If you buy a new home that uses a septic tank as its main sewage treatment option, then you may have inherited a septic tank along with your property. It pays to learn about your new septic tank's condition and take steps to make sure that it has been well maintained; septic tank problems can build up over time and cause serious damage to your new property. Here are some steps you can take to check on the septic tank. 

Step 1: Locate the Septic Tank

The first thing that you may need to do is locate the septic tank on your property. It may not be so obvious if most of the equipment is buried under the property, but there is likely at least an outlet connecting above ground. Ask the previous owners about the septic tank location or consult your deed. If you can't find the tank, then have a septic tank inspector locate the tank for you. 

Step 2: Do a Visual Inspection

If possible, doing a visual inspection helps you to find problems right away. Besides looking for any obvious blemishes on your equipment, look around the tank for signs of leakage. 

Step 3: Get a Professional Inspection

Call a professional septic tank service out to your property so that they can do a thorough inspection and let you know about any upcoming septic tank needs. They will check fluid and solid levels, make sure there aren't any issues with the septic tank equipment, look for issues with your septic tank drain field, and check for any plumbing issues that could affect your septic system in the future. If you root out problems early on as a new homeowner, you can avoid costly septic tank failures that may ruin your property and also make your family sick. 

Step 4: Set Up a Maintenance Schedule

Once you have done an inspection and made sure that you're in the clear, be sure to set up a regular septic tank maintenance schedule. You may want to have the septic tank team pump the tank while they're there so that you can avoid having them come back in the near future. Ask them what an appropriate schedule would be for pumping the tank, based on your tank size and the number of people on the property. You'll also want to schedule for another septic tank inspection within the next several years to make sure that everything is running smoothly.