So not only had the homeowner poured concrete over his second lid, unbeknownst to him his previous septic maintenance provider had not been properly pumping his tank.

(Want to make sure your provider is honest and reliable? Here are questions to ask when getting your septic tank cleaned.)

Grab a shovel

You may have guessed where this story is headed, but in the end we had to cut through the concrete deck and excavate the dirt in order to gain access to the second side of the home’s septic tank and perform a proper inspection and pumping.

The image at the top of the page shows one of our technicians standing over where the second lid should be located — the other technician (you can barely see his head sticking out of the hole) is standing on the septic tank.

The pictures below give you a better idea of how much concrete needed to be cut and how much dirt we had to dig through to reach the septic tank’s second lid.

Don’t rely on visual inspections

Just like with the buyer who lost a home because of a last-minute inspection, we would never have learned about this home’s septic problems if all I did was perform a visual inspection.

Don’t depend on a visual inspection to see you through to closing. Contact Van Delden today to schedule a full inspection for your septic system.

For 86+ years, Van Delden Wastewater Systems has withstood the test of time as the leading Wastewater System company, providing San Antonio, Boerne, and the surrounding Texas Hill Country with services you can count on now and in the future.

Call us for any of your wastewater systems needs and let our professionals help you with your septic installation and maintenance requirements: (210) 698-2000 (San Antonio) or (830) 249-4000 (Boerne).