If the septic tank is covered, locating is required. Our expert technicians can locate for an additional fee with the use of an As-Built and water probe. The As-built gives us a general location to start probing. With the water probe, we are able to penetrate the ground and determine the septic tank location without destroying your yard.
Electronic location of Septic Tank lids – Sometimes it is necessary to locate the Septic Tank lids electronically. After exhausting all other methods to locate the tank lids manually, we can use our electronic tank locating device for an additional fee. The use of the electronic locator is a last resort.
If you have chosen to locate and dig up the lids to your Septic Tank prior to your appointment date and need assistance to determine where to start digging, call us to find out if we can obtain an As-Built of your system (No Charge). An As-Built will assist you in determining the general location of the Septic Tank itself.
We highly recommend that you have risers installed to cut down on the locating and uncovering of your septic tank lids.
#1 Use a Septic Tank Map
First things first – consult a map. Often, using a map is the easiest option. Most counties retain records of the installation of septic tanks at all addresses. These maps should include diagrams showing the exact location of the tank on the property, and dimensions so that you can measure and find the exact spot. Don’t forget that landmarks might change throughout the years depending on when the tank was installed, so if there’s a few more bushes or a tree nearby, don’t count that spot out.
Keep your eyes open as you walk your property and search for any unexplained high or low spots that might indicate a buried tank. For example, you might notice a hill or mound on your property, which is often an indicator that a septic tank is nearby.
Another thing to pay attention to when looking for a septic tank is the grass or other greenery in your yard. Depending on the condition of your septic system, the grass might be greener and faster-growing in the area near the tank. Or, if the tank was not buried properly, you might notice a “bald patch,” or an area where the grass is having a hard time growing.
If you don’t find a map or other documentation explaining where your septic tank is, there are a few places to check to see if you can get access to a map. One is your county health department. County health departments often maintain records of septic systems. You can also check to see if there is a property survey map available from your municipality or county. A survey map might contain the location of a septic tank.
#2 Inspect Your Yard
Septic tanks are installed to be as inconspicuous as possible. After time has passed and the grass has grown, sometimes it’s hard to really see the visual clues that pointed out exactly where your septic tank was installed. But that does not mean there won’t still be clues helping to direct you to the location of your septic tank.
Note where the pipe leaves your house, and then head outside to find the corresponding area in your yard. Follow the pipe by sticking a thin metal probe (known as a soil probe) into the ground near the sewer line. Probe about every two feet. Most septic tanks are around 10-25 feet away from your home, and cannot be closer than five feet. Once you feel the probe striking flat concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene, you will have located your tank.