Executive Summary
- Knowing the location of your septic tank is required for septic maintenance purposes. Without routine maintenance, you may experience costly damages from blockages, pipe failures, and other septic tank issues.
- Locating septic tanks can be very challenging for homeowners, particularly if there is unclear documentation or landscape modifications. However, visual markers like lush grass and sunken soil can point you in the right direction.
- Reviewing home inspection reports and public records is a great way to find information on the septic tank’s placement, and tools like metal detectors can further confirm its location.
- Still, the most accurate and effective way to find a septic tank is to contact a skilled environmental remediation company like Alpha Environmental, which has substantial experience locating and working on septic tanks.
Learning How to Locate a Septic Tank on Your Property
All homeowners need to know how to find septic tanks on their property. Pinpointing their location is detrimental to septic tank servicing procedures, such as septic tank pumping, that prevent blockages and other costly repairs.
Unfortunately, finding the tank on a property can often be challenging, especially if property records need to be clarified or there have been changes to the landscape. Still, knowing how to accomplish this task is essential to keep up with septic tank maintenance requirements.
Educate yourself on the common indicators like oddly lush grass or unexpected plant growth that could signify the tank’s location in your yard. Following the main sewer line or reviewing the home’s records can also facilitate finding the septic tank. You should contact a reliable environmental remediation company like Alpha Environmental for quick and efficient results when searching and performing septic tank maintenance.
Visual Markers to Look For
Some properties can reveal visual cues that suggest a septic tank’s location. One of the most effective ways to visually identify the location of your tank is by looking at the surrounding vegetation. Some discernible signs that could indicate a septic tank is beneath the surface of that area are:
Exceptionally Healthy Plant Growth
If you notice unusually lush or green grass in only part of your yard, a septic tank may be positioned in that area. Septic tanks release moisture, promoting healthy growth for plants nearby. So, if you detect unexpected plant growth where it usually doesn’t occur, it might be a clue.
Textured or Sunken Soil
Additionally, patches of bumpy, irregular soil that look different from other parts of your yard can also suggest the location of a buried septic tank. This is because the ground above a septic tank may settle, leading to slight dips in the landscape or subtle differences in texture compared to the surrounding soil.
If you notice the signs above or still can’t find the tank, you can try other reliable methods, like following your home’s sewer main line, which should connect to the septic tank.
Follow Your Sewer Main Line
A sewer line typically runs from a house’s plumbing system to the septic tank in a straight line. So, you should walk outside your property until you can locate the sewer cleanout pipe. Then, walk in the same direction it feeds out from, following it to the general area where the septic tank is most likely buried.
How Can I Tell Which Pipes Are My Sewer Lines?
Being able to identify your sewer lines is a crucial part of locating your septic tank. As a general reference, sewer pipes are usually larger in diameter than regular plumbing pipes. Moreover, they often emerge near the base of your house. The most common materials they are made from are PVC or cast iron. If you are unsure which pipes are sewer lines, contact a qualified professional for certainty.
Professional Underground Storage Tank Services
Alpha Environmental supports you with your underground storage tank, providing tank sweeps, tank decommisioning, UST removal, and more.
Review Your Home Inspection Report
If you got a thorough inspection report before buying the home, the resulting document may include details about the septic system’s layout, giving you insight into its approximate location. If you no longer have the report, consider contacting the home inspector or the previous owner for a copy. Doing so has the potential to save you substantial time searching.
Check Public Records
In addition to overlooking your individualized inspection report, consider surveying your property’s public records or blueprints. If they are up-to-date, these documents should contain information about the location of the septic tank. Thankfully, several local government offices, including some public health or building departments, tend to keep septic system permits on file—some locations may make this information available online. These records can often provide valuable information about a septic system’s original installation and layout.
Using Tools
If the methods above were unsuccessful or if you need further confirmation, physical tools may be able to help you locate your septic tank. For most properties, shovels and metal detectors can be incredibly useful for finding metal components like access lids or tank covers, giving you an accurate reading of your tank’s location.
Still, you should be extremely careful when using digging tools like shovels because improper striking or excavation practices could damage the body or pipes and require a septic tank replacement. This is why metal detectors are ideal for finding buried metal components without damaging the soil or septic system.
Call a Professional Septic Tank Service Company
If you still have trouble locating your septic tank after trying the tips above, scheduling a professional underground storage tank sweep might be necessary. Professionals are usually equipped with specialized tools and the experience needed to find the septic system without causing damage.
Conversely, attempting DIY digging can result in unintentional damage to the system, causing costly repairs like an underground storage tank leak. Avoid this by relying on a septic tank specialist.
What Factors Determine the Location of a Septic Tank?
Various factors often influence the positioning of a septic tank. Some examples of circumstances that determine the location of a septic tank are:
- The size of the property
- The layout of the property
- The distance from water sources like wells or rivers
- Local building codes
Generally, septic tanks are usually 10 to 25 feet from the house they are attached to—this distance allows for sufficient drainage and easy access for maintenance. Moreover, septic tanks are usually installed far away from bodies of water, paved surfaces, trees, and other structures so that the surrounding soil can effectively absorb the wastewater.
How Alpha Environmental Services Can Help
Knowing how to find septic tanks on your property is a prerequisite for all forms of septic tank maintenance, including septic tank pumping. Try to look for visual markers like unusually lush grass or sunken soil. For more certainty, find sewer pipes outside your property and follow the sewer main line until you reach the rough area of your septic tank. Looking through public records and home inspection reports can also help you learn more about your septic tank’s layout.
Professional services like Alpha Environmental can make locating a septic tank much easier for those who want accurate results and peace of mind. Alpha Environmental provides comprehensive septic tank servicing, including locating, inspecting, and maintaining septic systems. Our talented environmental specialists know exactly how to help you extend the lifespan of a septic tank.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation for high-quality underground storage tank services.
