How to find your septic system tank?
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Episode 2 of "Stuart On Septics" explores how to locate your septic tank. Septic systems (tanks) must be pumped to remove sludge from time to time. You cannot properly service your septic system unless you know where your septic tank is located.
Come along with Stuart and discover clues and tools that can be useful in your search for your elusive septic tank. From Meade Septic Design Inc. www.septicdesig...
See Episode 3, "How do I know when to Pump my Septic Tank" • When Should I Pump My ...
Produced by Stuart Meade Photography www.stuartmeade... Goshen Indiana Photographer of aerial, portraits, events and occasional video.
😂😂😂 I lost it towards the end when he says “I sure had a lot of fun”, perfect! 👍👍👍
This was excellent.
You made it to the end…congratulations
This stuff is scarier than any horror movie I've ever seen
We have an unused tank in the front yard that is around 60 years old. Would it likely be dangerous to use a tile probe to find it? Could it be old enough that it is no longer full of dangerous gasses?
There is always a risk that an old tank may collapse. Probing it probably won't trigger the collapse but a riding lawn mower might.
Episode 3 is now up! "When Should I pump My Septic Tank?" ruclips.net/video/rAGEuk3RgHg/видео.html
How deep are septics burried? I know where mine is but dug 30" and still nothing? Any tips or advise you can share?
Septic tanks can be buried deep but rarely deeper than 4 feet. Deep tanks are typical when there's gravity plumbing in the home's lower level floor. A tri-level house quickly comes to mind. They almost always have plumbing in the floor of the lower level and therefore a deep septic tank. Deep tanks can be very difficult to find since standard tile probes are only 48" long and many metal detectors struggle to find the re-bar in the tank at that depth. Some septic pumpers and plumbers have electronic transmitters that can be flushed down your toilet or put onto the end of a cable or fish-tape that can push it along until it enters your septic tank. These transmitter are then used in conjunction with an electronic locator to find your septic tank. Deep tanks are not only hard to find but hard to clean. Once found, be sure that a riser and lid are installed on top of the tank's outlet port for future cleaning.
The video you have made here Stuart has helped me a great deal. This is a very stressful ordeal when you know not. So a big thanks from me for this video!
I'm glad the video can be of help. Thanks for the kind words.
Who knew you just have to look for "SEPTIC" in giant orange letters on the grass, and Voila! LOL. My soil is very rocky; a probe won't go in a foot without hitting a rock. I even know approximately where my tank is, but I've been digging all day and haven't found it yet
Good luck Lynn!
Lynn W
Have you access to a metal detector? Of course if you tank is plastic, that won't help either. What about a snake camera? You could feed it in through the clean-out access and approximate the turns (if any) and the distance from how much line you have to feed in to see the inside of the tank? Just a thought, if you have access to a sewer/pipe camera. I think Amazon has "inspection cameras' that you can link to a cell phone, not sure of the lengths available.
Often, the only metal in a tank is the lid handle. You are correct about plastic tanks, they have all plastic lids. A tile probe is the best tool to use. It is best used when the soil is moist.
Thanks for all the ideas! We can't get the cleanout in the basement open without fear of breaking it. A metal detector is the best bet; the tank is over 20 years old, so probably not plastic. I wanted to know where it is because I'm putting in a new garden bed and didn't want to have to dig it up just to find the septic tank lid...I ended up putting in post holes at least 2' deep every foot or so throughout the bed. I'm 99% sure the lid isn't in my new garden bed; I'm assuming the lid isn't more than 2' down. I still don't know where it is, so I'll have to get ahold of a metal detector and/or tile probe. At least I think my garden is safe from having to be dug up.
My Plumber said he uses a Camera run through the waste pipe to locate the Septic tanks cover etc.
Why…why…do all these videos open with a bunch of stupid music and graphics and I didn’t come for a history on ‘how it’s made’. All I want is how to find the danged thing.
It is a fair question. I no longer do the music introduction. People now want their information in 30 seconds if possible. I'll be coming out with just that, 30 second videos once I find some time! Thanks for watching.
why is the tank completely covered with dirt when it needs to be DRAINED every 2-3-4 years ? i don’t get that
Ideally, the tank will have access risers to the ground surface to make pumping easy.
The solution is to have risers and lids to the ground surface over the top of each tank access lid. Unfortunately, most older tanks don't have risers installed but should.
I bought property that used to have a mobile home on it. The home burned and is gone and I can't locate the tank. Any ideas?
Wouldn't you clear the dirt and grass away from the lid before opening it? Not sure I'd want a bunch of grass and soil in the tank.
Yes! You do want to make sure you don't have debris falling into the tank as you remove the lid. Thank you for the comment.
I recommend tile probes by T&T Tools. Search for them on Amazon or use this link www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=T%26T%20Tools%2C%20Inc.&page=1&rh=n%3A16310091
You’re my hero. It’s such a huge process to get these documents from the government and this video helped me find my septic tank in minutes.
Thank you!
This guy really knows his shit!
I see what you did there. 🤣
Am I the only one still confused on what the spatula is for? HAHAHAHHAAH
To flip shit..
LMAO
Jennifer Barwick I sincerely hope you're joking. One can never tell though. 🤣
You never know when you'll encounter a feral pancake
I called a septic company earlier before I saw your video and the guy said it would be $500 to locate and dig for the septic and put a camera in the soil to look for it.
With any luck you can find it yourself and spend that $500 elsewhere!
As a contractor I get it. You gotta think not all of them are this easy to find. Or require a lot of digging ect. You figure 2 guys make 20 + an hour. Plus the gas spent driving there. Truck payments, insurance for truck and company plus tools needed. No all of them are as easy to just use a prob like he's got. And trust me, they are more than happy when they can just pull in and pump and leave. The more tanks they pump and the less they dig the more money they make.
This is an outrageous price. I work for a septic company in northeast Florida, and for $450 we not only locate the tank, but pump it out as well.
Same thing happened to me. Kept putting pole and hitting in area where I remembered tank being but he said he was only hitting rock. Wanted to charge for camera thing. I canceled, this was a scam.
Hello Sunnysacto, That is a very good point, You should inquire with the health department (who issued the permit), past homeowners and local septic pumpers to see if anyone has a record of the existing tank/system. . Septic pumpers are very good at locating tanks, it's what they do everyday! This video assumes you have exhausted those resources. Here is my original website post on "How to find your septic tank." www.septicdesign.com/homeowners/how-to-find-your-septic-tank/ Lots of traffic on that page convinced me that the video was a good idea. Stuart
Thanks!
You're welcome
I used a ground penetrating radar to verify the location of the septic at moms. Of course I worked for a company that rented GPR's and borrowed it for the weekend. Nice to have had the connections then!
Thats what I need. I own a lot that had a mobile home on it at one time. I have no idea where the septic tank is.
What is the cost to rent a radar locator?
Hum..I'm thinking renting, 60k to find a 4k septic system would land me in divorce court. Now if I was the federal government what a deal!
@@alanheadrick7997 60k was new purchase Use to be $60/day rental
Anyone who has that much fun finding a septic tank needs a drug test.
Too bad it wasn't shot in "Smell-a-vision"
Smell a vison was over budget.
Good video (like the humor). Some background helped also. My "big" question, which I've seen on other videos with no explanation either is how you find the access lid so quickly with no obvious "sign". After all the tank, even after marked, doesn't seem to want to show us where that lid is.
Look back at about 0:47 in the video. Septic tanks typically have access lids on the top of the tank near both the inlet and outlet ends of the tank. 47 seconds into the video shows the top of many tanks and the location of these lids. If there is an existing riser that extends to or near the ground surface, it is almost always on the outlet end of the tank.
If there is an access riser, you should be able to find it using a tile probe. Locate the tank with a tile probe and note the depth. Keep probing to establish the edges of the tank. Mark the edges as you find them (tank tops are typically 8' x 4.5'). Then probe about 18 inches in from the end of the tank. If there is a riser, you will hit the concrete or plastic lid at a shallower depth than the tank itself.
I think it is safe to say that 95% of tank manufacturers put tapered tank access lids over the tank inlets and outlets. That said, the access lids will vary in size and shape. Some may be only 8" in diameter while others may be 36". All should have a rebar or plastic handle cast in the lid. On old tanks you may find the rebar (metal) handle has corroded to the point of it becoming useless. If you find this is the case over one lid, try digging up the other one, hopefully it will be intact and useable.
Old lids also tend to stick to the top of the tank, almost as if they are frozen or glued on. One way to free them is to tap them with a steel rod or blunt side of a spud bar. The trick is to hit the lid hard enough to break the seal but not break the lid! It is almost like tapping the edge of a food jar lid on the counter to loosen things enough to be able to screw the lid off without breaking or damaging the lid and jar.
Hello Stuart, my situation is that I bought a lot where the house burned down. I'm not sure where to look for the outlet connection from the septic to the house. The owner passed away but her grandson came and marked the place where the thinks it might have been. How far down do I have to dig to see if I'm in the right place?
Theresa Kimmy The depth of the tank is often dictated by the type of house that was there. For instance, it is was a tri-level house, the tank may be 4-5 feet deep! A house on a slab might have a fairly shallow tank. I recently was in a house with a basement. The sewer was not visible because it was under the floor! That tank was super deep!
I assume you're looking because you're hoping to use the system with a new house. The first thing to do is check with the local permitting agency and see if they have records of the old system. Many times, old systems are inadequate and need to be replaced anyway. Look for an old sewer pipe or pieces of an old sewer pipe on the opposite site of the house than the well. If you know the system isn't very old, it may be worth your while to hire someone to do some careful digging with a machine. Good luck!
Thank you Stuart! You are right, I am hoping to use the exisiting tank. Since I am building a tiny house (300 sq feet) and it is just me, I am really hoping that the septic is in good shape. A friend of mine told me that I should call the gas company (call before you dig) and maybe they will find it. I realized today, I could use the tile probe to find the tank and figure it out from the tank rather than trying to find where it came out of the house.and then find the tank. Thank you again!
The septic pumping companies have cameras that will let you know how far to go if you find the pipe. Someone else mentioned ground penetrating radar. Cast iron would be picked up by a metal detector to get you started in the right direction.
Been looking for mine. I have been following the pipe out.. currently at the 25 ft mark and still no luck. Pipe is 3ft down and very rocky soil too :/
If there is lots of slope in that sewer, it is possible that your tank is very deep being that far from the house.
When it warms up a little bit I am going to attempt to find mine. I'm not 100% sure where it is at. I did however find a hand drawn map with some measurements from the County Health Office with just a phone call. They sent me a .pdf of the map. I need to order one of those probe from Amazon I guess.
Good luck! The Mighty Probe brand are the best.
I had a freakin blast Mr.Stuart from Stuart on septic!
What is the best way to locate if you have a poly unit? Is the probe still ok to use, or do you risk damaging the tank? Thanks.
Poly tanks are pretty durable. It will be difficult to penetrate the tank with a tile probe unless perhaps, you are a professional wrestler.
Poly tanks are pretty durable.
informative & a little bit funny
Thank you so much...I was able to find to find the lid..so now i know where the tank is:)
Is the latch where the tank is usually
The hatch, or tank opening, usually is on the inlet or outlet side of the tank. Sometimes they also occur in the center of the tank.
Thank you Sir. Very helpful
Thank you!
Great video Sir. Thank you.
I've never had premature failure lol but I've found my septic tank thanks
Good to hear!
are you Michael Gross?
Thanks for such a detailed video on septic tank location...be well Stuart. Rod
Thank you!
Ty🌿
Thank you for the video! We live in a small community and I was thinking of starting my own pumping business with just me working! There is not a lot of competition. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Michael Brewer Things to consider: You will most likely want to have a helper, because a lot of customers want you to dig up the lids. You will get very tired of doing this on your own without some help. In my area, most tank do not have lids just under the surface, as this video shows. Some are 4-5 feet down and you’ll need to dig up both sides. You will also need a place to dispose of the waste. That’s the hard part. Our nearest waste water treatment plant is over 70 miles from our place of business. We have a full time driver that just hauls waste every day. You will need a pump truck large enough to pump more than just the standard septic tank size in your area. Like a 2500 gallon capacity, or bigger. Preferably one that can hold at least 2 tanks to maximize your trips while driving to the plant to dispose of the waste. Pump trucks are very expensive. I would say to buy a reliable pump truck and tools necessary to do the job (location equipment, probes, shovels, etc) you could easily spend 40-50k. And that’s on the cheap side. My final bit of input is. Pumping tanks alone does not pay well. You really need to know the business and be able to do repairs on the tanks, leach fields and be more of a “full service” company. That’s where the money is. Doing new system installs, working on effluent pumps, lift stations etc. That means contractor licenses, knowledge, equipment, (owned or rented) and some competent help. Pumping alone does not pay the bills. Septic is not an easy business to get into, however, it’s a lucrative business when done properly. But, just buying a pump truck and doing pumpings only, just doesn’t cut it on my opinion.
Having your customer have the tank open is a must, if you've never visited the property before. Remember, you are pumping and not locating.
i seen that dirvertor valve at the back of tank at ground level i would not have to pock around the valve was a dead give away plus i pumped septics before and sometimes there are no oddvise signs were the tank is sometimes they can be a bear to find i know here in michigan the heath department keeps reacord where the septic tank in and have a drowing of house and tank lay out with messurements i have had to call them to get info to find it more then once i found one under a gardge floor
When the Escavators Set up my Property years ago, They did not mark where the cap for my Septic Tank is located, Now I must call my Plumber, To try to go through the waste pipe & locate & mark where the Cap is so I can setup to have it pumped Out etc.
He reminded me of, "Mr Rogers" at the very end. Teehee! Made me chuckle.😜
Thanks, this helped
Thank you!
We will use this to help to figure out where to not place our above ground pool.
Good! Above ground pools are notorious for quickly killing ailing septic systems. I can''t tell you how many times above ground pool placement corresponds with a failed system.
Thanks. The house we live in came with two different drawings with two different septic tank placements. I'm pretty sure one is way off. Maybe they had to move it for some reason... it's not an old house though.
ReyReyloads sometimes dual tank systems are required in some areas if you have a certain number of bathrooms or above. I have seen these kinds of installs in new construction in Kentucky where there were 4 1/2 baths in a new home, and limited grounds for sufficient leach fields.
So much fun🤮
Can you look up where the septic tank is online?
Not unless the governing permit agency has posted it on their website.
this video single-handedly destroyed my desire to learn
How far is the septic tank is from the house?
Thank you for having great audio with a microphone. Such horrible septic companies' video production on most companies.
It might be crap to you but it's his bread and butter!
How do you find where and whichg way the leahfield flow. The health department do not have that informations thought i was showed where rhe sepric tank is located. Thanks!
Sorry I didn't see your comment earlier. With no records, the only tools you have to find the existing trenches is to use a tile probe or use aerial maps such as Google Earth where you can view your property over the years. Your existing trenches may show up on exceptionally wet or dry years. Good luck!
@@Indiana_Sepitc_Tank_Systems thanks
I have searched everywhere and i still can't find my septic tank.
Have you hired someone with locating equipment to help you?
No sir not yet.@@Indiana_Sepitc_Tank_Systems
Thanks so much, very helpful.
What is the max distance a septic tank will usually be from the house? The previous owner of my home said it is 60 feet away. From the back door of the house.
It is very possible your tank is 60 feet from the house but it is unusual. If it's that far, it's probably there to maintain the proper separation from your well. Do you know where your well is and what the required separation is in your state? 50', 75', 100'?
It's obvious you don't live where there are a lot of rocks...you can't probe down two inches where we live. When I saw you shove that probe down I had to laugh.
Yes, rocks are a problem!
Ha, same!!!
So, I have a house that is approximately 200 years old and the plumbing is obviously quite a bit newer than that. The previous owners are deceased and none of the local septic businesses have any records of servicing this location. I asked the wife/previous owner, when we bought the property, where the tank was and she said her husband installed it some 40+ years prior and they just used Rid-X every month but wasn't sure (couldn't remember) where exactly. She didn't recall a service ever pumping it out. No issues with back-ups or yard flooding from the tank, so...
I think it might be under the propane tank as I have followed the direction of the pipe exit and can not probe it out at 3.5 feet deep rod poke. Any other suggestions?
Thomas, each site is obviously different. I'd call a pumper and see if they can find it and pump it. Ask them about fees before they come out!
If there are no records of the system it is probably just an old, small tank that discharges to a field tile.
It might only be a gallon barrel. Can you check to see if there are multiple sewers existing the house?
Thanks! Found it!!
+Lu Rubink Great!
What about going to county permit records that may show where Tank is?
You should always inquire about this first.
Does a failed septic system affects the main water lines from the well? I hear a clucking noise from the pipes inside the house when I flush the commode. Perhaps the pipes leading up to the well may be leaking, or perhaps a vacuum inside the pipes. Maybe the electric pump for the well is about to go. So many possibilities and about to give up. 🤔
Your potable water line and your wastewater stream are not connected in any way. When you flush, water from your water line re-fills the back of the toilet. I'm not a water/well expert so I don't know what your "clucking" noise is (perhaps clicking?). It could just be the sound of the pump resonating through the pipes. Is your well head and pump inside your house or do you have a modern 4" submersible well?
Meade Septic Design Inc. Thank you for responding. It's a clicking noise from the house whenever I flush the toilet. It doesn't do it when taking showers or using the faucet in the kitchen. Could it be pressure from inside the pipes that has accumulated over the years? Would loose pipes make that noise? I need to find the access compartment, and I will find it. The well is outside, this house was built in the 60s. Maybe time for a new well and pump. I'll have an expert look at it and I do appreciate your time. Have a great week!
Good luck and please report back what you find!
Ok I loved the video... going to get right to the point. I bought a home in January 2016, the home is a 2 story home with a basement and was originally built in 1972. My (usable) yard is very small (it's off the lake and lots of trees) well supposedly there are 2 septic tanks on the property but we can't find any. (No one has lived in the house in about 8 years) there are NO records, can't locate the previous owners, and have had approximately 6 plumbers with 3 claiming to be master plumbers out saying that all 6 can find the tanks. They haven't found anything. I know that the pipes are cast iron under ground and will need to be replaced because they are disintegrating... but we can't find it. I'm at my wits end with it! I am at a loss for what to do. Any advice would be very appreciated! I was wondering if we might have one in the basement but it's all cement that I can remember. Where did you find that other one in the basement? Just curious if maybe I could do the same. I'm begging for help! I don't know what to do next and we're in the middle of renovating the entire house and want to get a floor done so we can move in and start the other floors slowly for money reasons. But obviously we can't until these tanks are located. Oh one last thing.. when you flush the toilet it backs up in the bathtub. We only have 1 toilet in right now and that's on the bottom floor. Only tried once. Sorry so long... 😳
you ever find it?
I would try a metal detector and if you are digging up the cast iron you can replace it with new pipe. I think the pipe that has a flange which slides over the other pipe is better than just pvc and regular couplers. Also the companies that pump septics have cameras that go down the drain (if you pull a toilet) and go so far down the pipe to find the tank. If you pull a toilet look into a polyurethane wax ring like Saniseal or the one from Korky (made in the USA) so you can reuse that ring unlike wax and you don't need to get the toilet perfectly aligned when replacing it as yo can adjust it because the polyurethane wax ring expands unlike wax.
We're would you find a tile probe.
+Timothy Freeman I really like these probes by mighty probe. I know no better www.mightyprobe.com/65/product_info.php?products_id=3
you can just make a wooden handle and use a re-bar works fine.
also..
what if you live in a place with millions of rocks? probe is useless. what then?
harbor frieght
These mightly probes are really great. www.tigersupplies.com/Products/TandT-Insulated-Soil-Mighty-Probe-With-Round-Rod__TATMPA36-.aspx?invsrc=adwords_ts&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtOLVBRCZARIsADPLtJ0Yue5him_J-WzPRe2rIpMh15neYRf1EDXd0oeOzLsf5yHhn5h5iE8aAkwuEALw_wcB
If the pipe on the roof isn't there and we don't have a basement or 2nd level what are some other signs or clues as to where our septic tank can be? Our plumbing is backing up daily.
Hello Cindy, Do you have a water well? If so, the tank is probably on the opposite side of the house. If you have close neighbors, there is a good chance that your septic system will be on the same side as your neighbor's. The good news is that if you are on a slab foundation, your septic tank is probably not buried very deep (unlike tanks associated with tri-level homes where the plumbing often gravity flows out of the basement level). Start by looking 10-20' from the house with a tile probe, rod or stiff wire that you can push into the ground. A metal detector is also a good way to locate it. You can then confirm the location with the probe. A septic system pumper will be able to locate your tank by using these or other methods such as a remote locating device and receiver. That said, you may have to pay them a significant amount of money to do so. Good luck! Stuart
Meade Septic Design Inc. , how much more will they charge? Just want a idea
Julie Chandler Depends on where you live. Here in Florida, they charge by the hour just to find it, and they take their time.
Bet you did
This video could have been 2 minutes. You wasted a lot of time on intro, and sound effects.
Randy, thank you for the comment. It is true that I can always tighten things up a bit. I'll keep your comments in mind as I work on new videos!
Thanks dude
Greal sound fx.
Great video.
Thank you!
Thank you! great videos!!!!
+Hugo Boss Thank you. I'm planning on at least two more videos this year. Please subscribe and stay tuned!
I use a flooded gig
Flounder gig
Thanks for your help!
You very welcome. By the way, look for a new video from me in the next 3-4 weeks!
This did not tell me how to find my septic tank is.. I have a big yard you sugest I walk around the whole yard with a probe??
+Kat Wright You need to look for the clues that are stated in the video. Especially look for where the sewer exits the house and a roof cleanout. A metal detector is also a good tool.
did you not watch the video?????
+William Moss No she didn't wacth the video. She just dumb 😂😂😂😂
why do you have subscribers