What Is A Dye Test When Selling A House? (Find Out Now!)

Nick Durante
by Nick Durante

Selling a house is an exciting prospect, but it can also be expensive and overwhelming. Between the inspections, buyer’s demands, having to uproot your life, it is both exciting and stressful. With so much to do and so many confusing terms, what does a dye test refer to when selling a house?

A septic dye test is a procedure that plumbers conduct to ensure that the home is properly connected to the sewer. If you pass a septic dye test, you receive an Evidence of Compliance Certificate that is necessary to sell your house. The results of a septic dye test are only good for three years, and a passing certificate is required when it is time to sell your house.

You can expect to pay $75 for your septic dye test, and it is worth every penny. Septic dye tests are not quite as complicated as they sound, but it is still important to understand them. Follow along as we explore the ins and outs of septic dye tests, their importance, and how they work.

To increase the value of the home, you may also want to meet the demand for a home security camera.

Septic Dye Test

Many tests and procedures factor into home inspections when you go to sell your house. It can be overwhelming at first, especially when procedures like dye tests pop up and you don’t know what they are. Dye testing is one of the many tests that sellers need to pass to sell their home.

Plumbers perform dye tests to make sure that your home is properly connected to the sewer. Dye testing affects how long your home inspection takes, and it’s a part of selling your home. Homeowners must hire a professional to conduct a dye test so that they can receive a certificate to be able to sell the home.

This Evidence of Compliance Certificate is what you need to move forward to sell your house. Generally, dye testing costs fall on the homeowner, and not on the prospective buyer when selling a house. If you fail the dye test, you will need to make repairs to your plumbing to receive a certificate and sell the house.

Procedure

Dye testing is a simple procedure, but it still must be conducted by plumbing professionals. The plumber will insert a colored dye into the septic tank or sewer system by flushing it down the toilet. The process extends over 3-4 days so that the professional can observe the sewer system and see if the dye wound up anywhere that it shouldn’t be.

The colored dye makes it easier to observe the path of the waste flow to ensure that it goes towards the sewer system. Plumbers use dyes that have a distinct yellow or green color in many cases as it is easy to keep track of. The Fluorescent dye is completely safe, non-toxic, and doesn’t pose a risk to the sewer system or plumbing.

Plumbers can tell that there is a problem with the plumbing and sewer setup if the dye appears in an area it shouldn’t. That leads to the homeowner failing the test and ultimately prevents them from receiving a certificate.

Results

A plumber can tell the results of a septic dye test easily, and the outcome is generally clear. They observe the ground near the sewer connections look out for liquid sewage that comes to the surface. Conversely, the professional will provide a passing score if no liquid sewage or fluorescent dye is visible during the dye test.

Plumbers must exercise caution and strict care when they perform septic dye tests. That is because several factors, such as the amount of dye and water, can affect the outcome of the test. For example, if the septic drain field doesn’t have enough water or the septic tank is filled with water, the results may not be accurate.

Drain fields that have tall, dense grass or a covering of leaves are not ideal for dye tests. Consider maintaining and mowing the lawn directly before a dye test to ensure the most accurate results. Septic dye testing is not a perfect science, but it is a useful and often accurate procedure.

How Much Does a Dye Test Cost?

You can expect to pay $75 for your septic dye test when you sell your home. That is a fair cost considering that you will only need it once and it can ensure the sale of your house. This cost is up to the current homeowner, or seller, and the potential buyer is not expected to pay for it.

You could also spend between $180 and $220 for a plumbing inspection when selling your home. That is more negotiable as some homeowners can negotiate for the buyer to pay for that inspection. The $75 that you pay for a septic dye test is worth it when it allows you to get the certificate and sell the house.

How Long Is a Dye Test Good For?

You receive a certificate that is good for three years when you pass a septic dye test. Homeowners that have their house connected to a combined sewer do not need to have a dye test at all. That is because combined sewers have contents besides sewage, such as stormwater.

Otherwise, you must have a septic dye test every three years if your house has a direct sewer connection. Homeowners that sell their house also have to conduct a dye test even if it is within three years of the last one. That is more a sign of good faith for the buyer than it is a safety concern, but it is still necessary.

Septic Dye Test vs. Perc

It’s easy to confuse percolation tests with septic dye tests. Both tests involve soil drainage, but perc tests are wholly unique from septic dye tests. A perc test solely tests the drainage capabilities of your soil, and dye tests look to detect sewage in the drain field.

Perc tests are necessary when you are looking to build a house on a lot that currently holds no structure. They are only required for land that has no existing connection to municipal waste and sewage systems. The land must pass a percolation test for it to be considered a suitable dwelling environment under many codes.

Instead of using dye, professionals drill two holes into the soil then soak it with water. The professional comes back after one day to check on the soil and see how well it drained. This process is more expensive than dye testing, and you can expect to pay between $600 and $800.


Related Questions

How long does a septic dye test take?

You can expect your septic dye test to take as long as 45 minutes. The plumber will run multiple plumbing fixtures at the same time during this period to check for leaks, backups, and obstructions as well.  They check the sewer system and plumbing to see if there are traces of the fluorescent dye, and the test is done.


What will fail a septic inspection?

You can fail a septic inspection if there is evidence of plumbing damage or problems with the drain field. They check to see if there is damage due to misuse or if you have used too many harmful chemicals. Septic inspections can also produce a failure if the drain field doesn’t drain properly.

Summing It Up

You must pass a septic dye test and receive a certificate to sell your home. A plumber will insert a fluorescent dye into the septic tank, or a drain or toilet. From there, the plumber will observe to see if the fluorescent dye shows up anywhere that it shouldn’t which would indicate an error.

This test is necessary to show whether or not your home is properly connected to the sewer system. Liquid sewage may wind up above the ground in the drain field, and that means that the connection is faulty. In that case, you would not pass the septic dye test and would need to have plumbing repairs made.

A septic dye test only costs $75 and passing it earns you a certificate that is valid for three years. This is one of many tests that go along with inspections when you sell your home. Don’t sweat it if you fail the septic dye test, as you can repair and rectify the situation, and simply try again.

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Nick Durante
Nick Durante

Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.

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