How Do You Locate Your Sewer Line To Septic Tank? (Solution)

Call 811 in the United States to find underground lines on your property.

1. Calling 811 is a completely free service, so you don’t have to pay utility companies to mark your yard.
2. The utility companies that are contacted depends on the area where you live, so they may not mark sewage lines.

How to find out if my house has a septic tank?

• Inspect your property carefully. Some septic tanks,especially if you live in a mobile home,are easy to spot because they are accompanied by a large,rectangular or
• Consider the location of your home. Sewer systems are not cheap,and the area has to have enough homes to support the system’s maintenance.
• Check your bills. Sewer systems are not free,so if your house is attached to a community sewer system,you can expect to be getting bills from it.
• Get a copy of the records for your property from your municipal government.

How do I find out where my sewer line is?

Perhaps the best way to obtain this information is to contact your local water authority, which is also the organization that would be responsible for any problems that may arise with shared drains. Another way to check and see if you have a shared drain is to check with the sewage company that services your area.

Can I see the drainage plans for my house?

How do I find drainage plans for my house?

• The Council may hold your drainage plans.
• Ask for drainage plans from the previous owner.
• Ask your neighbours for drainage plans.
• You have no obligation to submit your drainage plan to authorities.

How deep is the sewer line in my yard?

How Deep Is a Sewer Line? Sewer lines on private property can be as shallow as 18–30 inches deep or as much as 5–6 feet deep. In areas with cold climates, the pipe will be buried deeper to prevent freezing in the winter.

Where is the main line drain in a house?

For indoor main drains, you will likely find the cleanout in a bathroom or utility area. When dealing with a bathroom location, check the floor near the toilet. In this scenario, it might be a pipe protruding from the floor or it might be flush mounted into the floor. These main drains tend to have a threaded plug.

Do sewer pipes run under houses?

Generally speaking, you’re usually responsible for drains inside the boundaries of your property, while the sewerage company is responsible for lateral drains, which are usually outside of property boundaries, and sewers. Although most sewers are now publicly owned, there are still some private or unadopted sewers.

How do you find underground drain lines?

Go to the city office directly or call them to see if they can tell you where the sewer line is located. Usually, they can show you where the line goes from your home to the city’s main line. If you are unable to reach the city, see if there is an interactive underground utility map of your area online.

How far down are water pipes buried?

The general depth of underground water pipes is 12 inches below the frost line in your specific geographical area.

What is the fall on a 4 inch sewer pipe?

For 4-inch PVC piping and a building sewer less than 50 feet long, the minimum slope is 1 inch in 8 feet, or 1/8-inch per foot, and the maximum is 1/4-inch per foot. For sewers longer than 50 feet, the slope should be 1/4-inch per foot.

What angle should sewer pipe be?

Improper drain slope You probably know that drains need to flow downhill into your sewer. But do you know the proper slope? The ideal slope of any drain line is ¼ inch per foot of pipe. In other words, for every foot the pipe travels horizontally, it should be dropping ¼ inch vertically.

How do you know if your sewer line is broken?

What are the Signs of Sewer Line Repair?

1. Sewage Backup. One of the most common signs of sewer line problems is water backing up in one area of your home.
2. Foul Smell. Another sign of disrepair is a bad smell.
3. Slow Drains.
4. Mold Growth.
5. Lush Grass.
6. Cracks in Your Foundation.
7. Pest Invasion.
8. Do Your Research.

Locate Underground Sewer Lines Quickly in 4 Steps

Septic tanks and sewer lines are vital components of any city’s infrastructure, since they are responsible for transferring wastewater from your house or workplace back to the city’s main septic tank. It is important to check your sewage line before beginning any home repair job to ensure that you do not accidentally touch it during the process. You should also check to see if you are able to connect a new sink or toilet properly before starting the installation. In order to identify an underground sewer line, you can employ a number of different techniques.

First Method: Checking with the City

One of the most straightforward options is to inquire with the city’s zoning office to see if they have any information about the location of the sewage line in question. Some of the steps are as follows:

1. To find out where the sewage line is located, go to the city office or give them a call. They should be able to tell you where it is. The majority of the time, they can show you where the line connects your house to the city’s main line. You can check online to see if there is an interactive underground utility map in your region if you are unable to get to the city. Despite the fact that smaller towns and cities may not have internet maps, many cities will tell you how long the pipe is, how deep the pipe is, and whether or not the line is public or private. If you are planning on beginning a home renovation project, you may also contact local utility providers by dialing 811 from your phone. When using this service, you will reduce the likelihood of running across an underground sewer line while working on your home improvement project
2. It is absolutely free of charge. If none of the techniques above are successful, you may also contact a plumber and ask for assistance in finding sewage lines that are underground. Their ability to come to your property, find the pipes that link to your sewage line, and mark out the locations for you using tape is unmatched in the industry.

You may also be able to find out if the sewer pipe is public or private by contacting the city. In the case of private sewers, they are drains that link a single property to additional drains that provide the same role as the private sewer. A public sewage line is positioned when two (or more) drains from separate properties join together and form a single line.

Second Method: Using a Pipe Locator

It is also possible to detect subterranean sewer pipes on your own. Some of the steps are as follows:

1. Purchase or just purchased a pipe locator from a local store and set the transmitter and locating wand to the same frequencies as the pipe locator itself
2. Feed the detector line into a sewage cleanout or drain that is approximately 15 feet away. Try to avoid using a toilet because the equipment tends to perform badly when submerged in water. Maintain a vertical line of sight between the wand and the ground. Rotate the device until you hear a loud beeping signal on the other end. It is important that it is the loudest at the end of the line. In addition, the display may have arrows that indicate when you and the vehicle are traveling in the same direction. Use a flag to denote the position of the pipe once it has been identified using the pipe locator. Return to the location where you first introduced the detector line and unspool a little more of it into the pipe. Afterwards, you’ll need to locate the pipe once more with the help of the detector. Once you have discovered the subterranean pipe for the second time, place a second utility flag in its vicinity.

You should repeat this procedure multiple times and continue to plant flags in the areas where you have discovered the underground sewer line. This is a vital step in determining where subterranean sewer pipes are located. The sewage line should be marked on your map so that you can locate it as you proceed through the procedure. If you are intending to install a new appliance, you will be able to locate it in this manner more easily. A home renovation job done outside will also allow you to avoid striking it as much as you would otherwise.

If you see that your water bill is increasing and you are unsure of the cause, check into purchasing an underground detector that will assist you in locating an aleak in your home.

Trust the Trained Professionals for Help

If you are seeking for subterranean utilities, you should get assistance from skilled specialists. Our utility finding services are provided to our clients through Underground Services, better known as SoftDig, which employs innovative technology, industry-leading people, and industry-best practices. Get in touch with us right now to discover more about our services!

How to Find Your Sewer Line

Previous PostNext PostAll of the drains in your house are connected to a single main sewer line, which discharges either the municipal sewage system or into your septic tank system depending on your preference. Knowing the location of your sewage line is critical, especially when dealing with difficulties such as blockages, backups, or breaks in the system. Learn how to locate the main sewage line in your home and yard so that you may correctly identify your sewer access points in the event that your sewer line has to be repaired or replaced in the future.

If you have an emergency sewage line problem, call Mr. Rooter ®Plumbing at (855) 982-2028, which offers 24-hour emergency services.

How to Find the Main Sewer Line in Your House

You will have to undertake some detective work in order to discover your indoor sewer cleanout site. It’s most commonly discovered in the basement, crawl area, or garage, among other places. You’ll want to look for a pipe with a diameter of around four inches and a screw cap on the top that has a notch or square knob at the top of it. It should be noted that some residences have an interior sewage cleanout point, but others may have a cleanout point that is positioned outside. It is also feasible to live without having one in your house at any point in time.

How to Find the Sewer Line in Your Yard

If you are unable to locate the main sewer line within your home, the likelihood is that it is located in your yard. External sewage line access points are often situated near the foundation of the house or near a roadway where a sewer line connects to a municipal sewer main. While the majority of the time, the sewage line will be visible and easily identifiable, overgrown vegetation or things close to the home may obscure the cap from view. Alternatively, you might install an underground sewer cleanout.

Still Can’t Figure Out How to Find Your Sewer Line?

If you are unable to locate the sewage line in your home or yard, you can take one of three actions:

1. Make contact with the previous owner. If you are still in contact with the former owner or have their contact information, it is worthwhile to inquire as to whether or not they were able to discover the sewage line while they were residing in the house. Call City Maintenance or pay a visit to your local city hall for further information. Local governments frequently have sewage and property maps available that might assist you in locating the sewer line on your property. Consult with a Plumbing Specialist In order to save time and effort, it is recommended that you hire a plumbing professional. Non-stop sewage line repair and replacement services are available from these professionals.

How Can I Tell if My Sewer Drain Is Clogged?

One of the many reasons you could be attempting to identify your sewage line right now is to determine whether or not you have a blockage in your pipes at the time. Some of the symptoms you may notice if your sewer drain is plugged are as follows:

• Drains that are draining slowly and may appear to be plugged
• It is not possible to clear the drain using conventional procedures or solutions
• Several plumbing backups (sink, shower, toilet, and so on)
• Multiple plumbing backups Blockages in the drains or tubs that occur after flushing the toilet
• When the washing machine drains, there is a backup or overflow. It’s important to remember that gurgling and bubbling coming from a drain or toilet may indicate an obstruction in the vent line.

Find Sewer Line Services Near Me

No matter if you’re looking for sewer line repair and replacement services or a plumbing inspection and diagnostic, your local Mr. Rooter is ready to assist you with high-quality services and honest pricing. To get started, call us at (855) 982-2028 or visit our website to find your nearest Mr. Rooter. Your sewer system is not the only significant component of your home that you should be familiar with; you should also be knowledgeable about your electrical system. Mr. Electric ®, a member of theNeighborlyfamily of home services, is here to assist you in learning how to read your electrical panel as part of theNeighborlyfamily.

How to Find Your Sewer Line: A Guide

Shot shows a guy removing tree roots out of an old ceramic sewage pipe in a hole in the ground, pointing to the location where tree roots had penetrated the junction in the pipe.

You may need to find your sewer line, but don’t know how. Don’t worry! Here is a easy to follow guide on exactly how to find sewer line!

It has occurred to each and every one of us. Your preferred timepiece is no longer available. It’s possible that your toddler’s vehicle has vanished. Or perhaps a pair of sunglasses has gone missing. Oops. Every now and again, something gets flushed down the toilet that shouldn’t. But not everything is sewage friendly, despite the fact that modern plumbing is the greatest convenience of our day. Back-ups of sewage are quite unpleasant.

Literally. In order to avoid this, you must act quickly when there is a blockage somewhere down the line. You may be in need of locating your sewage line, but you are unsure of how to do so. Well, here’s a step-by-step instruction on how to locate it in the first place.

Start With the Main Drain

Let’s start with the fundamentals. All of your interior drains are connected to a single central drain pipe. Your septic tank or the municipal sewer system are both served by this line, which exits your home. Knowing where your main drain exits your home may be quite helpful in determining where your sewage line is located.

Pick up the phone

This may appear to be too simple, but all you have to do is contact the prior owners. It has been necessary for the majority of long-time owners to discover where their sewer pipes are located. If you don’t know who the previous owners were, you may still find out their names and addresses by looking at your deed and municipal tax records. If you are unable to contact the former owners, inquire with a neighbor. It’s possible that their home has a similar plumbing system to yours.

Check with the City

It can be as simple as contacting your local authority to locate your sewer connection. It maintains maps that assist people in locating subsurface facilities such as sewage pipes. You may get this information from many municipalities by calling them directly. If they are unable to assist you, you should visit the engineering department or the building and safety division. They should just require your mailing address. In the map archives, they’ll find a sewer map of your area, which they may use to locate you.

Follow the Flow

Simply following your pipes will suffice if phoning strangers or visiting city departments is too much trouble. Because all of your drains are connected to a single central pipe, locate a pipe that you know is a drain, such as a toilet or sink line. Continue following the pipe until it connects with a bigger pipe. The bigger pipe should be followed all the way out of your basement or crawlspace. It is this drain pipe that connects you to your sewage line. From there, you may gently dig until you come across the pipe and follow it all the way around your property.

When in Doubt – Call the Plumber

Dealing with blocked sewage pipes may be a frightening experience. Frequently, the work is simply too large. And we’re not even going to go into the “gag reflex” element. So, if everything else fails or you find yourself in over your head, don’t hesitate to contact us at (402) 731-2727 for assistance. Every aspect of your plumbing demands, including the most noxious ones, are taken care of by us.

How to Find a Sewer Line

The following individuals contributed to this work:Professional PlumberCEO of Balkan SewerWater Main Hunter Rising, a wikiHow staff writer, and David Balkan collaborated on the creation of this page. David Balkan is a licensed professional plumber who also serves as the CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service and the President of Balkan Sewer and Drain Cleaning, among other positions. With over 40 years of experience as an active owner of these businesses, David is well-versed in the challenges that arise with water service lines, sewers, and drain lines.

As a result of his expertise and solution-oriented approach, Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service has grown to become the biggest and most trusted sewer and water main service in New York City, and the recipient of the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award.

Views: 28,552 people have looked at this article. Co-authors:7 The most recent update was made on January 24, 2022. Views:28,552 Thank you to all writers for contributing to this page, which has been viewed 28,552 times so far.

Did this article help you?

Being aware of the location of your sewage line is critical in the event that there are problems such as blockages, breaks, or backups in the system. All of the drains in your house are connected to a single main sewage line that either empties into the municipal sewer system or drains into your septic tank system. Being aware of the location of your sewage line is critical in the event that there are problems such as blockages, breaks, or backups in the system. Learn how to find the main sewage line in your yard and house so that you may correctly designate its access locations in the event that you need sewer line replacement or repair services in the future.

How to Locate the Main Sewer Line in Your Home

You’ll have to do a little digging to find the location of your indoor sewer cleanout. It is most commonly found in the basement, garage, or crawl area of a home. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a pipe that is four inches in diameter or less, with a screw cap on the top and a notched or square knob on the top. It should be noted that some homes have an interior sewer line cleanout point, but others may have one that is positioned outside. It’s also feasible to live without having one in your home at any time.

How to Locate the Main Sewer Line in Your Yard

If you are unable to discover the main sewer line in your home, it is likely that it is located in your yard. Outside of the residence, sewage line access points are often located at the foundation of the home or near the streets where the sewer line connects with the municipal sewer main. The majority of the time, the sewage line will be visible since it will be poking out out of the ground. Overgrown landscaping or other things close to the house, on the other hand, may be able to conceal it.

Attempt to locate the person on the side of the home that is closest to the restroom on the first level.

Still Having Trouble Locating Your Sewer Line?

If you are unable to discover the main sewer line in your house or yard, you can take a number of different steps to resolve the situation. These are some examples: Talk to the Former Owners: If you have spoken with the previous homeowner or have their contact information, it is worth asking if they were able to locate the sewage line while they were residing on the property. – Obtain the services of certain plumbing professionals: Using the services of a plumbing professional may save you both time and work.

Get in Touch With B D Today!

Are you dealing with any plumbing issues that necessitate the intervention of a professional? Are you dealing with a plumbing problem that simply must be put off any longer? Inform B D Plumbing of the situation. Plumbing services are provided across the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, including Maryland and Northern Virginia, by B D Plumbing Inc. Get in contact with us by dialing (301) 595-1141 or by following us on social media, which includes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest (to name a few platforms).

As a small, family-owned business, we realize how important your house is to you—and we strive to provide great service that reflects that importance! This item was posted on Friday, May 29th, 2020 at and is filed under Uncategorized. Commenting and pinging are temporarily closed for this post.

How to Locate Your Sewer Cleanout in Case of Emergency

The drain cleanout is a direct connection to the main sewage line, which can be found either within or outside the property. If the trap is positioned within the house, it is referred to as the main house trap; if it is located outside of the house, it is referred to as the sewer cleanout. However, despite the little shift in terminology, the purpose of this cleanup remains the same: This addition to the home plumbing system is intended to provide plumbing professionals with an easy-to-access point through which they can reach clogs and sewage backup in the main sewage line that extends from the foundation of the home, under the ground, and out to the municipal sewage system, a private septic tank, or the portion of the main house drain piping downstream of the house trap, among other locations.

Only plumbing specialists should utilize the drain cleanout, but being aware of its presence during an emergency clog or backlog may save valuable time and money in the cleaning and restoration process, potentially saving thousands of dollars.

A drain cleanout pipe is commonly three, four, or six inches in diameter and white or black in color, depending on the manufacturer.

Some residences may also have drainage pipes made of brass or copper, though these are far less common.

Before You Begin

Before you begin, it’s crucial to understand that the overall placement of the drain cleanout varies based on the environment of the area where you live.

• Houses built to a standard in colder areas will often have drain cleanouts installed within the structure. People who live in colder areas and whose homes were constructed on a slab foundation may find an outside drain cleanout, or they may find it in a bathroom, garage, or utility room
• Therefore, people who live in this sort of property may need to explore both indoors and outdoors. Those in warm regions will often have an external drain cleanout in the yard
• However, homes in colder climates would not.

Materials

• There are drainage pipes running throughout the house, connecting every sink, toilet, and water-using equipment, such as the dishwasher and washing machine. Therefore, discovering a drainage pipe should not be a difficult task. Look for black or white ABS, cast iron, copper, or bronze drainage pipes that lead away from the sink, toilet, or appliance you’re looking to fix or replace. In most cases, following these drainage pipes will lead you to the main sewage line.

Look for a T- or Y-Shaped Pipe Fitting With a Cap or Plug

• Whereas when a drain cleanout is built within the home, it is usually found on the main sewage line, which is positioned immediately before the main line joins the foundation of the structure. Typically, the drain cleanout will be on a T- or Y-shaped pipe fitting, and it will be equipped with a threaded stopper and a square nut. It is also possible that a plastic cap will be placed over this nut. The drain cleanout, on the other hand, is not usually put on the main line. Depending on your location, you may need to check around for a black or white pipe with a threaded plug and an oval nut
• In certain cases, you may need to dig around to discover an additional entry point to the sewage system.

Check Bathrooms, Utility Rooms, and the Garage

• If the sewage cleanout is not located on the main sewer line, you will need to look for it in other areas of the house before determining its position. Take a flashlight with you to help you see better in low-light situations. It is common for the drain cleanout to be located near a collection of drainage pipes, such as in a complete bathroom with drains for the sink, toilet, and shower. Make a visual inspection of each bathroom in the house, searching for a capped ABS plastic drain line in black or white. As a last resort, examine the utility room or garage if you can’t find the drain cleanout where you think you might have put it. Occasionally, present or past owners may have made improvements that concealed the location of the main drain cleanout. As soon as you believe that this is the case, you should contact a plumber who will be able to identify and clear up the drain cleanout without causing more damage to your property.

Test the Drain Cleanout Plug

After locating the drain cleanout, it’s a good idea to test the plug to make sure it hasn’t been seized as a result of lack of usage. Make use of a pipe wrench or a big set of channel locks to tighten the square nut on the drain cleanout plug while wearing disposable gloves. Begin to crank the nut with the wrench in small increments until it is completely loose. After removing any accumulated filth from the threads, replace the plug with a new one. In certain instances, an expanding plug may be used to cover the cleanout, which may be freed by rotating a screw located in the middle of the plug.

Warning

1. As soon as you begin to open the plug and notice water or feel pressure beneath the plug, it’s time to contact a professional. This indicates that the clog in the line has caused the pipe leading outside the home to get clogged. Depending on where you are in the world when you pull the plug, your drainage pit, yard, or house may get flooded by backed-up raw sewage.

Locating Outdoor Drain Cleanouts

• To locate an outside drain cleanout, you will first need to walk to either the septic tank, if your property is on a septic system, or the municipal sewer line, if your property is not on a septic system. It is possible to identify the sewage line by looking for the nearest manhole or by looking for a curb with a huge S stamped into the concrete.

Estimate the Direction of the Drainage Line

• Septic systems will often have the drain cleanout situated near to the residence, in line with the septic tank, in order to save space. Simply go back from the tank and towards the house, keeping an eye out for a plastic pipe protruding from the lawn or garden as you go. Similar to this, the drain cleanout on a municipal wastewater system will normally be located near to the house or other building. This drainage system should be connected to the municipal sewer system
• However, because the actual drainage line is not visible, you will need to follow a broad path around the yard in order to locate the drain cleanout pipe. Typically, the pipe is black or white in color, and it is sealed with a threaded plug that has a square nut on it and is branded S, C.O., or cleanout on the outside. Although, in some cases, this plug is protected by a plastic cap or a metal lid, this is not always the case. With this in mind, look for any things that may be used to cover or house a 3-, 4-, or 6-inch diameter pipe.

Move Lawn Decorations, Foliage, and Other Obstacles

• If you are still unable to identify the drain cleanout, it is possible that it has been accidently covered or intentionally hidden from view. The drain cleanout should be located adjacent to the residence in an area along the main sewer or septic line, which may be identified by the presence of drain pipe clusters in full or partially completed bathrooms. Begin by removing any lawn decorations that are blocking the view of the yard outside of the restrooms, gradually increasing the search area. Always keep in mind that a cleanup might be buried in a garden or hidden by overgrown vegetation. Overgrown grass may also be an issue, so you may wish to cut the lawn to make the hunt for a lost pet a little bit easier on yourself. Occasionally, the sewer cleanout is totally buried in the yard, in which case you will need to make an educated guess as to where the drainage line is coming from and use a long screwdriver to dig approximately 1 inch into the ground, probing for the pipe’s top. Nonetheless, because this approach is mainly trial and error, even with a strong informed estimate, you may want to consider hiring a professional to identify the drain cleanout
• However, this method is not without risks.

Mark and Test the Drain Cleanout

1. After identifying the drain cleanout, mark the site with a metal stake and a brightly colored flag so that you have a fast reference point in the event of an emergency. In addition, the drain cleanout plug should be checked to ensure that it may be removed if necessary. Slowly loosen the nut from the pipe with a pipe wrench or a set of big channel locks to avoid damaging the pipe. In most cases, the nut should be easy to thread out
2. However, if you notice any water or feel pressure in the line, tighten the nut again and contact a plumber to clear the obstruction in the line.

Warning

The house sewage system can be severely damaged by even the most expert do-it-yourselfers. This can result in sewage backing up into the septic system, onto the yard, or even into the house itself.

It is possible to save time and effort while also saving possibly thousands of dollars in clean-up and home restoration costs if you only use qualified professional plumbers to remove blockages and perform repairs to the main drainage line and drain cleanout.

How to Find Out Where Sewer Lines Are Placed Outside a Home

Being able to locate the location of the sewage lines outside of a property is essential when dealing with any difficulties regarding blockages or breakdowns. Your interior drains are all connected to a single central drain pipe that flows out of your house and either your septic tank or the municipal sewage system, depending on your location. Finding the location of your drain line exiting your crawlspace or basement may be quite helpful in determining where the sewage lines are located.

Ask the Previous Owner

Although it may seem like a no-brainer, some homeowners may fail to consider asking the previous owner for vital utility information, such as the location of the sewage line, when purchasing a property. The contact information for the former owner of your home may be found on the deed and in the local tax records. In addition to speaking with the property owner, it may be interesting to inquire of your neighbors to see if they have any expertise about sewage line installation. One of your neighbors may have observed work being done on the line or, at the absolute least, may be able to tell you where her own line connects with that of the city’s utility system.

Locate the Septic Tank

If you have a septic tank in your house, the sewer lines that go from your basement or crawlspace to the tank are connected. Unless there are enormous trees or other obstacles in the way, the route from the home to the tank is a straightforward one. With the use of this information, as well as a small-diameter wooden stick, check out the ground around the location where you believe the line is located. Sewer line burial depths vary depending on the municipality and pipe type used, but they are commonly buried between 12 and 24 inches deep.

Check With the Municipality

It is possible that a visit to the local zoning or building office in your municipality would be beneficial. A lot of times, communities will have sewage line or property maps on hand that might be useful in determining the placement of underground facilities. Determining where your property boundary ends can also aid in eliminating situations where your sewage line will be unable to be installed.

Check and Dig

Looking into your crawlspace or basement and determining where your drain line leaves the home will help you limit down the region in which you need to look for a clog. Identify an existing drain pipe, such as one issuing from a toilet or sink, and follow it until it connects with a larger-diameter pipe, which you can see from the outside. Follow the larger-diameter pipe all the way out of the basement or crawlspace until it ends. It is at least possible that the drain pipe links to your sewage line, so you know which side of your house the sewer line is buried on.

Once you’ve located the pipe, it’s just a question of tracking it through your property to find out where it goes.

How to Find My Septic Tank Lines

Credit: Petegar/E+/Getty Images for the image

In This Article

• Septic System Fundamentals
• Identifying and Locating a Septic Tank on Your Property
• Conducting Regular Inspections
• Checking for Clean-Outs
• Identifying Natural Indicators
• Viewing System Diagrams
• Seek Professional Assistance
• Check the distribution box
• Understand the size and scope of the project.

Are you curious about the location of your septic lines? It is critical to know where the septic tank is located on a property in order to properly manage and preserve the system. For example, you don’t want to pave over the ground or grow trees too close together in a forest. It is possible to obtain a copy of the septic tank diagram of the drain field, which will give you a fair sense of where the pipes will go. If this is not the case, you may need to attempt some other methods of locating septic drain lines.

The solids and liquids are separated within the tank by a baffle or wall that is built inside the tank.

When pipes get clogged or when drain fields become too saturated with fluids, problems arise. Other issues might arise as a result of incorrect placement, design defects, or bad installation.

Locating a Septic Tank on Your Property

Begin your search for the septic tank lines at the residence first. Drain lines from the home’s plumbing should be traced to the septic tank, which is typically located 10 to 20 feet from the home’s exterior. The drain line connects the tank’s end, which is located opposite the house, to the leach field. Check the natural slope of the ground to see whether the leach field may be found there. It is never a good idea to look for drain lines using heavy gear, wrecking bars, or jackhammers. Before excavating, contact your local electric utility provider or gas company to determine the location of underground gas or utility lines.

Plunge the long, thin metal probe into the earth until you can feel it strike the tank and feel the tank’s edges.

Perform Regular Inspection

According to industry experts, you should examine your septic tanks and, if required, pump them out once every three years. If you are experiencing gurgling sounds in your house or water backing up after your system has been repaired, a saturated drain field might be the source of the problem. Drain fields that have been clogged or damaged are unable to be rectified. In order for the septic system to function properly again, you’ll need to have a new drain field installed. Find capped clean-outs that are a few inches vertically above the ground in the leach field itself, or check behind a wall or in a closet in the basement for capped clean-outs.

1. You can visually trace the orientation of the pipe from the clean-out if there is no other information available.
2. Credit: Kyryl Gorlov/iStock/Getty Images for the image.
3. When you are looking for the lines, look for grass or vegetation that greens in stripes when the grass surrounding it browns.
4. Putting hot water into your system might cause snow or ice to melt above the drain pipes if the system is not properly insulated.
5. If you have a deep system, as is the case for homes with basements, you will most likely not be able to observe natural signs since the drain field is too deep to be seen from above.
6. Unless the system was built without a permit, the blueprints or designs for septic system installations are kept on file with the local health authority until the system is operational.
7. If your search does not provide any relevant results, you can request a record search based on your street address or the tax account number associated with the property.
8. If the agency has a copy of the record, they will mail it to you.
9. If you don’t have a drawing of the septic system, you need enlist the assistance of a disposal system contractor or a certified liquid waste transporter to find it.

Another option is to purchase a flushable transmitter from a plumbing or rental business, or you may contract with a tank cleaning firm. The signal from the transmitter is picked up by a hand-held receiver after it has been flushed down the toilet.

Check the Distribution Box

There are certain septic tanks that feature an extra distribution box that is located a few feet from the tank on the tank’s downstream side. Water is channeled into the trenches by ports and pipes in the box. It is recommended that, if your system includes a distribution box, the box’s top be designed to expose the orientation of the ports that connect to the drain field lines. It is feasible to locate the box with a probe, but extreme caution should be exercised. Avoid applying excessive force to the probe, since this may result in damage to the box.

In most cases, individual drain lines run perpendicular to the intake line, but they may also branch into an H-pattern or other patterns that are appropriate for the terrain.

Find the location of your septic drain lines so that you can safeguard the area in and around them with a little detective work.

How to Find Underground Sewer Pipes

Image courtesy of adogslifephoto/iStock/Getty Images.

In This Article

• Pipe location strategies for the do-it-yourselfer
• Professional sewer pipe location tools
• Cleaning interior or exterior pipes

Your sewer lines are located deep beneath your land, where they are inaccessible to anyone except subterranean critters. How can you know where these pipes are if you have a leak or if you need to replace them? First and foremost, you are aware that every drain in your home — including every sink, toilet, shower, and bathtub — drains into a single sewage line that serves your whole neighborhood. This main line then connects to either a municipal sewer system or a septic tank, depending on the situation.

Homeowner DIY Pipe Location Strategies

A call to the city is the first option that every homeowner should attempt before doing anything else. The locations of subsurface utilities are usually depicted on maps that are available in most cities. To find out whether your city maintains sewer maps, enter your address below. If that alternative fails to meet your needs, you should begin investigating the exit points of the pipes in your home. Because all of your drain pipes are connected to a common sewage line, locate a toilet or sink line and follow it as far as possible to see where it connects to a bigger pipe.

Your main sewer line will be connected to this pipe.

Alternatively, you might try contacting 811, the national toll-free hotline established by Congress in an effort to minimize damage to underground facilities.

A professional line finder will be dispatched to the site in order to indicate the pathways of underground utility lines and other structures.

Professional Sewer Pipe Location Tools

Professional plumbers have a variety of innovative instruments at their disposal, including cameras and sensors mounted on the ends of lengthy cables that snake through your pipes to discover faults and the positions of pipe segments. Sewer cameras are not inexpensive, and they require specialized knowledge to use, so if you haven’t been successful in detecting your sewer pipes on your own, it’s advisable to consult with a specialist. Furthermore, the majority of sewer cameras available to the general public can only see a few feet into the drain.

Most of these devices feature a tiny video screen that displays the camera’s view and may be used to detect root penetration, pipe corrosion, and other issues that may require repair or that may be the source of the obstruction.

The locator can discover the subterranean sensor on the camera, which can then be used to determine exactly where your sewer line is.

Cleaning Interior or Exterior Pipes

Once the plumber has located the sewage line and determined the source of the problem, it may be feasible to clear the line using a mainline sewer machine, which can blast through a blockage with high pressure. A part of the pipe will need to be accessible directly in other circumstances, though, and may even need to be replaced if it cannot be fixed due to the nature of the obstruction being encountered. If you have a clog in your toilet as a result of anything being flushed down the toilet, the sewer camera may snake right down into the toilet and out the toilet’s exit line to check the source of the obstruction.

If your property has one — and it may be difficult to locate or may be hidden by soil — clearing and draining the line is typically a straightforward procedure.

If your home does not have a cleanout, you should consider installing one since it will save you a lot of difficulties in the future.

How to Locate Your Septic Tank

It may seem impossible to imagine that one of the largest and most visible elements of your whole plumbing system is also one of the most difficult to locate, but when your property is served by a septic system, this is perfectly true. A strong explanation for this is because septic tanks are huge, unattractive, stink horrible and give off an unwarranted impression of dirt. Not only does burying them underground assist to prevent them from harm, but it also provides you with additional useable space on your property and conceals what would otherwise be a blight on your landscape.

This site is dedicated to assisting you in locating your septic system without the need for any time-consuming digging.

How To Find A Septic Tank: Step By Step

It is critical to maintain the health of your septic tank since it is responsible for securely storing and handling the wastewater that drains from your house. It is necessary to pump your septic tank once every 1-3 years, depending on the number of people living in your household and the size of your tank, in order to avoid septic tank repairs or early failure, which means you must be familiar with the location of your tank. It’s not often simple to identify your septic tank, and many plumbers charge extra for this service, which is especially true if your tank’s lid is buried beneath.

1. Gather Some Helpful Tools

Septic tank location may be made much easier with the use of several simple instruments and techniques. To locate your septic tank, you only need to know the following information: A soil probe is one of the most useful instruments for locating a septic tank. It is a tiny piece of metal that is used to puncture through the earth and detect anything that could be buried underneath. Start at the point where your sewage line exits your home and work your way straight out, inserting your soil probe every two feet along the way.

Using this method, you may also locate the cover for your septic tank.

While we highly advise keeping your cover clean and exposed in the event that you require emergency septic service, we recognize that this is not always the case.

2. Use a Septic Tank Map

When looking for a septic tank, one of the most useful instruments is a soil probe, which is a small piece of metal that pierces into the earth and rapidly locates any subterranean structures that could be there. Begin at the area where your sewer line exits your home and work your way straight out, inserting your soil probe every two feet. Ideally, your septic tank should be located between 5 and 25 feet away from your house. Using this method, you can easily identify the cover for your septic tank.

Keeping your cover clean and exposed in the case of an emergency septic service is highly recommended, and yet not everyone follows this recommendation.

3. Start Ruling Areas Out

The location of a septic tank cannot be constructed in specific areas due to the risk of causing major damage to your property or tank, as specified by local rules. Your septic tank will not be affected by the following:

• Immediately adjacent to your well
• Beneath your home
• Directly against your home
• For example, underneath your driveway
• Under trees
• And other locations. Structures like a patio or deck are good examples of this.

4. Inspect Your Property

If you take a hard look around your land, there’s a high possibility you’ll be able to locate your septic tank without having to do any probing whatsoever. In many circumstances, a septic tank may be identified by a slight dip or slope on your land that cannot be explained by any other means. Due to the fact that the hole that your contractors excavated for your septic tank may not have been exactly the proper size, they proceeded to install the tank anyhow. This is a rather regular occurrence.

When there is a minor divot or depression, it indicates that the hole was too large and that your contractors simply did not fill the depression to level the hole.

The likelihood of your septic tank being discovered in a few specific locations is quite high. Because of code issues or just because it doesn’t make sense, it’s highly unlikely that your septic tank will be located near any of the following locations:

• Your water well, if you have one (for a variety of reasons that are rather clear)
• Any paved surfaces (it won’t be under a patio, sidewalk, or driveway unless they were added after the home was built and no one performed a proper inspection before it was built)
• Any paved surfaces (it won’t be under a driveway, sidewalk, or patio unless they were added after the home was built and no one conducted a proper inspection before it was built)
• Any paved surfaces (it won’t be under a patio, sidewalk, or driveway unless they were added after the home was built If there is any particular landscaping

5. Inspect Your Yard

A comprehensive investigation of your yard may be necessary to discover your septic tank considerably more quickly in some cases. The following are important items to check for in your yard:

• If your septic tank is overfilled, sewage can leak out into the ground and function as fertilizer for your lawn, resulting in lush green grass. A area of grass that is very lush and green is a good sign that your septic tank is just beneath it
• Puddles that don’t make sense: If your septic tank is seriously overfilled, it is possible that water will pool on your grass. Another telltale indicator that your septic tank is below ground level is an unexplainable pool of water. Ground that is uneven: When installing septic tanks, it is possible that the contractors will mistakenly create high or low patches on your grass. If you come across any uneven terrain, it’s possible that your septic tank is right there.

The metal soil probe can let you find out for certain whether or not your septic tank is located in a certain area of your yard or not. As soon as your metal soil probe makes contact with the tank, you may use your shovel to dig out the grass surrounding it and discover the septic tank lid.

6. Follow Your Sewer Main/Sewer Pipes

Following your sewage lines is one of the most straightforward methods of locating your septic tank. These pipes have a diameter of roughly 4 inches and are commonly found in the basement or crawlspace of your house. They are not dangerous. Following the pipes from your house out into your yard, using your metal soil probe every 2 feet or so until you reach the tank, is a simple process once they are located. Aside from that, every drain in your home is connected to your sewage main, which in turn is connected to your septic tank.

The likelihood that one of your major sewer lines is located in your basement or crawlspace is high if you have exposed plumbing lines in your basement or crawlspace.

If the line is labeled, it is usually made of plastic or rubber.

7. Check Your Property Records

Lastly, if all else fails, a search of your property’s public records will almost certainly reveal the location of the tank you’re looking for. Your builders most likely secured a permit for your property because septic systems are required to be installed by law in every state. In order to do so, they had to develop a thorough plan that depicted your property as well as the exact location where they intended to construct the tank. This is done to ensure that the local health department is aware of the tank and is prepared to deal with any issues that may arise as a result of its presence.

If you look hard enough, you may be able to locate the original building records for your home without ever having to get in your car or visit your local records center.

What to Do Once You Find Your Septic Tank

Upon discovering the position of your septic tank, you should mark its location on a map of your property. Use something to indicate the location of your lid, such as an attractive garden item that can’t be changed, to help you locate it. A birdbath, a rock, or a potted plant are just a few of the possibilities.

You are now ready to arrange your septic tank inspection and pumping service. Contact us now! If you have any more concerns regarding how to locate your septic tank, or if you want septic tank servicing, please contact The Plumbing Experts at (864) 210-3127 right now!

How to Locate Your Sewer Line

If you need to clear a blockage from your main sewage line, discovering the sewer cleanouts that are in or near your home is essential. They make it simpler to get access to the sewage system in order to clear up the blockage and open the drain line (or main sewer line) that leads to the septic tank or municipal sewer system. If you need to repair a sewage line, the first step is to identify the main sewer line in your home. It doesn’t matter if there is a clog in a cast iron underground utility or sewer pipe, or if there are obstacles caused by tree roots.

Your local government offices are some of your most valuable resources for locating the original sewage line, and they should be on the radar of any homeowner embarking on a job of this nature.

Whether you’re replacing sewage drain pipes because your house is older or has a straight line crack, understanding the zoning regulations and what you’ll need from city hall is all part of the process.

Maps and Other Documents You Will Need

You may obtain a map of the sewage pipes upon request. Granted, these may not always be up to date or accurate, but they will offer you with a useful framework from which to build in the future. You will also want a map of the property borders in your county. This can be obtained through a county subdivision and deed office, among other places. Your sewer line will almost never be found on a neighbor’s property, so once you’ve determined the exact borders of your own property, you can begin to narrow down the specific location of your sewer line.

If there is a sewage easement, it is probable that the sewage pipe is positioned within that easement.

Locating Sewer Cleanouts

You will also need to locate any sewer cleanouts that you may have on your property to complete this task. They are not present in every home, and if they are there, they might be difficult to locate if you are not looking for them specifically. These are little pipe stubs that protrude from the ground and provide a convenient access point for cleaning sewer systems. These cleanouts, which are often located at ten-foot intervals from one another in newer homes, are common. We recommend that all homeowners get familiar with the location of their sewage lines outside their house, since this information will be crucial in the event of a plumbing issue.

1. What do you do if you don’t know where your drain pipes are supposed to go outside your house?
2. If you can figure out where your drain lines depart your property, you’ll have a leg up on the competition.
3. You may find the prior homeowner’s contact information on the deed as well as the municipal tax records if you don’t have their phone number available at the time.
4. A neighbor who has been paying attention to the line in the past, for example, might be able to recollect when work was done on it previously, or at the very least, they could know where their own lines connect to the municipal system.
5. They might even be very next to the home, hidden behind shrubs or up against the walls.
6. Finally, you should check the interior of your home to determine whether there are any cleanouts positioned around toilets.
7. GET IN TOUCH WITH THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY Continue to be perplexed about where these sewage pipes are positioned outside your home?
8. Water and sewer lines are marked on maps in several communities to illustrate where they are located on residential homes.
9. This is referred to as the “process of elimination” in most circles.
10. However, if all else fails, you may just dig about in regions that have not yet been excluded as potential destinations as a result of your investigation.

Finally, you may be required to obtain a permission from your local government before you can begin digging. If you do not, you may face a fine later on.

Get An Expert’s Help

In the event that you need your sewage line unclogged, or if you are having any other plumbing issues in your house, please do not hesitate to call our office to book assistance with our skilled plumbing specialist team. When you call A-1 SewerSeptic Service, Inc. for a Kansas City plumber to solve a plumbing issue on the weekend or in the evening, you will not be charged an additional fee. Request a quote right away!

Septic Location Services, Boise, Meridian, ID

Is it difficult to determine the location of your septic system or drain lines? ASAP Septic can discover them using the most up-to-date video equipment, relieving you of the worry of attempting to locate them on your own. Using the information provided above, we can also figure out how big your septic system should be and where it should be installed, as well as the direction your drain/leach field should be directed. 1.Confirm the existence of state records. Depending on when your home was built and whether or not it was required to be recorded, the location of your septic tank may already be in the public property records.

Observe and evaluate the backyard.

Occasionally, though, there are hints as to their whereabouts to be found.

A modest bump or depression in the ground may indicate the presence of an underground tank.

The indoor pipes may be checked using a soil probe to identify the position of the septic tank, which can be followed from your home.

What to Do If You Discover It on Your Own In the event that you have located your tank, DO NOT attempt to open it yourself.

Older tanks may have lids that are corroded or corroding, which might cause the tank to collapse.

On the top of the tank, there is frequently a hole that allows a septic pump vacuum line to be inserted, allowing the tank to be cleaned.

Septic and Drain Line Locator Services

septic tank pumping and inspections should be performed by a septic tank pumping business that specializes in septic tank care. If you dump septic tank waste in a river, stream, ditch, pond, or any other body of water, you are committing a major crime. In our vacuum truck, we will transfer the trash to an approved disposal and treatment facility, where it will be handled in a secure environment.

Call ASAP Septic today at(208) 991-7184and see how we can help you to find your septic tank and drain/leach fieldin Mountain Home, Garden Valley, Murphy, Parma, Crouch, Caldwell, Emmett, and all surrounding areas.