How To Find A Septic Tank Sonar? (Solution found)

If you’re not sure that you’ve found the tanks’ location, probe with a piece of rebar instead of digging. You’ll need a piece of rebar at least 4 feet (1.2 m) long, and a heavy hammer—preferably a sledgehammer. Hammer the rebar vertically into the ground until it comes into contact with your concrete septic tank.

Are septic tank locations public record?

Contact your local health department for public records. These permits should come with a diagram of the location where the septic system is buried. Depending on the age of your septic system, you may be able to find information regarding the location of your septic system by making a public records request.

Will a metal detector locate a septic tank?

If it’s Concrete or Steel, Use a Metal Detector. Based on your conclusions in Step 3, if your septic tank is likely made from concrete or steel, a metal detector can make the task of locating it much easier. But not just any metal detector will do.

How do I know if my house has a septic tank?

A surefire way to confirm whether or not your home has a septic system is to check your property records. It is likely that the building permit and blueprints for your home and property will contain information about the presence (or lack) of a septic tank.

Where are most septic tanks located?

Toe the Line. Your septic tank will most certainly be installed along the main sewer line that runs out of your home. Look for the 4-inch sewer that exits the crawl space or basement, and locate the same spot outside the home. Septic tanks are usually located between ten to 25 feet away from the home.

Can you use a metal detector to find sewer lines?

Using a Plumbing Pipe Detector to Locate Underground Pipes. As a property owner there will be times when, for a variety of reasons, you will need to locate underground metal objects. For example, using a pipe locator metal detector you can easily pinpoint leaking underground pipes quickly.

Are septic tanks made of metal?

The majority of septic tanks are constructed out of concrete, fiberglass, polyethylene or coated steel. Typically, septic tanks with a capacity smaller than 6,000 gallons are pre-manufactured. Larger septic tanks are constructed in place or assembled on-site from pre-manufactured sections.

How do you tell if your septic tank is full?

How to tell your septic tank is full and needs emptying

Pooling water.
Slow drains.
Odours.

An overly healthy lawn.
Sewer backup.
Gurgling Pipes.

Trouble Flushing.

How long do septic tanks last?

A septic system’s lifespan should be anywhere from 15 to 40 years. How long the system lasts depends on a number of factors, including construction material, soil acidity, water table, maintenance practices, and several others.

Is septic tank better than sewer?

Although septic systems require a bit more maintenance and attention, they have a number of advantages over sewer lines. Since they don’t pump wastewater long distances to be processed at a water treatment facility, they use less energy overall and have a smaller environmental impact.

How do you find a septic tank vent?

If you don’t have a basement, go outside and look for your roof vent. This is a pipe that pokes up out of your roof to vent sewer gases outside. Usually, the sewer pipe to the septic tank will leave the house directly below this vent. With some luck you will be able to find your septic tank straight from this point.

Can you have a septic tank without a leach field?

The waste from most septic tanks flows to a soakaway system or a drainage field. If your septic tank doesn’t have a drainage field or soakaway system, the waste water will instead flow through a sealed pipe and empty straight into a ditch or a local water course.

How to Use Special Equipment to Find The Septic Tank or Septic Waste Lines

POSTPONE a QUESTION or COMMENTabout how to locate a septic tank using basic tools or more complex electronic equipment or cameras for locating septic tank pipes

InspectAPedia does not allow any form of conflict of interest. The sponsors, goods, and services described on this website are not affiliated with us in any way. Equipment for finding septic tanks: A septic tank may be located with the use of several basic instruments and technologies, which are described in this paper. This article explains how to locate a septic tank when the position of the tank is not previously known or when the location of the septic tank is not readily apparent from the surrounding area.

ToolsEquipmentto Find theSeptic Tank

The following section discusses sewage tank finding tools and equipment. If you have not already done so, please read our more basic method to locating your septic tank by visual inspection: SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND. Remember to use caution while probing or excavating a septic tank, drywell, or cesspool, especially if you are not convinced that the installation has a safe and secure cover. Probing or excavating over a failing septic tank or cesspool, or even drywall, can cause the system to collapse, which is potentially lethal.

Some inspectors or septic service firms use a basic septic tank finding probesuch, instrument as a 1/4″ steel rod or a heavier steel wrecking bar, to probe the earth around a suspected septic tank site. Keep an eye out for: An oversized wrecking bar driven into the ground can perforate a steel septic tank lid or shatter a terra cotta septic drain line

OrORANGEBURG PIPEseptic drain line. These approaches, on the other hand, can be beneficial if applied with caution in soft or moist soils. A wrecking bar was used in a similar septic application, the inspection of septic fields, to make holes in a drainfield, but not directly across a drain line, in order to examine soil conditions. A failed septic system may cause wastewater to rise to the surface through an opening of this nature.)
Using a shovel is a low-tech and high-sweat technique of locating any buried thing, provided that you have a basic concept of where the object is hidden. Our contractor utilized a backhoe to “discover” the sewage tank when we conducted our first septic tank search in 1969. He “discovered” it by driving over and collapsing an old steel septic tank, which he had been looking for. I wished we’d begun with a shovel a little more slowly
Using a metal detector, you may locate certain septic tanks that have steel tank tops or manhole covers that have been utilized to cover the entry port to the tank. Drain Pipe with Electronics To locate the septic tank, use your senses: The septic tank may be pinpointed with pinpoint accuracy using technological means: Some plumbing contractors can locate the precise position of the septic tank at this stage by inserting a special plumbing snake into the main home drain pipe and running it through the house. In either case, the plumbing snake is placed into the drain line from a suitable point and then stretched until it encounters an impediment, which might be an obstruction in the drain line or it could be that the snake has extended into the septic tank and struck it. The metal plumbing snake receives an electrical signal that is supplied into it. The signal from the plumbing snake may be detected by a receiver located outside. The precise course of the snake in the underground drain line may be traced all the way to the tank by passing the receiver, which functions as a type of electronic metal detector, over the surface of the land. More information may be found atDRAINFIELD PIPE LOCATION, PRECISE

For the purpose of locating the septic tank, ground scanning radar was used: Hidden septic tanks, underground oil tanks, and other items beneath the surface of the earth can be detected using radar. Many of the companies who provide underground oil tank finding services are also capable of delivering this (more expensive) service.

Warning about using metal detectors or electronic pipe sensors to find Septic Tanks

Metal detectors or probes that indicate the course of an underground pipe are great and quick methods of locating buried drain and septic system components, as well as other buried infrastructure. However, on an older property, we’ve had an odd problem that may have been quite disastrous. If your property is old, it may contain numerous generations of underground cables and pipes, which can cause errors in the readings from sensors such as those for buried pipe or buried septic tank monitoring.

After attaching a transmitting unit to a pipe at the gas meter, the technician proceeded to paint a yellow line over our (at the time frozen) earth with a paintbrush.

We started digging 18 inches deep using a jackhammer to break through frozen earth in order to locate a water pipe “a safe distance away from the yellow line indicating the gas line As one might expect, we came across the gas line itself while we were excavating!

Keep an eye out for: Excavation equipment such as backhoes, wrecking bars, and jackhammers should not be used in areas where potentially dangerous utilities are underground.

SEPTIC LOCATION VIDEOS includes videos that demonstrate how to locate a septic system, septic tank, and septic drainfield, among other things.

Reader CommentsQ A

Please accept my apologies, but I am not familiar with the term “dry tank.” I know where the septic tank is, but I can’t seem to locate the dry tank. My home was constructed in the 1960s. I’m trying to locate the health department because I want to put up a vehicle awning for my camper. In order to determine the *exact* position of the entrance and exit of a septic tank, you must first locate the tank. 2. Remove the cover from the risers or cleanout apertures depending on the tank type and size, there may be two, three, or more of these openings.

I normally take measurements from the building’s nearest corners and develop a diagram for future reference.
Those measuring methodologies are described in greater depth in the preceding article.
It is reasonable to assume that the septic hookup would be near to the edge of the actual RV rectangle if the location where the RV was parked can be identified and identified.

A plumber can install a buried drain tracing wire at the septic tank and use an above-ground detector to trace the course of the plumbing.
There were two RVs here a few years ago, but no hookups can be discovered now.
The ground is quite difficult!

How can I locate the septic tank if a septic line runs down into a cement pad and is not visible?
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES:ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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How to Locate a Septic Drainfield or Septic Tank – GeoModel

Landowners must be aware of how to find buried septic tanks or underground septic drainfield pipelines on their property. What is the most effective technique of locating a septic tank or a septic drainfield, and why? Underground septic tanks and buried septic drainfield pipe lines can only be detected and located with the use of ground penetrating radar, which is the most accurate approach available. GeoModel, Inc. has over 25 years of expertise in the detection and location of underground septic tanks and septic drainfields throughout the United States.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and frequency location are two of the technologies used to locate septic tanks and septic drainfields, respectively (to detect any buried electrical power lines associated with the drainfield system).
personnel who are experts in the field.
conducts a ground penetrating radar (GPR) study to find and detect a septic drainfield.

As soon as a GeoModel, Inc.
An picture of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) cart in the process of identifying septic drainfield lines is shown in the following paragraph: GPRG is a technique for detecting a septic drainfield.
Plastic or PVC drainfield pipe, as well as other forms of nonconductive pipe, such as concrete and terra cotta septic drainfield pipe, can be located using GPR, especially under appropriate soil conditions.

An subterranean cross-sectional picture of the septic drainfield pipes is obtained using GPR, allowing the locations of the drainfield pipes to be determined.

Like a rule of thumb, the drainfield pipes should appear as upside-down U-shapes (parabolas).

The drainfield pipes in the illustration below are around one to one and a half to two feet below the surface of the earth.

GeoModel, Inc.

A frequency transmitter is used to apply a specified frequency to a buried power wire that is buried underground.

Ground penetrating radar has been used by GeoModel, Inc.

An orange paint mark indicates the position of a subterranean septic tank, which was discovered using ground penetrating radar (GPR).

Obtain our underground septic tank and septic drainfield locating services for your property or facility now by contacting GeoModel, Inc.

LOCATING YOUR TANK — JT’s SEPTIC

Septic tank location can be difficult, and it is best left to the expertise of a trained specialist. We have the experience and equipment necessary to locate and remove your tank lids as fast and effectively as possible while causing the least amount of damage to your property as possible. Attempting to save a few bucks time and time again, the homeowner (rightfully) digs trenches in the yard, sometimes for hours or even days, in an attempt to locate the tank; in the process, many well-meaning people have damaged utility lines and even the sewer pipes themselves.

For those of you who insist on trying to locate your own septic tank, the following are some pointers that will assist you in estimating its location:

Locate your sewer cleanouts – the tank should be in close proximity to the cleanouts
And If you have a small tank, you may notice dead areas in your yard
However, this is rare. Some depressions in the ground, roughly 8′ x 5′ in size, may be present. Check with the county to see whether you have a plot plan of utilities in your yard. Depending on how deep the tank is, you may want to consider building risers, which will bring the tank access up to the surface. JT’s would be pleased to install risers for you, or you may purchaseTuf-Titebrand risers from JT’s and have them installed yourself.

obtain A COPY OF YOUR PLOT PLAN

Owners of septic systems can acquire a copy of their septic permit and plot plan by contacting Yavapai County Environmental Services. These can be sent, faxed, or emailed, or they can be picked up at the County building. When it comes to supplying information on the size and placement of your system, these documents are really useful. Call (928) 771-3562 to schedule a septic inspection. The Permit Research phone number is (928) 771-3465 and the Fax number is (928) 771-3443. Send an email to: [email protected] (this includes Permit Research Requests).

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.

The Plumbing Experts have put out all you need to know about locating the septic tank on your property in this blog post for your convenience.

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

If you are a new homeowner who is trying to figure out where your septic tank is, a septic tank map should be included in your inspection documentation. You can use this information to assist you in pinpointing the exact position of your storage tank. If you don’t have access to this map, there are a few of additional strategies you might employ.

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.

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 can use your shovel to dig up the grass surrounding it and locate 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!

Detecting Underground Septic Systems

How well do you know the location of your septic tank? When looking for the location of your septic tank, septic tank cover, cleanout lids, and any associated lines, the first step is to contact a professional Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) crew. We, at C-N-I Locates, Ltd., collaborate with homeowners and construction professionals to identify septic systems utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology that is both accurate and safe to use in the field. It is also possible to use GPR to locate drywells, cesspools, and drain fields, among other things.

You may get information about your tank’s size and depth by using GPR, which can not only locate your tank but also supply you with information on its location.

We have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in delivering full-service subterranean detection and inspection services to our customers.

This includes the use of energy pulses released by GPR technology to discover septic systems beneath the surface of your property’s ground water. If you would like to learn more, please contact our Western Washington team of specialists by phone or by connecting with us online.

Why Use GPR for Septic Tank Locating?

The 19th of August, 2016 Finding tanks and drums with GPR is simple, quick, and accurate. If your septic tank becomes blocked, you’ll be left with nothing but a headache on your hands. Clearing the blockage might be a simple process, but locating the tank in the first place can be a time-consuming undertaking. If your tank is buried behind concrete, there is no manual method to locate it without the use of ground penetrating radar. The use of GPR is preferable even when septic tanks are buried in yards beneath layers of dirt since it is more accurate, faster, and dependable than other techniques of identifying septic tanks.

Accurate

Ground penetrating radar is a type of radar that sends radio waves into whatever it is scanning with the use of a transmitter, a receiver, and a central computer. The waves are then reflected back to the receiver by whatever lies beneath the surface of the water or ice. The computer is then able to decipher the signals and create a three-dimensional representation of what lies under the surface.

Fast

Because the whole system is contained inside a single component, the results of a GPR scan may be printed and analysed by a qualified expert as soon as the scan is complete.

Other Methods

The most traditional method of identifying your septic tank is to use a probe to dig about in the earth until you locate your tank. Locate the sewage line from the installation documentation from when the tank was installed, and then follow the directions on the line. From the map, you should be able to make an educated guess as to where the tank could be hiding. If you weren’t the original owner, or if you acquired the tank from a prior owner, and you don’t have the necessary documentation, this might be a difficult task.

How do you know when you’ve finally made it to the gas station?

Choose Concrete Visions for All Your GPR and Concrete Scanning Needs!

Concrete Visions has over 12 years of expertise in concrete scanning and knows how to provide the finest service possible to its clients. We are well-versed in the use of ground penetrating radar, but we are also aware that in some circumstances, alternative means may be required to be deployed. Whether it’s the utilization of concrete x-rays or electromagnetic conductivity, we have the expertise, ability, and instruments to get the job done right the first time. For more information about who we are and whatwe do, or if you would like to obtain a quotation, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Commenting and pinging are temporarily closed for this post.

SepticSitter™ Universal Sensor

HomeSepticSitter™ SepticSitterTM Universal Sensor (non-contact, liquid level/temperature) SepticSitterTM Universal Sensor (non-contact, liquid level/temperature) $ 389.60 (three hundred ninety-six dollars and sixty cents) As soon as you’ve decided on a Basic SepticSitter Kit, figure out how many extra SepticSitter Sensors you’ll need to keep track of all of the other important sewage system components, such as:

Septic tank, pump tank, treatment tank, cesspool, leach field or drain field lines or beds, distribution boxes (D-box), sewage holding tanks, and groundwater monitoring wells are all examples of septic tank types.

Sensors are connected in a daisy-chain, end-to-end arrangement utilizing a single string of CAN BUS power/communications wires that have been certified for direct burial. To a single Sensor Hub, up to eight (8) SepticSitter sonar sensors can be connected at the same time. For assistance in determining the optimal number of sensors and their placement, contact Dynamic Monitors or your septic specialist at your earliest convenience. A separate order must be placed for the CAN BUS power/communication cables, which are available in lengths of 5m (16ft) and 15m (49ft).

Product Description

As seen at WWETT, NOWRA, and the Consumer Electronics Show! Using sonar sensors, SepticSitter sonar sensors can be installed quickly and easily in a variety of locations on an onsite sewage system, such as septic tanks, pump tanks, cess pools, distribution boxes, leachfields, and drainfields, and they provide peace of mind by confirming that your onsite sewage system is operating properly. Using our customNMEA2000 CANBUS power/communications connections, sensors must be linked to aSepticSitter Hub (gateway).

It is possible to connect up to eight (8) sensors to a single Hub.

Along with monitoring all parts of your onsite sewage system or cesspool, these sensors may also be used to remotely monitor cisterns and sump pump pit water levels through the internet, allowing you to save time and money.

Patent No.

Additional information

Many folks have contacted me through e-mail (typically from across the nation) to inquire about the location of their septic tank. “I have no idea,” I generally say as a helpful response to the question. I really want to add something like, “It’s just off your driveway, near that bushy thing,” or anything along those lines. But, truly, even for the most experienced searchers, septic tanks are difficult to come by. The following are some strategies you might employ to assist you in locating your tank.

Precaution should be exercised before you get started.
So, proceed with caution!
Please let me know if you have any queries or need assistance.

Get to know the beast!
tanks are normally buried 4 inches to 4 feet below the surface of the ground.
You might be astonished to hear that someone knows exactly where it is hidden in plain sight.

It is against the law to dig or probe in your own yard without first locating and marking the underground services.

You will receive the following tools to aid you in your search: Measurement tape, tile probe, and a shovel (if you are ambitious) The following tools are required: a metal detector (borrow or rent one since septic tanks often include iron steel rebar in the lids), and a hoagie sandwich (because locating sewage tanks makes you hungry.trust me on this).

Examine the basement wall to see where all of the pipes join together and exit through the basement ceiling.

If you don’t have a basement, walk outdoors and check for the roof vents on your house.
Ordinarily, the sewage line that leads to the septic tank will exit the home right below this ventilation opening.
On sometimes, the ancient proverb “The grass is always greener on the other side of the septic tank” is true.

Your tank may be located by probing or digging for it, and with luck, you will locate it. Keep in mind that not everything that seems to be a septic tank actually is! It’s possible that you came upon one of the following instead:

Rubble buried in the ground (not to be confused with Barney Ruble)
SepticDrywell
An old foundation

In case you happen to live in a cemetery (which is spooky), you may use a grave vault to keep your belongings safe.

After a few hours of hopelessly digging about in your yard, it will be time to eat your hoagie and take a little sleep. Following that, it will be necessary to rent or borrow a metal detector. In the event that your next-door neighbor loves Star Wars action figures or has more than three unidentified antennae on his roof, there is a significant probability that you can borrow his metal detector. If you’re lucky, the metal detector will really assist you in finding your septic tank, rather than simply a bunch of old buried automobile parts.

According to local legend, a pumper known as “Zarzar The Incredible” can locate sewage tanks using a metal measuring tape spanning 30 feet in length.

Continue to press your commode (“commode” sounds sophisticated) tape deeper and farther down the pipes until he “feels” the bottom of the tank with his tape.
I recently acquired locate equipment that can be used to locate septic tanks, and I’m excited about it.
For further information, please contact me at 574-533-1470.

After that, you may have a movie of the inside of your sewer pipes created!
Related: Visit our Septic System Maintenance page for more information.
Services provided by Meade Septic Design Inc.

Both Clients and Projects are included.
Send me an email!

How to Locate a Septic Tank

A surprising number of homeowners have had to figure out how to find the location of a septic tank on their premises. If you’re purchasing a home with a septic system or discover that your property’s tank hasn’t been maintained in years, you’ll want to know where the tank is located because all septic tanks must be pumped at some point in time. In the course of a real estate transaction, the property owners or real estate agent may be aware of the location of the tank. Inquire about the “as-built,” which is a schematic of the septic system and the specifics of its installation.

Unfortunately, locating the septic tank may not be as simple as it appears.

In other cases, not filing the as-built with the local health department was not required. Because septic system permits have only been needed in Oregon since 1972, you may have to depend on visual indicators to determine whether your system is working properly.

1.Follow the Outgoing Sewer Pipe

Look for the four-inch sewage pipe that runs through the structure and the location where it exits the building in the basement or crawl space. Locate the location outside the building where the pipe exits the building or the location of an access cover over the pipe. It is required that septic tanks be at least five feet away from the structure, although they are usually between 10 and 25 feet away. You may follow the pipe all the way to the tank using a metal probe. It is important to note that sewage lines may curve and run around the corner of a building rather than following a straight path to the holding tank.

2.Search for Septic Tank Risers and Lids

Depending on their age, septic tanks are either one- or two-compartment structures. Each compartment has a cover, with two additional lids for dual-compartment tanks that were added later. If the tank includes an access point known as a riser, the lid may be readily visible from outside. Look for round, plastic discs that are about a foot or two in diameter. Due to the fact that the lids might be flush with the ground or just a few inches above it, they can get overrun with grass and other plants over time.

Tanks without risers are likewise equipped with lids, however they are located underground.

3.Find the Drain Field First

In the absence of a riser and lid, search for indicators of a drain field, such as an area of grass that grows more quickly or more slowly than the rest of the yard, grass that is a different color from the rest of the yard, or areas where snow melts more quickly than in other parts of the yard. Spots of high or low ground in the yard might possibly indicate the presence of a subterranean tank or drain field. You will be able to discover the tank if you probe these regions.

Reasons to Hire a Contractor for Help

Attempting to locate a septic tank on your own can be risky, and in some cases, lethal, if the septic system is old and in danger of collapse. In the event that you fall into a cesspool, dry well, or septic tank, you will die. Removing septic tank lids on your own might potentially put you at risk of contracting bacterial or virus diseases. If you detect any of the following issues, please contact a contractor to assist you in locating or inspecting your septic tank:

Soil that is sinking around the tank or drain field. Drainage backup into the home’s sewer system, or toilet backup
A foul odor in the area where you assume the tank and drain field are located
When there is no rain, pooling water, muddy soil, or spongy grass might occur. Septic tank covers that are rusted, cracked, or have been replaced with improvised lids are prohibited.

Even though you may be ashamed about forgetting where your septic tank is, it is a very frequent problem among homeowners. A contractor may assist you in locating it, and he or she may do it as part of the pumping service. If you need assistance locating your tank or if you have any other questions, please contact us at 503-630-7802. We are available to assist you!

Cleaning Intervals – Get Flushed

The criteria that influence WHEN a portable toilet should be cleaned are examined by Pete. More information on Sanitrax may be found HERE.

To keep up with Pete on Clubhouse, click HERE. Please visit our Patreon page by clicking HERE. Pipe Dreams by Chelsea Wald may be purchased by clicking HERE. For the purposes of analysis, the following third-party services are utilized: Chartable – able to be plotted on a graph.

Transcript

Please accept my greetings and welcome to Get Flushed, the world’s most popular sanitation podcast. My name is Pete, and I’ll be your host for the evening. With the backing of Sanitrax International, the world’s leading producer of modular, fresh water flushing, vacuum bathroom systems, Get Flushed is presented to you. So far in Get Flushed, we’ve discussed HOW to clean a portable bathroom, but we haven’t addressed the other side of the issue — WHEN to clean a portable restroom. The majority of bathroom attendants operate on a set schedule.

Some people follow a two-weekly schedule.

But how do you determine the appropriate interval, not just in terms of efficiency and efficacy, but also in terms of presenting the toilet in the best possible condition to both the HIRER and the end user?

Do you have any?

Tonya Ray from Surco explained to us back in season 1, episode 6, that toilet chemicals are typically composed of four key components: – A fragrance to mask the odor; a color to conceal the waste; a detergent or surfactant to aid in the breakdown of the waste; a biocide or disinfectant to destroy harmful microorganisms.

Obviously, there are a variety of elements that might influence this — The amount of chemical used, the amount of water used (which provides the dilution), the ambient temperature (hot weather degenerates more quickly), and the frequency of application are all factors to consider (high loads of waste will turn faster than an occasional use) According to my observations, blue remains blue for approximately one week.

After then, the color becomes green, the aroma disappears, and the disinfectant or biocide no longer performs its function, despite the fact that it is not visible.
The capacity of the holding tank is the next issue to take into consideration.
There are, of course, certain exceptions.
Many accessible units have a smaller tank that stores significantly less fuel, but they have greater space within the cabin for those who use a wheelchair or require further help.
After 10 gallons of water have been added, there is only 50 gallons of space left.
Basically, how many times can you use the toilet till you run out of toilet paper.
In other words, a typical portable toilet filled with ten gallons of water can contain one day’s worth of waste from 100 people before it becomes overflowing.

It is the cleanliness – or dirtiness – of the cabin that is the third criteria that decides when a toilet should be cleaned.

When you add foot activity, you get muck from dirty boots, greasy hand prints, and trash that has been dumped on the tank’s top and on the floor.

Consequently, the device must be cleaned immediately or removed from operation until the repair has been completed.

This basic math, together with my previous pumping experience, leads me to believe that one week between cleans is a reasonable time frame.

Anything more than that leaves too much to chance and results in a considerably less pleasant bathroom experience for the person using the facilities.

However, this is only effective if you prepare ahead of time and adapt your workload in response to demand.

This will aid in the reduction of needless travel as well as the control of expenditures.

Portable toilets are temporary structures that come and go as construction projects begin and end.

Because of the ongoing ebb and flow, it is necessary to adjust routes on a regular basis.

We notice that as work begins on new subdivisions, the demand for toilets increases, resulting in a bigger concentration of toilets on site in a single place.

To the point where, even with competent software, I’d say it’s very much a full-time job for at least one individual.

Alternatively, the drivers switch jobs prior to the commencement of the journey to ensure that the routes are balanced.

Drivers themselves are often the most knowledgeable about whether a route is viable or whether a certain work has to be moved to another day, and they are the ones who can provide the most accurate information.

The use of defined routes and specified intervals between cleans indicates that the operator prioritizes the interests of their firm over the demands of their clients.

The goal of every business is to maximize profits, and lowering expenses by optimizing your routes makes perfect sense in this case as well.

In situations when pickups, deliveries, or cleanings are time-sensitive, it might have an impact on the outcome.

Furthermore, if you keep those clients waiting, you are likely to incur financial losses, which may lead them to switch service providers.

It is more hassle than it is worth dealing with customers who say, “I’ll contact you when it needs cleaning.” You see, they’ll normally wait until the toilet is completely overflowing and about to overflow before they dial the phone number for help.

I can tell you from personal experience that this puts an unfair amount of stress on the operator’s shoulders.

If you cancel everything to attend, you will be at a competitive disadvantage with your other clients.

Nobody in their right mind would risk their regular income for the sake of a one-time bonus or bonus payment.

In response to requests for on-call assistance, I charge a far higher rate than the industry standard.

Why?

A better solution is to provide them with a weekly cleaning service at a set rate.

And I say that because it takes far more effort to clean a toilet that hasn’t been cared to in who knows how long than it should.

Pumpers should not feel terrible about raising their prices or refusing those odd tasks that come along from time to time.

The engine oil and brakes on a car would not be neglected, and the portable toilet should not be neglected too.

According to what I’ve heard, things are lot more competitive and hostile in Europe right now.

That is something I can genuinely believe.

When individuals didn’t generally work together in that atmosphere, they sought to pull one over on everyone else, which was unusual in that context.

However, this does not have to be the case.

LINK Get Flushed is provided to you by Sanitrax, with the assistance of.

The gadget was installed inside the tank and was used to measure the amount of open space between the tank’s top and the waste.

The results obtained in the laboratory were fairly encouraging.

After 40 litres of water were poured to the toilet, it was prepared for use and the device was reset to zero.

In the tank, an algarhythm converted that measurement into a percentage, which indicated how much capacity was still available.

While using the device in practice, we encountered numerous issues, and the device failed to meet our expectations, both in terms of reliability and precision.

Smooth surfaces such as still water reflect laser light and sonar sound extremely well, making them ideal for use in remote sensing.

It was impossible for the sensors to take a reading if solid matter sailed beneath the beam of the measuring device.

The second issue was brought on by mounding of soil.

That indicated that either the water level under the sensor was concealed by the mound or that the sensor did not provide an accurate estimate of the volume of waste in the toilet as it should have.

septic waste is wet and black, it may include nasty gas, and it most certainly is caustic.

Fortunately, this occurs on a regular basis; however, because condensation forms on the tank’s walls, it poses no danger.

Despite these issues, I remain convinced that the concept was sound, but that the execution and design required further improvement.

In fact, the Sanitrax tech module is capable of keeping track of the amount of flushes that it does on a daily basis.

Air Vote provides a more straightforward and, in certain cases, more effective method of determining if a portable toilet needs to be cleaned.

When someone uses the toilet and brings their phone up to the sticker, the restroom operator receives an automated alert.

The use of QR codes in criminal investigation has increased dramatically over the past year, and it has become a common practice to check in when entering stores and other facilities.

As the system becomes more widely used, users of public restrooms will become more comfortable and willing to use it as a result.

Furthermore, having a sliding calendar that is adaptable is a fantastic approach to balance such urgent demands with your usual work.

If your driver normally makes rounds through the Western suburbs on Wednesday and the Southern suburbs on Thursday, consider the following scenario: You receive an urgent request for a toilet to be delivered to a location on the Southside of town on Wednesday late in the afternoon on Tuesday.

Their bathroom is not working properly, and they require a restroom before 9 a.m.

Making a single journey south to make the delivery first thing on Wednesday morning, then returning west to finish your scheduled Wednesday run, might be one option you may consider.

By doing so, you would avoid having to drive all the way back across town since you would use the Western restrooms on Thursday instead.

There is no commercially available software that allows for that level of customization and flexibility at this time, as far as I’m aware.

LINK In the coming week’s podcast, I’ll be speaking with Chelsea Wald, an award-winning scientific and environmental journalist originally from the United States who is now residing in Amsterdam.

Pipe Dreams, according to the book’s description, “dares to spotlight the rising army of scientists, engineers, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and campaigners throughout the world who are overcoming their aversions and focusing their considerable abilities on making toilets more accessible and healthier for all.” The reviews for Pipe Dreams are incredibly positive and I shared a terrific talk with Chelsea about toilets, technology and the global sanitation problem.

I’m looking forward to sharing that episode with you all next week, and I hope you are as well.

An affiliate link to Chelsea’s bookstore has been added to the show notes for this week.

Everyone with an interest in sanitation is welcome to attend and participate in the Conversaiton – whether they are operators, event organizers or suppliers, pump truck drivers or haulers, or toilet users.

Those unfamiliar with Clubhouse can find out more about it here.

It’s a free app, but it’s only accessible on iOS thus you need to be an iphone user.

For the second time, I’ll include a link in the show notes for today’s broadcast so that you may follow along on Clubhouse and participate in the next segment of the Sanitation Conversation.

Thanks for reading.

And why not check out our Patreon page to get early access to each episode as well as exclusive bonus content that isn’t available anywhere else?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. You are listening to Get Flushed, the portable sanitation podcast, hosted by Pete, and I am speaking on his behalf.