A house comes to you after a parent, relative or friend has died. You did not choose it, you may live in another state, and you may only now learn it is not on a city sewer. Around Tucson and Pima County, many homes are on a septic system, and nobody in the family may remember when it was last looked at. This page walks through what to find out first so you are not guessing when it is time to sell, rent or move in.
Look at the utility bills. A sewer charge means the house is probably connected to a sewer. No sewer charge, plus a yard with a buried tank or a cleanout, points to septic. If you are unsure, tell us the address area when you call. We can help work out what you have. If you cannot find the tank, see what to do when you cannot find the septic tank lid.
Look through the house files for any of these:
Do not worry if you find nothing. Many older homes have no paper, and we work from what we can see and test.
A house that sat empty for months may have a system that has not been used much, or one that was neglected before that. Before relatives stay for the memorial, before a cleanout crew runs laundry all day, and before anyone moves in, it is wise to find out whether the system is in working order. A quick problem now is cheaper than a backup in the middle of settling the estate. Our guide on what fails a septic inspection shows what we look for.
Whether you need a transfer inspection depends on the details of the sale and how the property is changing hands. We do not want to give you a rule that does not fit your case. The state environmental agency, ADEQ, sets the requirements for transfers, and our explanation of the ADEQ septic inspection covers the common situation of a sale. When you call, tell us who holds title, who is selling and whether there is an estate sale or a personal representative. We will tell you what we know, and what to confirm with the estate attorney, title company or agent.
If you are listing with an agent, tell them about the septic early. Our selling a house with septic page gives the usual order of steps, and the cost guide shows what a transfer inspection costs.
If an inspection is done as part of the sale, the buyer has a filing to complete afterward. That is explained in the notice of transfer guide.
If you plan to rent it out or move in, a pumping and an inspection give you a baseline. You learn the condition of the tank, the baffles and the disposal area, and you can plan any repair on your schedule. We handle pumping and repairs as well.
Settling an estate is a lot at once. A septic system is one item on a long list, and it helps to treat it as a small, answerable question. You do not need to know how it works. You need to know its condition and what the next step is.
Call (520) 389-5764 with the address area, what you know about the system and what you plan to do with the house. We will explain the options and schedule an inspection if one makes sense. You can also read about our transfer inspection.
Arizona requires it before the property changes hands · Reports turned around fast · Serving all of Pima County
Call (520) 389-5764