectors pay special attention to how the drain field is handling water. With about 52 inches of precipitation a year, an inspection after a dry spell can look better than the system really is. Ask how recent rain affects the results.

Local conditions in Ward that affect septic inspection

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Ward, the USDA soil survey rates 93% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 7% as somewhat limited and 0% as not limited. The most common drainage class is moderately well drained. Soils like these often call for careful system design, such as a larger drain field, a mound or another engineered system, and a site evaluation before any new installation or replacement.

Ward averages about 52 inches of precipitation a year, and May is usually the wettest month. January is the coldest month at about 39°F on average, so freezing is rarely the main concern here. Heavy rain and saturated ground are the bigger factors for drain fields.

Sources: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access; NASA POWER long-term climatology. Soil ratings describe mapped soil types near the city center and do not replace a site evaluation of your property.

What the soil around Ward means for septic inspection

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Ward as 47% moderately well drained, 20% well drained, 19% poorly drained, 13% somewhat poorly drained. A good inspection here checks the drain field as well as the tank, since 32% of the soil drains poorly and that is where fields tend to show trouble first.

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access

Septic companies near Ward

These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Ward, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.

Oconner Percolation Tests, Austin, AR, 3.0 mi
Honey-Wagon Septic Pumping, Jacksonville, AR, 11.1 mi
Honey-Wagon Septic Pumping, Jacksonville, AR, 15.3 mi
Covington Robin Concrete-Backhoe, Romance, AR, 17.5 mi
Christopher Porta Privies, Judsonia, AR, 24.7 mi
Arkansas Septic Pumping, Judsonia, AR, 26.7 mi

Septic Inspection in nearby towns

We also cover septic inspection in these towns near Ward:

Austin, 1.9 mi
Cabot, 4.8 mi
Beebe, 5.2 mi
Jacksonville, 13.4 mi
Vilonia, 15.2 mi
Lonoke, 15.7 mi

About Ward, AR

Ward is in Lonoke County, Arkansas. About 6,840 people live there, across 4.4 square miles of land (about 1,556 per square mile).

Septic Inspection questions in Ward

How long does a septic inspection take?: Most take one to three hours. Time depends on how easy the system is to find, whether the tank is pumped during the visit and how much testing is done on the drain field.
Is a home inspection enough for a septic system?: Usually not. General home inspectors often do only a quick look at the septic system. A septic company opens the tank and evaluates the drain field, which gives a much more complete picture.
Who pays for a septic inspection during a sale?: It depends on your contract and local practice. Buyers often pay for their own inspection, while some sellers order one before listing. Your real estate agent can tell you what is typical in Ward.
How often should I inspect my septic system?: A professional inspection every few years is a good habit, often at the same time as pumping. Systems with pumps, aerobic units or known problems may need more frequent checks.