A noticeably greener patch of lawn might not catch every buyer's attention, but one home inspector's video showed it can point to a costly septic issue.
In this instance, the suspicion was confirmed quickly: A septic dye test showed a problem in roughly 15 minutes.
Here's what to know
A TikTok video by Inspector Preston (@inspector_preston) highlighted an area where the grass around the lid of a septic tank appeared far greener than the rest of the yard.
"If you're looking for a house that has a septic system, look for this sign," the creator said. "When we do inspections, we look at vegetation."
@inspector_preston And the Darwin Award goes to the genius septic contractor on today's home inspection! 😂😂😂
♬ original sound - Inspector Preston
Any doubt disappeared with the test result. "We're about 15 minutes into the septic dye test," Preston said. "We already have a failure here."
In the video, red dye surfaced near the tank, indicating wastewater was escaping instead of staying contained.
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More background
When wastewater reaches a yard, it can create foul odors and unsanitary conditions as well as pollute the surrounding area.
In the clip, a woman describes a problem with the septic tank. She said it was being emptied during freezing weather in February, and because the worker could not remove the lid, he bought a torch to loosen it.
"In the process, the methane gas underneath blew the lid off," she said, noting it created a hole in the lid.
She added, "That piece ended up on the roof, and he blew back about three feet."
Shortcuts around sewage systems do not just risk costly repairs — they can also put workers, residents, and the environment in danger.
What can be done?
If you're a homebuyer, ask whether the property uses a septic system, request service and pumping records, and consider getting a dedicated septic inspection.
A qualified professional should be able to spot warning signs such as one area of bright green grass, soggy ground, an unusual smell, or issues near a tank lid.
Regular maintenance, timely pumping, and repairs by septic professionals can prevent failures. Just as important, never use improvised methods or open flames around a septic tank, where gases can build up.
Catching a problem early can spare a family a huge bill while also reducing the chance that waste ends up affecting neighbors, pets, or water sources.
Where can I learn more?
Septic and sewage problems can contaminate yards, water, and entire communities.
• In northwest Arkansas, a game-changing septic tank strategy is improving wastewater treatment on farms.
• In Wilson County, Tennessee, sewage pooling in yards sparked public health warnings.
• In Greece, inspectors found raw waste far more dangerous than officials first feared.
• In the U.K., regulators called self-monitoring practices by water companies "totally unacceptable."
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