Selling House and Failed Septic Inspection

[TheMan419]

The only reason we did not do a septic test BEFORE listing our house is because we had just had a new system installed about 3 years before listing.

 

[pat32rf]

Twenty years ago we bought a single bedroom house that was "power of sale" . Plumbing had froze, hydro cut off...
Did repairs and the two of us lived there for ten years with no septic problems, even when company came for a week.
Last year we rented it out to a middle age couple from town. They now have their two kids(18 and 27) and a three year old living with them, sleeping on the couch and can't understand why I want more rent.... Landlord Tenant act says they don't have to pay more...Getting nervous

 

[Travelover]

OP here. Bottom line is I'm stuck paying $23,000 to have a new system installed. The kicker is the inspector told me in confidence today that if I'd had the system inspected in the summer and used it lightly or taken a vacation the week before inspection, it would have passed. Expensive education.

 

[Creamer]

thanks for letting us know! Sorry about your luck - tough lesson.

 

[kenmac]

OP here. Bottom line is I'm stuck paying $23,000 to have a new system installed. The kicker is the inspector told me in confidence today that if I'd had the system inspected in the summer and used it lightly or taken a vacation the week before inspection, it would have passed. Expensive education.

Dang ! Is it a special septic system you're having installed ? A new regular septic system here 1000 gallon tank with field likes is about $3000.00 and that is with perk test and permits

 

[300UGUY]

Dang ! Is it a special septic system you're having installed ? A new regular septic system here 1000 gallon tank with field likes is about $3000.00 and that is with perk test and permits

Lots of folks here, lots of lakes, high water table, and highly permeable ground. He might have a mound system, that requires a grinder pump, and a lot of material trucked in. I have sandy soil here, a mile away a friend has clay soil, a big mound system, it was $20K 10 years ago. When I was growing up in Wayne county, we dug holes, we could get water in the hole at a foot in depth. I tried to put a fence up once, I augered a hole down, and water started flowing out.

I think our permits will be $1K to start with. Varies by county.

 

[Creamer]

Let's face it - everything is expensive in Michigan. They find a way to force you to pay fees for anything. One reason I have never moved there.

 

[PILOON]

Dang ! Is it a special septic system you're having installed ? A new regular septic system here 1000 gallon tank with field likes is about $3000.00 and that is with perk test and permits

Used to be like $3K here also but now it ranges in the $10 - 20K.
Shucks even in the $3K days we could make our own and I did so and the ones I made still operate just fine and pass all tests.

Now we need soil analysis, perk tests surveys and at times need to truck in 'certified sand' from afar.
All those tests run $500 each and surveying the neighbors well locations add up as well.

Today you need a 'soil engineer' compared to the old days where you dug a hole and poured 5 gals of water into it and timed the absorption with your watch.

The old fashioned field is no longer the standard now we have 'bionest' 'ekoflow' and next will be, I presume, a computer controlled system.
\Already some fields have 'inspection ports' and another system has some re circulation pumps to assure even distribution of the effluent.

Add to the equation that contractor needs to be 'certified' as well.
What used to be a $25 permit is now, like, $500 or so.

Its all about saving the environment you understand.

 

[kenmac]

There are more expensive systems here,. For instance, If a pump is required to pump the sewage up to the septic tank ,or if your soil won't perk,and they have to do a mound, or engineered system. Most here fall into the regular type system. They still dig a hole here and pour in the water and time.

Septic installer has to be permitted by the state. Perk test is is included in the $3000.00 install price

Up until a year a few yrs ago, If you lived in a county or city without inspections, You were allowed to install your own system. No more though. the state health dept took over septic tank install inspections in the counties /cities without inspections, and all installers must be licensed by the state

 

[bindian]

When my field line was backing up and broaching the surface, I found out my field line ran under my driveway to my barn where my heavy equipment comes and goes. Since I had a backhoe and an excavator, I dug a hole for a second tank, then dug a new field line. Picked up a new 500 gallon for $500. Around $1000 in gravel, and around $150 for pipe and tar paper................and lots of grunt work.

Heck, if nothing else, rent a loader/backhoe and dig your own field line longer, or run a T and a new leg of field line.
hugs, Brandi