If you’ve recently bought a property in the countryside, you’re probably admiring the beauty of your household and the landscape surrounding it. You should also pay attention to things that are not visible or buried under the ground. To be more precise, have you wondered whether you have a septic tank near your house? It’s a good thing if you have because knowing where your septic tank is located is vital for its maintenance.
First of all, a septic tank is used on properties that don’t have sewage connections, and its role is to control your home’s wastewater. While it’s working correctly, it will stay out of your mind as well as out of your sight. But when they get filled up and you schedule a septic tank cleaning service, you ought to show them where your tank is located. Well, don’t worry because we’re going to go through various ways and methods that will answer your question – how to find your septic tank. Let’s go!
Do a visual inspection in your yard.
For the sake of the beauty of your yard, septic tanks are installed to be as discreet as possible. This may not be a helpful fact when you’re trying to find yours, but some tips will help you locate it. To make your search easier, let’s name all the places where your tank probably isn’t installed:
- Under paved surfaces,
- Right near the house (because it needs to be at least five feet away from it),
- Next to a well (if you have one),
- Near trees or other areas with heavy plantings,
- Under a deck, patio, or other similar structures.
Once you’ve dismissed these areas, you can start looking for clues to your tank’s location. Are there any unusual highs or lows in the ground? These often occur near the tanks. Are there any grass areas that are different from the rest of your yard? If the tank is not appropriately buried, bald patches can sometimes show up. On the other hand, if the tank is not functioning correctly, the grass above it can be too lush or green compared to other lawn parts. In such cases, we advise you to contact septic tank maintenance in Miami for further instructions.
Ask your neighbors about it.
If your neighbors knew the house’s previous owner well enough, they might also know where your septic tank is located and show you how to find it. Not only that, but since they also have septic tanks on their properties, they can help you by pointing you in the right direction. You can see where their tanks are located in relation to their houses and try to mirror that position on your property.
Find it on your septic tank map.
If you purchased the property from a previous owner, take a look at your home inspection paperwork because it should include this map. If it’s not, you can look for it at your county’s health department. Most countries keep records of the installation of septic tanks on their territory. However, if the house is too old, there might not be any records about it. In that case, try some other methods, and when you locate your tank, make sure to make a map of it if you decide to sell it at some point.
Follow the pipes that lead to the septic tank.
Most septic tanks are installed on the same side of the house, like the toilet. Not close to the house (usually between 10 and 25 feet away from it), but that can be your starting point. Start looking for the sewer pipe, a four-inch pipe that goes directly to the tank from the house. When you find it, use a thin metal probe to find its direction by probing into the ground about every two feet. Once you notice the striking probe concrete, polyethylene, or fiberglass, you will have discovered your tank.
Tip: There’s another high-tech way to do this. You can buy a flushable transmitter, flush it down the toilet and then let it guide you to the tank.
Look for the septic tank lid.
This could either be your first step or the last one. Septic tank lids are usually rectangular (but can also be round). They’re sometimes visible, but they can also be covered in soil and grass, so even if you found your tank, you may also need to do a bit more probing to find the lid. When you discover its edges, mark them clearly so that you never have to search for them again.
Tip: Don’t try to open your septic tank lid. It could be extremely dangerous because of all the toxic gasses coming from the inside of the tank.
There you go, five simple but effective answers to how to find your septic tank. We’ve already stated how important it is to discover its location, and once you’ve discovered yours, make sure to mark it clearly. You want to use something solid (like a garden statue) but not too heavy because heavy objects can seriously damage a septic tank if they’re placed above it. In case you suspect the tank may be already damaged, we advise you immediately schedule your septic tank repair.