Septic Inspections

Septic System Inspection

Five Star Inspections specializes in Septic System Inspections in West Bend, Germantown, Colgate, Richfield, Hubertus, Jackson, Hartford and Slinger and surrounding areas.

All septic inspections include a detailed report on the functionality and components of the septic system.  The system is flow tested and monitored to test for proper operation and any leakage from the drainfield or if its backing up into the tank or home.  The tanks are then cleaned and the tank is then inspected.

How Septic Systems Work

Septic systems are underground wastewater treatment structures, commonly used in rural areas without centralized sewer systems. They use a combination of nature and proven technology to treat wastewater from household plumbing produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains, and laundry.

1. All water runs out of your house from one main drainage pipe into a septic tank.
2. The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Its job is to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle down to the bottom forming sludge, while the oil and grease floats to the top as scum.
   Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area.
3. The liquid wastewater (effluent) then exits the tank into the drainfield.
4. The drain field is a shallow, covered, excavation made in unsaturated soil. Pretreated wastewater is discharged through piping onto porous surfaces that allow wastewater to filter though the soil. The soil accepts, treats, and disperses… wastewater as it percolates through the soil, ultimately discharging to groundwater.
   If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it will flood, causing sewage to flow to the ground surface or create backups in toilets and sinks.
5. Finally, the wastewater percolates into the soil, naturally removing harmful coliform bacteria, viruses and nutrients. Coliform bacteria is a group of bacteria predominantly inhabiting the intestines of humans or other warm-blooded animals. It is an indicator of human fecal contamination.

Septic systems fail for many reasons

• Septic tank is not big enough
• Drainfield is not big enough
• Drainfield is not leveled properly
• System has been installed in unsuitable soil
• Drainfield has been paved or hard-packed
• Seasonal ground table water is high
• Surface drainage does not drain from the drainfield
• Tree roots have interfered with the system

Call 262-224-8998 to schedule your inspection today!