The 3 Mandated Aerobic Inspections, What We Actually Check

30 TAC §285.7 sets the schedule: every 4 months for an aerobic treatment unit, no exceptions for how new the system is or how good it looked last time. We run these as standalone visits for homeowners not yet under one of our maintenance contracts, and as the scheduled work inside a contract once you sign one.

What a passing inspection covers

Seven things, every visit. Aerator motor amperage and diffuser output. Chlorinator tablet or liquid feed and residual reading at the discharge point. Spray head pattern, checking for clogged nozzles or heads mowed over and buried. Control panel function and the audible or visual alarm. Effluent clarity and odor at the pump tank. Tank lid integrity and riser height, since a buried lid means nobody can get to the system fast in an emergency. Solids buildup in the trash tank, which if high enough shortens the time before you need a pump-out.

A pass means all seven check out. A conditional pass means one item, usually a spray head or a low chlorine reading, needs attention but doesn't shut the system down. A fail means the aerator's dead or the alarm doesn't sound, and that gets a same-week repair quote.

Price range

A standalone mandated inspection runs $85 to $150, depending on whether it's a spray or drip system and how far the property sits off pavement. Real estate transfer inspections, which some Parker County lenders and title companies want before closing, run $125 to $175 and include a written report with photos, usually turned around within 3 business days.

What the report includes and where it goes

1. We arrive and locate the tanks. If risers aren't marked, this adds a few minutes; overgrown yards add more.
2. We run the 7-point check listed above, taking photos of anything below spec.
3. We take an effluent sample when the visit calls for a chlorine residual reading.
4. We write the report on-site and walk you through anything that failed, with a repair quote if needed.
5. You get a signed copy by text or email the same day.
6. We file with Parker County Permitting when your permit requires the four-month report to be submitted, not just kept on file.

What makes an inspection harder than it should be

Buried or paved-over risers are the most common problem we find, especially on properties where a driveway was extended after the original install. Second is unpermitted additions, like a homeowner-added drain line or a second spray zone nobody pulled a permit for. Those get flagged, because an unpermitted change can void the system's original design approval. Third: dogs. We carry a spray deterrent, but a loose dog can turn a 30-minute visit into a phone call asking you to come home.

How long a visit takes

25 to 40 minutes for a routine visit with clear access. Add 15 to 20 minutes if we're locating buried risers or the property has locked gates without a code on file.

One fact that separates our inspections: we test chlorine residual with a field kit at the discharge point, not by looking at whether tablets are present in the feeder. A feeder can be full and still not be dosing correctly.