Finding your septic tank might not be on your to-do list if you have just moved to a new home. However, knowing your septic tank's location can help you save money and time when you have a related plumbing issue to fix. Being able to locate your septic tank makes it easier to identify septic tank issues faster. In addition, it also allows you to handle other issues, such as remodeling.
You may think it's easy to find something as big as a septic tank. However, people often bury septic tank lids under the ground, which makes it extremely difficult to locate them. In a few cases, especially when you're renting a home, you might be completely unaware of your septic tank's location.
However, there are some tricks to finding your septic tank. But before we move forward, let's talk a bit more about septic tanks.
What is a Septic Tank?
A septic tank is a container made of materials such as fiberglass, polyethylene, or concrete. This tank is often buried underground.
Septic tanks are used to store and manage wastewater coming out of your home. When a septic system is in your backyard, wastewater leaves home and flows along the main sewage pipe to the septic tank.
Depending on the size of your septic tank and the amount of wastewater your household produces, you need to pump your septic tank system every 1-3 years. In this way, you can avoid premature failures and septic tank repairs.
How to Know If Your Property Has a Septic Tank?
Before you start locating your septic tank, you might ask yourself a question, "How Do I know if my home has a septic tank?" You can find whether your home has a septic tank or not by carefully examining your water utility bill. If you utilize a septic system for wastewater management, the utility company will likely charge you $0 for sewer services.
On the other hand, if you’re using a septic tank, you’ll probably not get any utility bill from the company. This is because, in numerous cases, people use well water along with septic tanks. If your sewerage line has no meter attached to it, it usually means you use well water instead of public water.
5 Ways to Find Your Septic Tank
We’ve shortlisted five ways to help you locate your septic tank. Let’s have a look:
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Check Property Records
This is one of the most straightforward tactics to find your septic tank. You can find the application filed by the company that installed the septic tank by checking your property’s municipal records. This application should contain dimensions and diagrams that will help you locate the exact spot your septic tank is installed.
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Follow Sewer Pipes
Your drain field and septic tank are hitched to a sewer line that travels from your home to the yard. You can locate the four-inch pipe in your basement. This pipe leads its way to your septic tank system. Once you have located the pipe, the next thing you need to do is follow the pipe and look for the septic tank's location every two feet. Septic tanks are typically five to ten feet from the house.
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Inspect Your Property
If you search around your property, chances are you can actually locate your septic tank without any extensive probing. The backyard indicates the septic tank's location by a small crest or dip on your property. It happens because the hole your property's builders dug for the septic tank would not have been the right size.
As a result, that extremely small hole leaves the top of your septic tank sticking out above ground level. The builders then cover the remaining portion of the tank with soil. This leads to a small hill forming in your yard, covered with soil, grass, or plants.
A small clump or mound indicates that the hole was too big, and the builders did not level off the hole. This area often gets extremely wet or even floods during rainy seasons.
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Try Using a Septic Map
If you've just moved to a new home and want to find your septic tank, you can get help from a septic tank map. This map can help you find the exact location of your septic tank without any hard work. It is probably the easiest way to locate your septic tank since it also accurately pinpoints the drain field situated on your property.
If you recently bought your property, the septic tank map comes with the house plans and inspection paperwork. Unfortunately, if you don't have this diagram or map, you must try other methods to locate your septic tank.
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Contact a Local Septic Tank Company
If you have tried the aforementioned methods and still can't find your septic tank, calling a professional plumber will be a good idea. You need to seek advice from a local septic tank company. Also, there is a chance they had serviced your property's tank before you purchased it.
A septic tank expert will help you locate your septic tank quickly.
Final Word
This covers the five main ways you can use to locate your septic tank. You can try easier methods like checking your property documents or using a septic map. These ways are uncomplicated and do not require any hard work. However, suppose you don't succeed in any of these two tactics. In that case, you need to pick other methods we have mentioned in this blog, such as inspecting your property, following sewer pipes, or contacting a professional septic tank company.
If you’re still struggling to find your septic tank, seek help from a professional plumbing service. Reach out to Mesa Plumbing Company for our team’s expertise!