How to Find an Underground Septic Tank
When a residential plumbing system is not connected to a sewer to dispose of household wastes, it will often be connected to a septic tank. A septic tank is actually a set of tanks; the main tank contains the waste matter and oils, and the secondary tank disposes of waste water by allowing it to seep back into the soil. Knowing the location of your septic system is important since you will need to have it pumped periodically, and to refrain from walking or parking around the area. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Find and follow the main waste removal line in your home. Each home will have a main line that removes waste material and transports it to the septic system. This line will be located in the lowest level of the home. When you find the direction the main waste line is headed, you will know the general direction of the septic tank.
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Examine the area that the main waste removal line empties for the most logical place for a septic system to be located. Septic tanks are commonly located within 4 to 10 feet of the home's foundation on flat ground. A septic system will not be located in areas with obstructions such as streams or large rocks.
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3
Search for any small depressions in the area of the yard that the main waste line points toward. Over time, a septic system can cause a depression in the ground that will indicate where it is buried.
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Look for anything out of the ordinary in the area that the previous owner may have used to mark the location of the septic system, such as a small pile or rocks, a pipe or a wooden pole. An electrical box located in an isolated area may also indicate the presence of a septic tank.
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Use a shovel to dig small exploratory holes in the areas you suspect are most likely to house the septic system. If the ground is soft, you may opt to use the handle of your shovel to probe the soil for the lid to the septic system.
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Follow the main waste removal line out of the house and dig small trenches in the soil following the line until you reach the septic system.
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Tips & Warnings
Call local septic service contractors to ask if they have your property address on record. If you have recently moved to an area, you may be able to find the company that serviced the septic system in the past. Septic service companies often keep records of tank locations.
Older homes often have septic tanks that are located closer to the foundation of the house than newer homes.
Always take a friend with you when searching for a septic system, especially if the system may be old as it could potentially collapse.
Never park cars, build structures or plant trees on or near a septic tank.
