Some home inspectors offer a test of the septic system using a fluorescent dye that is flushed down a toilet, followed by a couple of hundred gallons of water flow into the tank, checking for traces of the dye in the ground above the drainfield as evidence of drainfield failure. Unfortunately, this is not an accurate or complete test of the system and should not be relied upon to verify that a septic system is healthy and functional. The inspectors in Florida that offer this test call it various names, such as “septic loading dye test,” but cannot call it a septic system inspection because it does not meet the state’s standard for an inspection of an existing septic system.

    A septic system inspection can only be done by a Florida-licensed plumber or septic contractor and, because part of the inspection is pumping the tank to verify its capacity and condition, a septic pump truck is necessary. You can expect to pay $300 to $500 for the inspection and, of course, you get a pumpout of the tank as part of the deal. 

    Click on any of the links below to read other articles about what is required to be included, or not, in a home inspection:

AFCI •• Air conditioner •• Ants •• Appliance recalls •• Appliance testing •• Attic •• Awnings •• Barns and ag blgs. •• Bathroom exhaust fan •• Bonding •• Carpet •• Ceiling fans •• Central vacuum •• Chimneys •• Chinese drywall •• Clothes dryer •• Dryer exhaust •• CO alarms •• Code violations •• Condemn a house •• Crawl space •• Detached carport •• Detached garage •• Dishwasher •• Docks •• Doors •• Electrical •• Electrical panel •• Electromagnetic radiation •• Fences •• Fireplaces  Furnace •• Garage door opener •• Garbage disposal •• Generator •• GFCIs •• Gutters •• Ice maker •• Inspect in the rain •• Insulation •• Insurance •• Interior Finishes •• Grading & drainage •• Lead paint •• Level of thoroughness •• Lift carpet •• Low voltage wiring •• Microwave •• Mold •• Move things •• Help negotiate •• Not allowed •• Outbuildings •• Paint •• Permits •• Pilot lights •• Plumbing •• Plumbing under slab •• Pools •• Questions won't answer •• Radon •• Range/cooktop •• Receptacle outlet •• Refrigerator •• Reinspection •• Remove panel cover •• Repairs •• Repair estimates •• Retaining walls •• Roaches •• Rodents •• Roof •• Screens •• Seawalls •• Septic loading dye test •• Septic tank •• Sewer lines •• Shower pan leak test •• Shutters •• Sinkholes •• Smoke alarms •• Solar panels •• Specify repairs •• Sprinklers •• Termites •• Toilets •• Trees •• Troubleshooting •• Wall air conditioners •• Walk roof •• Washing machine •• Water heater •• Water pressure •• Water shut-offs •• Main water shut-off •• Water softener •• Water treatment systems •• Well •• Windows •• Window air conditioners •• Window blinds •• Wiring 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •  

  To learn more about SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS, see these other blog posts:

• What are the building code requirements for gray water reuse in Florida?

• What can I add to my septic tank to help it work better? 

• Why do septic tank contractors want you to get rid of your kitchen disposal?

• How can I tell if a house is connected to a septic tank system or sewer?

• How can I locate my septic tank?

• Does a septic tank have to be re-certified if a house has been vacant for a while?

• What is a grinder pump? 

• How often should I pump out the septic tank?

• Should I call a plumber or septic tank contractor when my septic tank backs up into the house? 

• Do I have to get a larger septic tank when I build a home addition?

• Where is the septic tank? Are you going to inspect it? 

• Can a house have more than one septic tank?

• What is the difference between gray water and black water in the plumbing code? 

• Is it alright to disconnect the washing machine drain from the septic tank and divert it to the ground in the yard?

    Visit our SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.