Attend The Inspection |
"It is always a good idea to attend the home inspection. The 2 to 4 hour of the inspection will give you time to talk to your home inspector about the issues they might be finding during the inspection. The inspector can also give you maintenance and improvement tips to help you keep your home healthy. All this knowledge can come in handy."
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Florida Licenced Inspectors
The American Society of Home Inspectors
and
The Florida Association of Building Inspectors
Also members of:
International Code Council
National Association
of Home Inspectors
 Orlando Regional Realtor Association
And accredited with:
The Better Business Bureau
Since 1986
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CEPA, a sister company of Certified Building Inspectors, provides Mold, Radon and Lead testing for both Residential and Commercial properties.
Commercially we also provide Environmental Phase One Assessments and Transaction Screenings.
Through our services, clients stay informed of environmental issues which may currently pose potential health risks or could later create financial distress for a future buyer or lender.
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How Long Does The Home Inspection Take? | |
"The on-site inspection averages to 2 to 4 hours, but can vary based on the size, age and general condition of the home being inspected. Smaller properties will take less time, while large and complex properties will take longer."
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Out There!
Fitting
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Be Aware!!
Septic Tank Legislation Could Cost You!
There are 2.6 million septic systems in Florida. 55,000 of them are located in the Wekiva Study Area (WSA), a geographic area the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has outlined in Central Florida. In 2011 the Florida Department of Health will begin an inspection process that has many equal numbers for and against.
One septic company owner commented;
"Every system needs to be maintained." "You are affecting some water body somewhere -- everywhere in the state...If the homeowners were maintaining their systems to begin with this would not be an issue -- but they are not."
While a local homeowner commented;
"Inspections are not the problem. The Department of Health's rule is the problem. It's not about fixing broken septic systems. As the rule is written, it could cost unsuspecting homeowners thousands of dollars to fix something that isn't broken."
The evaluation program was created to ensure all onsite sewage treatment systems in the State are working properly and to identify any failures. Like your car, home air conditioner, or water heater, your onsite systems require routine maintenance - pump outs to remove solids and scum that accumulate over time in the tank. Excess solids and scum can cause your plumbing to back up or your drainfield to fail leading to costly clean-ups and repairs and pollution to Florida's waters.
The dollars you invest in having your system maintained can save you thousands in repair cost. Fixing failing systems will go a long way to address concerns about springs protection, as well as US EPA mandates to clean up Florida's waters.
- The evaluation program will be phased in beginning on January 1, 2011.
- The implementation schedule is under development.
- The department must provide 60 days notice to system owners that the evaluation is required.
- Evaluation procedures are under development but must include tank and drainfield evaluation and an assessment of system condition.
- Evaluations must be performed by registered septic tank contractors, professional engineers, or certified environmental health professionals.
- Owners are responsible for the costs of the evaluation (including pump-out), repairs or replacements. The cost of the pump-out will vary according to the size and number of tanks to be pumped-out on a given property.
- Any system installed or serviced in the previous 5 years, where capacity and condition of the tank is documented as satisfactory, may omit the pump-out requirement from the evaluation.
- The evaluator is responsible for submitting the report to the local county health department.
Follow and participate in the development of this program by visiting the Technical Review and Advisory Panel (TRAP) link on the Department of Health's Bureau of Onsite Sewage Programs web page:
Technical Review and Advisory Panel (TRAP)
A Florida Department of Health advisory board has scheduled a series of workshops in October.
Date and Time: October 12, 2010 from 9 until 12:00 noon
Place: John P. D'Alessandro State Office Building
2295 Victoria Avenue
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Room 165C
Date and Time: October 14, 2010 from 9 until 12:00 noon
Place: Broward County Health Department
780 SW 24th Street
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33315
Date and Time: October 18, 2010 from 9 until 12:00 noon
Place: Betty Easley Conference Center
Conference Room 152
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Date and Time: October 21, 2010 from 9 until 12:00 noon
Place: DeFuniak Springs Community Center
361 N 10th Street
DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433
Links:
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Florida Senate Bill 550 Re; Wekiva Septic
FAQ
 Frequently Asked Questions:
- When will the program start? Notifications will begin in January 2011.
- I had my tank pumped out last year. Will I be exempt from the evaluation program? The law does not exempt you from the evaluation, but tanks that have been pumped and certified within the previous five years do not have to be pumped.
- Will the evaluator be digging up my yard and drainfield? The evaluator will have to uncover your tank manholes for access to pump out your tank and check that it is watertight. They will not be digging up your drainfield but will need to auger a small (4 - 6 inch) hole to determine the wettest season water table.
- Why the concern about separation from the wettest season water table? Onsite systems rely on dry soil to provide treatment. Research in Florida has found that 24 inches of dry soil is needed to remove pathogens and treat your sewage to protect both your and your neighbors' health.
- Will I have to upgrade my system to one of the new performance based treatment systems? No, the law does not require upgrades to performance based treatment systems.
- What will this cost? The most significant cost will come if your tanks require pump out. These costs vary around the state, due primarily to disposal costs, but can range from $150 to $450 per tank. Pump out cost also depends on the size and number of tanks to be pumped. The evaluation cost will be set by individual evaluators, but is estimated to be in the $150 to $200 range, including the reporting fee that the department estimated at $30 per system.
- I am on a limited income. What if I cannot afford this? The bill establishes a grant program for low-income families. The department also proposes to allow low-income families to request a one-time, one year extension to their evaluation deadline.
- I live in a small, rural county. When will I have to do this? The current proposal is to begin with a limited number of systems in all counties and phase-in the evaluations over the next five years. Evaluations would begin with those systems most recently installed and work backwards from the installation date. next five years. Evaluations would begin with those systems most recently installed and work backwards from the installation date.
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