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Septic Real Estate Inspections: Why Such a Wide Variety?
If you call around to septic companies, you might find a wide variety of pricing as well as inspection procedures. That’s because there are no septic inspection regulations in Texas. Yep! None!
While there are some organizations that offer certifications, none are required. Here’s the breakdown in qualifications you might find.
- NAWT Certification (National Association of Wastewater Technicians): An inspection certification is available through NAWT, which is the only standard in the septic industry. This standard requires full inspections, including exposing the tank lids, opening the tanks, and pumping them as part of a more thorough inspection.
- TREC Certification (Texas Real Estate Commission): An inspection certification is available to home inspectors. This inspection is very limited and does not require the inspector to open or look into any septic tank.
- TCEQ Licensed Septic Installer/Site Evaluator or Septic Designer: Septic installers offer septic inspections, however, without any additional certifications or inspections in training, the inspection is subject to whatever ideas that installer has about how to check a system.
How do you know who to choose? It would obviously be recommended to find someone with an inspection certification (we recommend NAWT as the inspection standards are higher than TREC), but it’s even better if that inspector is also experienced in the septic system industry and knows the regulations for installations. Buyer beware: even though someone has both of these does not mean they do the inspections to any standard since none are required.
It takes integrity to hold yourself accountable to standards taught, as well the experience and knowledge that it takes to provide a complete and thorough inspection. Let us help you determine which type of inspection you need for your particular home purchase and situation.