What do I need to do to sell my house or build an addition on my home?

If you own a home that has a private sewage treatment system in the State of Massachusetts, you are required to have a State-Certified Title 5 Inspector perform an official Title 5 Inspection on your system prior to selling your home or building an addition.

What is a Title 5 Inspection?

Since 1995, the State of Massachusetts has required homeowners to have their private sewage treatment system check thoroughly by a State-Certified Title 5 Inspector. Here is what you can expect from an official Title 5 Inspection – the inspector will:

• conduct an interview with the property owner
• research the paperwork for your property at your city’s Board of Health Department
• survey the general size of the building or list a summary of the number of bedrooms
• inspects the connection from the house/building to the system
• inspects the inlet/outlet of the septic tank
• examines the integrity of the tank
• measures the liquid/contents of the tank
• examines the integrity of the distribution box
• measures the liquid/contents of the distribution box
• checks the soil absorption system (SAS) condition
• checks the relation of the system’s water table to the SAS
• examines the integrity of the pipes using a special “sewer cam” (SPS specialty service, not required by the state)
• provides an official 17-page document to the local approving authority and the owner, including all findings and a detailed sketch of the system

Is it possible to get an inspection even if I am not selling my home?

Yes, this type of inspection is called a Voluntary Assessment. All of the same steps in the above inspection detail will be taken, however the 17-page document will NOT be sent to your local approving authority – it is for your information only. A Voluntary Assessment is a great way to find out more about your own septic system.  Septic Preservation Services highly recommends this to our clients as a means of properly maintaining, upgrading and repairing your system to prolong its life. Ask us about additional services we can provide to ensure the proper working of your septic system.

Can I get a Voluntary Assessment performed even if I don’t live in Massachusetts?

Yes, Septic Preservation Services is also certified to perform inspections in the State of Rhode Island.

Should I get my system pumped or cleaned before I get an inspection?

Absolutely not. The State of Massachusetts requires that your system be inspected under “normal use conditions” for a minimum of 2 weeks or more. If your system needs pumping during this period, we can arrange to have it done for you while the components of your system are exposed.

Will my landscaping be affected by the inspection?

The SPS team is very respectful to the landscaping of your home or property. In order to minimize the amount of physical work required to perform your inspection, we use state-of-the-art locating equipment that helps us to locate your system components within a 4-inch radius. We also use a specialized “sewer cam” to let us inspect your pipes without having to dig them up. Any sod that needs to be removed is cut carefully and laid on tarps so it can be neatly replaced when your inspection is complete.

Visit www.septicpreservation.com for all your questions or call 877-378-4279.  We are happy to talk to you and put your fears to rest.