You might not spend much time pondering what occurs after you flush your toilet. But it’s essential to understand what type of waste system you have at your property. Knowing if you have an independent or a connecting septic tank ensures no issues arise over time.
How Do You Know if you Have a Septic Tank On Your Residential or Commercial Property?
Inspect Your Entire Property to See Signs of a Septic System
Roam around your property to see if you can discover where the buried septic tank is. I recommend getting a metal soil probe to find the main sewer line underneath faster. This tool lets you poke deep into the ground, making it easier to see signs of a septic system.
It’s best to focus on looking for the main sewer line near your property as it makes it easier to find the septic system. Following the main sewer line leads you to a trail that’ll help you find the exact location of your septic tank. And they often sit between 6 inches and 4 feet underground. So, be sure you’re poking your metal soil probe deep!
On a side note, watch for the septic lid as you roam your property. This part should be easy to find with your probe as it sits higher than the tank, settled below ground level.
But peek at the horizon if you’re struggling to find the best spot in your property to start. If you see unnatural bumps or hills in your yard, check them out ASAP! After all, these indicate buried items, and one of these days, it might be the lid to your septic system.
Ask a Neighbor
Discover which neighbors have septic tanks and ask where theirs are in their yards. For instance, if your neighbor’s septic system is 20 feet from their property, start from there!
Visit Your Local Government’s City Office and Request Info About the Septic Tank
If you’ve bought a property recently, you should get records about the presence of a septic system. But if you don’t have them, don’t fret and visit your local city government office. The staff here should be able to give you information about the septic tank via its public records.
Aside from that, I recommend requesting a property survey and septic tank map. After all, most county records for building permits offer hints of the presence of a septic tank. And some also provide details like how far the system is from the property and how big it is.
But most records about septic tanks are only available for newer properties. So, if you have an old home or commercial building, getting these records might be impossible. Still, you can always ask for information about when the septic tank got installed.
Double-Check Your Water Bill
If your water bill includes the phrase “sewer month charged,” you likely don’t have a septic tank. But if you don’t see that, you may have a fully functional septic system below your property. After all, these don’t connect to city utilities, so you don’t need to pay extra!
Aside from that, if you’re using well water and don’t use a water meter, you’re likely using a septic tank.
What are Effective and Foolproof Ways to Find Your Septic Tank?
Once you confirm you have a septic tank underneath your property, it’s time to find it! Luckily, the location of your septic system isn’t a secret, and there are plenty of ways to find it. And to make your search more convenient, here are five ways to locate your septic tank.
Take Advantage of a Septic Tank Map
You can request a septic tank map from your local city government office.
Many counties keep installation records of septic systems to any address. And most contain in-depth diagrams showcasing the exact location of a septic tank. Moreover, some have dimensions, allowing you to measure the same area.
But even if you get these maps, remember, the landmarks could’ve changed over the years. So, look further if you spot more trees or bushes than indicated.
Look elsewhere if they don’t give you a septic tank map or other documents indicating where it might be. I recommend going to your local health department after the city office. After all, they hold and maintain septic system records better. And if they can’t give you details about your septic system, check the property survey map.
Your municipality or county property survey map may have info on your septic tank. But sometimes, septic systems can be so old that finding records about them is impossible. So, if you’ve tried everything and still couldn’t get a single detail about your septic tank, make your detailed map.
Document everything you’ve discovered while searching for your septic tank. This way, if you sell your properties with septic systems, you can make it easier for the subsequent owners.
Follow the Sewer Pipes Leading Out From Your Home
Even if there’s no available map for your septic tank, you still need to find it. And a foolproof way to do this is by following the sewer pipes from your property. After all, they extend from your structure and into the outdoor area. Generally, you’d see a 4-inch sewer pipe leading to your septic tank in the basement or crawlspace.
But if these areas have a finish, this small sewer pipe might be in a closet or other closed-off spaces.
Once you spot the pipe, see where it leaves your structure and its corresponding area outside. From there, poke the probing tool every 2 feet. I recommend searching until you reach at least 10 to 25 feet away from your property.
You can tell you’ve hit your septic tank if the probe hits a flat and hard surface.
Aside from using a soil probe, you can also find your septic tank through the sewer pipe. You can use a drain snake and let it slither into the main sewer pipe. And once you’ve hit a hard surface, you’ve likely hit the septic tank.
Remember how far you’ve extended the drain snake as you drag it back to you. Also, it can be helpful to note all the bends and curves it took to get to you. Either way, you should be able to venture outdoors to see the buried septic tank once you get a good grasp of the distance your drain snake traveled.
Finally, the last way to find your septic tank via the sewer pipes is by flushing a transmitter down your toilet. It can guide you toward the tank in no time, but it’s a bit pricier.
Thoroughly Inspect Your Outdoor Area
As bulky as septic tanks are, it’s surprising that many got inconspicuously installed. And after some time, it can be more challenging to spot visual clues pointing out where it got installed. But even if the spot gets covered in overgrown grass, there still should be some signs of the septic tank. Please take advantage of these to make it easier to determine the location of your septic system.
It’s best to rule out areas where your septic tank won’t be for an easier search, such as:
- Under your driveway or other paved surfaces.
- Against your home or business.
- Next to a well or any different structure with water.
- Near spots with many trees, shrubs, and grass.
- Under your patio, deck, or other outdoor facilities.
After ruling out where your septic tank isn’t going to be, look for clues for its actual location. Keep your eyes peeled when roaming your property for unusual mounds or bumps. These are excellent indicators your septic tank might be near!
Also, depending on your septic system’s condition, the grass and plants might be more luscious and grow faster in the spot near the septic tank. Or, if improperly buried, the septic tank might’ve left a bald patch.
Talk to Neighbors with Septic Systems
If you know nearby property owners with septic systems, it pays to ask about their septic systems. Also, it would be best if you inquired where their septic systems are concerning their buildings.
Aside from helping you better understand where your septic might be, it also lets you form friendly relations with nearby property owners, humble homeowners, or tycoon business owners in your neighborhood.
Search for the Septic Tank Lid
Finally, look for its lid after you have a better insight into where your septic tank can be. You can use a soil probe to locate the septic tank’s lid like sewer lines. Generally, these lids have a rectangular shape measuring 5 x 8 feet. I recommend probing around your septic tank to find its edges and remember the perimeter.
If you couldn’t find the septic tank’s lid with the soil problem, grab a shovel and do a shallow excavation. Do it within the perimeter of the septic system and near its center. Meanwhile, break this into two halves if you suspect you have a two-compartment septic tank. Either way, the excavation should better reveal the location of its lid.
Never open your septic tank’s lid once you’ve found it. After all, it’s likely full of foul-smelling and toxic fumes! Not only will that give your nose a lousy time, but it can also affect your health. So, if you have any maintenance or repair work needed on your septic tank, leave it to the pros.
Why Should You Find Your Septic Tank’s Exact Location?
As you can tell, it isn’t easy to find the location of a septic tank even on your property! But it’s worthwhile due to following reasons:
It Lets You Manage the Septic Tank Better
Knowing where your septic tank is on your property allows you to manage it better. You’ll be able to maintain and care for the septic system thoroughly. Generally, building or putting heavy items on the tank is never a good idea.
For instance, you wouldn’t want to park the family car or business truck there. Aside from that, having visitors pack their vehicles on top of the septic tank is also a no-no. After all, these might put too much pressure on the system, causing it to collapse.
It’s Crucial Info When You Want to Add Something or Remodel Your Entire Property
If you want to add something to your apartment complex before leasing it or remodeling your property, it’s best to know where your septic tank is. It lets you plan about adding facilities better to avoid damaging the septic system. Generally, building decks, patios, or other outdoor structures on top of it isn’t ideal.
Firstly, these structures can be too heavy for the septic system, causing the tank to collapse. And it’ll also make it more challenging to access the septic tank with these facilities on top.
Moreover, you’d want to avoid adding plants with deep or extended roots on top or near the septic tank. These can grow into your septic system’s pipes, clogging them over time. Knowing where your septic tank lets you plan your landscaping better.
It Lets You Fix Your Septic Tank Faster
Knowing the exact location of your septic tank lets you see problems and fix them ASAP. For instance, if you see a pool of water forming on top of the septic system, you can address it as soon as it comes up. Usually, overflowing of water indicates the septic tank is overloaded and using too much water at once.
Aside from that, knowing where your septic tank is allows you to direct professional plumbers if ever a serious issue with the system arises.
What Should You Do Once You Spot Your Septic Tank?
Your job doesn’t end when you find your septic tank! If you need to open the septic tank for maintenance or repairs, hiring a professional plumber is ideal. After all, opening it isn’t something anyone would want to do. Not only are septic tank lids heavy, but they also need special lifting tools to remove them.
Aside from that, septic system fumes can be horrid and toxic to your health. Finally, an open septic tank can be hazardous to anyone that walks along your property. And if someone falls into the septic tank, it can become fatal!
But before having a plumber go to your property, there are some things you can do to ensure others won’t have the same issue locating your septic tank and making it easier for them.
Mark and Confirm the Septic Tank Location
I recommend placing an indicator near the septic tank to warn people to stay away and help professionals find it faster. Putting these signs near the septic tank lid is best for easier operations. Ideally, the markers must be heavy enough, so it doesn’t get tossed around by the wind, kids, or roaming animals. Some options are patio pavers, potted plants, decorative gnomes, or rocks.
Aside from placing physical markers near the septic tank, you may also make a map indicating its exact location.
Manage Your Septic Tank Well
Managing your septic tank can save you hundreds to thousands over time. After all, a faulty septic tank won’t only be dangerous to your nose but to your health. So, be proactive and know the early signs of septic tank issues and address them ASAP.
Staying on top of your toes saves you from stress and spending unnecessary cash on repairing or replacing a broken septic tank or a faulty septic system.
Foolproof ways you can take care of your septic tank is by keeping your garbage in the trash can. Never use your toilets as a dump, as not only does it increase the risk of clogging the pipes, but also for damaging the entire septic system. After all, it’s never meant to deal with actual trash, only wastewater.
So, never flush anything down your toilet aside from your bodily fluids. And no matter how small a facial tissue or fine cat litter is, throw it usually and not down your septic tank! Aside from that, avoid sending solid foods, oil, or pills down the kitchen sink drain, as it can also damage the septic system.
Another excellent way to care for your septic system is by reducing water usage. You can limit water use by investing in low-flow faucets or quality toilets.
Final Words
How do you know if you have a septic tank on your waste system under your commercial or residential properties?.
From inspecting your land to your water bills, there are many ways to confirm if you have a septic system. And locating the septic tank helps you care for it better over time. As a result, you can prolong its lifespan and make waste management more seamless.