What To Use To Probe For A Septic Tank? (Solution)

  • One of the most valuable tools for finding a septic tank is a soil probe —a thin piece of metal that pierces through the soil to quickly locate anything that might be buried underground. Insert your soil probe every two feet starting from the location where your sewer line leaves your home and follow it straight out.

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 you locate a septic tank?

In most cases, septic tank components including the lid, are buried between 4 inches and 4 feet underground. You can use a metal probe to locate its edges and mark the perimeter. If you do not find the lid by probing, shallow excavation with a shovel along the tank’s perimeter should reveal the lid.

How do you ground a probe?

Using the soil probe is easy. Simply insert the pointed end into the soil and push as deep as you can, then slowly pull up.

How do you put in a Drainfield probe?

Scan the area for markers: The location of your septic tank should be marked by a cement marker the size of a manhole cover. Look for it 10 to 20 feet away from your home. Once you locate the tank, follow the downward-most path and check for an empty downward-sloping field. You may have just found your drain field.

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.

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.

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.

How many lids are on a septic tank?

In order to make repairs or perform regular maintenance or cleaning/pumping of the tank, access must be provided. There are usually two lids located at the top of the septic tank-one located over the inlet “T” and one located over the outlet “T” (see “Septic Components: Septic Tanks”).

How often should a septic tank be pumped?

Inspect and Pump Frequently The average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years by a septic service professional. Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years.

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.

How do you tell if your septic tank is full?

Here are some of the most common warning signs that you have a full septic tank:

  1. Your Drains Are Taking Forever.
  2. Standing Water Over Your Septic Tank.
  3. Bad Smells Coming From Your Yard.
  4. You Hear Gurgling Water.
  5. You Have A Sewage Backup.
  6. How often should you empty your septic tank?

Should septic tank lids be buried?

In most cases, all components of the septic tank including the lid are buried between 4 inches and 4 feet underground. Unless the septic tank has special risers that position the lid at ground level, you’ll have to dig for it.

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. The presence of multiple generations of buried wires and pipes on older properties can cause readings from buried pipe or buried septic tank sensors to be inaccurate.We called our local gas company to locate a buried gas line.After connecting a sending unit to a pipe at the gas meter, the technician proceeded to paint a yellow line across our (then frozen) soil.

Using a jackhammer to break frozen soil to locate a water pipe, we began digging 18″ away from the yellow line marking the gas line.

Further investigation revealed that an old steel water pipe running parallel to the current and parallel to the gas line had caused

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.

  1. I normally take measurements from the building’s nearest corners and develop a diagram for future reference.
  2. Those measuring methodologies are described in greater depth in the preceding article.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. There were two RVs here a few years ago, but no hookups can be discovered now.
  6. 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? READ MORE AT SEPTIC TANK LOCATIONAL LAYOUT. Alternatively, choose a topic from the closely related articles listed below, or browse the entireARTICLE INDEX. Alternatively, consider the following:

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES:ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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Septic Locating – All American Septic

If the septic tank is covered, it is necessary to locate it. Our skilled specialists can find for an extra cost using an As-Built and a water probe, which they will provide to you. The As-built provides us with a general place from which to begin investigating. With the water probe, we are able to enter the earth and discover the position of the septic tank without having to dig up your lawn or harm your landscaping. Lids on septic tanks may be located electronically – It may be essential to find the Septic Tank lids electronically in some situations.

The use of an electronic locator should only be done as a last option.

It will aid you in finding the general placement of the Septic Tank itself if you have an As-Built.

1 Use a Septic Tank Map

First and foremost, make use of a road map. Using a map is frequently the quickest and most convenient alternative. Most counties keep records of the installation of septic tanks at all of their residents’ residences. These maps should include schematics that illustrate the specific placement of the tank on the land, as well as measurements that allow you to measure and locate the tank’s exact location on the property. Never mind that landmarks may shift over time depending on when the tank was built, so if there are a few more shrubs or a tree nearby, don’t rule out that location as a possibility.

When looking at your property, you could see a hill or mound on the ground, which is frequently an indication that there is a septic tank nearby.

Depending on the quality of your septic system, the grass in the vicinity of the tank may be greener and more vigorously growing than elsewhere.

If you are unable to locate a map or other paperwork that identifies the location of your septic tank, there are a few locations to try to see if you can obtain a map of the area.

County health departments are frequently in charge of keeping track of septic systems. If your municipality or county does not have a property survey map accessible, you might inquire if such a map is available. A septic tank’s position could be depicted on a survey map, for example.

2 Inspect Your Yard

Septic tanks are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible when they are erected. With the passage of time, and the growth of the grass, it might be difficult to discern the visual indications that indicated the exact location of your septic tank’s installation. However, this does not rule out the possibility of finding evidence that will take you to the location of your septic tank in the future. Notify yourself of where your pipe exits the home, and then proceed outside to locate the matching place in your yard.

See also:  What Are The Dimensions Of A 1200 Gallon Septic Tank? (Solution)

Every two feet, take a probe and see what you find.

The tank will be located after the probe detects the impact of flat concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene against the surface.

What to Do After You Find 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

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 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. It is important to determine where this line exits your property and in which direction it is moving, as it often travels straight out to the septic tank itself.

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!

23 Best Septic Tank Tools for 2022

It is necessary to have the proper equipment to perform septic system inspection, maintenance, and installation in order to keep customers’ household waste systems clean and in excellent functioning condition. Aside from being protected against infectious illnesses, hazardous gases, and electrical shock, septic tank service professionals must also be protected from a variety of other health concerns. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, septic systems are used by more than one in every five residences in the United States to treat their wastewater.

To see a demonstration, please click here.

The Septic Tools List

First, take a look at the list of the 23 top tools for septic tank service providers, which you can find here. We’ve provided further information on each below so that you may go deeper into the facts and determine what your septic service still need in order to be successful. Locator for Septic Tanks

  1. Metal detector, flushable septic tank locator, electronic septic tank locator, plumbing cleanout snake, ground-scanning radar, and a variety of other tools are available.

Septic Probes are used to test for bacteria in the intestines.

  1. Soil probe rods, steel probe rods, and septic tank probe rods are all options.

Septic Inspection Instruments

  1. A long wooden pole or a sludge judge may be used. Inspection of baffles, tees, and walls with a visual inspection
  2. The use of video inspection equipment

Cleaning Equipment for Septic Tanks

  1. Pump truck, high-capacity vacuum, sewer jet, or high-velocity water jet are all examples of equipment. Muck rake, Wayne ball, Wrecking bar, and power rodding are all useful tools. Riser pipes for septic tanks

Products for Septic Tank Maintenance

  1. Alarms and control panels
  2. Effluent filters
  3. Vent pipe odor filters
  4. Septic business software
  5. Effluent filters

Septic Tank Locator Tool

Sewage holding tanks or separation chambers, which are often buried underground and composed of materials such as concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene, serve as a holding tank or separation chamber for wastewater that is drained down drain pipes. Solid debris sinks to the bottom and congeals to produce sludge, whereas fats, oils, and grease rise to the surface and congeal to make scum. In a drain field, the liquid effluent that remains after the tank has been emptied. Some visible signs, such as snow melt, rectangular depressions in the soil, regions of reduced grass growth or areas of lush growth, or pipes poking out of the ground anywhere from 10 to 20 feet from the residence, can serve as a basic septic finder.

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For example, consider the following methods for locating a septic tank using a metal detector:

  • Septic tanks and septic tank covers that are made of metal might be discovered with the use of a metal detector. A concrete septic tank may be located by utilizing a metal detector to find the steel reinforcing bars that support the tank’s concrete shell. It is possible that your septic tank does not contain enough metal to be detected, in which case you will need to use a plumbing cleanout snake to snake the sewage line. When the cleanout snake reaches the septic tank, it comes to a complete stop, and you may use a metal detector to find the end of the snake.

Other choices for a septic tank finding equipment include the following:

  • In order to trace the signal from an electronic septic tank tracker, you must flush it down the toilet and track its whereabouts using a receiver. Generally speaking, you’ll locate the septic tank wherever the strongest signal from the septic locator transmitter may be found. Ground-scanning radar, which is frequently employed by industries to discover subsurface oil tanks, may also be used to detect the presence of septic tanks. Just keep in mind that this service may come at a higher cost to clients.

An important point of caution: When utilizing metal detectors or electronic septic tank finding equipment, be in mind that older properties may have several hidden cables and pipes, which can cause misleading readings. Also, be cautious not to excavate using backhoes, wrecking bars, or jackhammers in locations where potentially dangerous utility lines are buried, or in regions where septic tank failure has deteriorated the ground.

Septic Tank Probe

When septic professionals inspect a customer’s property, they will often utilize a soil probe rod or a ground probe rod to discover underground drain lines. An experienced septic contractor will locate the drain lines by placing a thin metal rod or steel probe rod into the ground 10 to 15 feet away from the home’s foundation and digging down to the sewer pipe exit point. Then they’ll follow the lines all the way to the underground septic tank to finish the job. The tank may be located with the use of an electronic probe in some instances.

A septic probe may also be used to determine where septic tank field lines are located, which is useful information.

The presence of luxuriant vegetation, soft spongy ground, a sewage stench, or effluence at the surface are all indicators of a likely septic tank failure.

Septic Inspection Tools

As soon as the tank has been discovered and gained access, the liquid levels in the tank are measured before any cleaning equipment is used to clean the tank. Inserting a long wooden stick into different parts of the tank will allow you to determine the levels. Depending on how much sludge and scum is on the wooden pole as you take it out, you can determine how much cleaning is required. For approximately $75, you can purchase an asludge judge (a long hollow plastic tube with a check valve at the bottom), which will serve the same purpose.

It is necessary to pump the tank, according to EPA guidelines, if the bottom of the scum layer is within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet or the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet.

The condition of the baffles and tees (which prevent sewage from backing up into the inlet or outflow pipe) as well as any evidence of cracks in the tank’s walls are all checked during a septic tank inspection.

Depending on the company, video inspection technology may be used to check the tank and other septic system components in great detail.

Septic Tank Cleaning Tools

Septic tank service companies remove waste from septic tanks with the use of a pump vehicle equipped with a high-capacity vacuum. To clear obstructions or access hard-to-reach sections of the tank, they may also utilize various septic instruments such as a sewage jet or high-velocity water jet, among other things. Other septic tank instruments that are commonly utilized on the job include as follows:

  • When pumping, muck-rake is a long, hoe-like implement that is used to break up scum and sludge that has accumulated. In septic pipe cleaning, the Wayne ball is a spirally grooved, inflated, semi-hard rubber ball that is used in conjunction with a hydraulic jet action. Septic tank lids are normally opened with the use of a wrecking bar, which is a long steel bar. Rodding using high-pressure water is a high-tech variant of the traditional drain snake. When threaded through pipes, it makes use of a flexible, thin metal wire that does not put undue strain on sensitive plumbing
  • Septic tank risers are pipes made of plastic, fiberglass, or concrete that are used to construct a vertical gateway from the ground level to the septic tank above. Contractors frequently recommend installing this type of septic equipment in order to facilitate access for their septic tank pumping equipment.
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Septic Maintenance Products

  • The alarms and control panels of a septic system govern and monitor all of the functions of the system, including warnings for high water, air pump failure, and submersible pump failure. Effluent filters are devices that are attached to the outputs of a septic tank and are used to minimize the amount of particles that flow out of the tank and into the drain field. In order to reduce or eliminate odors from septic tanks, activated carbon vent pipe odor filters are utilized.

Septic Business Software

Better productivity and higher customer service are achieved via the use of septic service software in your company’s everyday business operations. Using online scheduling and dispatching, as well as mobile estimates and billing, you can make running your septic treatment business a lot more organized endeavor. Additional ServiceTitan solutions, such as Marketing Pro, Phones Pro, and Pricebook Pro, assist septic firms in increasing their lead generation and increasing their net profit margins.

Business Valuation Calculator

Do you want to discover how much your septic repair company is worth right now? Use the freeServiceTitan Business Valuation Calculator to uncover crucial criteria for tracking growth and profitability, as well as to determine how much your local septic business could be valued if you decide to sell it.

Invoice Generator

Distribute to your septic team a mobile tool that allows them to quickly and conveniently produce and save bills, then email or text them from the field with ServiceTitan’s free Invoice Generator Tool. Reduce paperwork, expedite invoicing, and provide consumers with a quick, professional digital invoice that they can pay online or on the job site by eliminating paper-based processes.

Labor Rate Calculator

With ServiceTitan’s free interactive Labor Rate Calculator, you can see how much each person really costs your septic service company and figure out how much to charge clients. Plugging in essential variables, such as overhead expenses and ideal net profit, allows you to calculate the billable hourly labor rate necessary to pay the costs of running company while also maximizing profits.

Pipe Volume Calculator

By utilizing the freeServiceTitan Pipe Volume Calculator, you can determine how much liquid waste a piping section can carry as well as how much those pipes weigh when they are completely filled. A septic tank professional can quickly and effectively convert pipe volume and mass using six distinct measurement units, allowing them to save time, decrease waste, increase accuracy, and certify that the pipe size is adequate for any septic operation.

ROI Calculator

With the help of our online ServiceTitan ROI Calculator, you can ensure that your septic firm can fully benefit on all of the capabilities offered by ServiceTitan’s field management platform and generate a favorable return on investment. Increase your earning potential by increasing your average ticket size and increasing the number of daily calls, scheduled appointments, estimates, and jobs sold.

Service Business Grader

The Service Business Grader Tool from ServiceTitan allows you to evaluate the success of your septic service company.

You may find out how your septic tank service techs and dispatchers are doing in less than a minute by comparing average ticket sales and other critical indicators with those of your competitors.

Mobile AppTablet

Create a mobile tablet application that allows clients to easily order, purchase, and pay for your company’s septic services with a single tap, click, or swipe on their mobile device. Techs provide tiered estimates in the field using the ServiceTitan Mobile App, which includes bright photographs, manufacturer videos, and full product information, allowing consumers to browse and purchase at their own leisure, much as they would when buying online. Make it possible for your electrical clients to receive the mobile-driven service they desire by including ServiceTitan’s Mobile App in your technicians’ toolbox.

  • With just a few taps on their mobile tablet, techs may have access to all of the information gathered by CSRs, including customers’ names and addresses and contact information
  • Outstanding estimates
  • Job histories
  • Property data
  • Past bills
  • Call recordings
  • And comments. Adding your own forms and pricebooks to the ServiceTitan cloud-based system makes it simple to manage pricing and product adjustments across the whole system. Job automation is a term used to describe the process of automating a job. Automate the appearance of particular forms as the project advances, so that technicians are aware of the procedures they need to do at each stage—from diagnosis and repair to billing and requesting a customer review
  • Make mobile payments more efficient by scanning checks and credit cards using the mobile tablet’s camera, or by using a credit-card swiper in addition to the camera. In the event that clients choose to pay in cash, techs may take it as well and instantly document payment while on the job site.

Amazon.com: PlumBest P27005R3 60-Inch Steel Probing Rod, Black : Patio, Lawn & Garden

4.0 stars out of 5 for this product Although strong, the tip is overly broad. On November 3, 2020, the United States will conduct a review. Extremely durable and stiff. In firm ground, the shaft does not bend much. The replacement tip, on the other hand, is bigger than the shaft, making it more difficult to remove from hard ground in some cases. The shaft tip should have been decreased before it was threaded in order to allow for the use of a tip of identical diameter, which would have made it flush with the shaft.

See the before and after pictures to see how the changes made it significantly better.

Reviews with images

On August 17, 2019, a review was conducted in the United States. The following dimensions have been verified: 4 feet Purchase This is something I really like. Despite my repeated requests, the fool who installed a sprinkler system over four acres without recording anything on the property and house I had just acquired refused to tell me where the pipes were. This is due to the fact that he was utilizing well water while also tapping into the neighboring city water line. That I still had a 10 foot geyser after shutting off my well pump defied all logic and reasoning.

  1. I couldn’t be more pleased.
  2. I’m a 55-year-old disabled United States Army veteran, and digging 3-4 foot trenches in 98-degree temperatures with high humidity in Georgia is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle for me.
  3. This device would have saved me from a lot of migraines and agony if I had discovered it earlier in the year.
  4. Make certain that the ground is damp in order to probe more easily.
  5. I’m in love with it so much that I’m considering purchasing another one.
  6. Size: 4 FeetPurchase that has been verified Extremely durable and stiff.
  7. The replacement tip, on the other hand, is bigger than the shaft, making it more difficult to remove from hard ground in some cases.

I took the tip off and sharpened the shaft to make it more angular.

4.0 stars out of 5 for this product Although strong, the tip is overly broad.

Extremely durable and stiff.

The replacement tip, on the other hand, is bigger than the shaft, making it more difficult to remove from hard ground in some cases.

I took the tip off and sharpened the shaft to make it more angular.

The photographs in this review On February 15, 2021, a review will be conducted in the United States.

There was some skepticism about whether this was actually 60 “as stated in the headline, and we are delighted that we did.

With this, I was able to locate it in less than 15 minutes.

Size: 4 FeetPurchase that has been verified This method is useful for identifying subsurface things such as pipelines, concrete septic tank lids, and other similar items before doing hard digging using post hole diggers or a backhoe.

So far, everything has gone well, and if you come across something underground, assess the depth first, then dig securely to that depth and investigate it again.

It’s an excellent locating tool to have in your toolkit.

Size: 4 FeetPurchase that has been verified I am unable to utilize this stuff in any way.

I tried it on the grass and in the soil, but it didn’t work.

The review will take place in the United States on July 7, 2020.

You could do worse than these, in my view, because they have a little too much flex in them.

In my work as an electrician, I drive a lot of ground rods for electric systems, and I’m always a bit concerned that, if I really pound this probe into hard pack dirt, I’ll accidently bend it.

The spike head, which is fitted into the shaft, has a huge diameter and will have a difficult time passing through anything larger than that.

It has a severe angle, therefore it will not be as smooth as a smooth push through soil.

Due to the sandy nature of the ground underneath me, I can only go a few inches down before the shaft begins to bend and I am unable to go any farther.

Dimensions: 4 feet in length Purchase that has been verified The tip is pointed and protrudes from the edges of the container. When pulling out, it becomes stuck in the soil and rock.;) The handle has been cleanly welded, and the steel is rather sturdy.

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 stars out of 5 for this product Extremely durable On November 21, 2021, a review will be conducted in Canada. Dimensions: 4 feet in length Purchase that has been verified This is the probe I purchased after buying my first one, which turned out to be hollow fiber glass. I returned it and set out to locate a solid steel probe, which is exactly what I discovered. However, I’m going to remove the cap at the bottom and have someone hone it to a point so that it’ll be simpler to insert into the ground when I’m ready.

  1. I’m quite pleased with it.
  2. As a side note, make very certain that you want a probe before purchasing one because the first one was difficult to return.
  3. I suppose they really felt sorry for me when I returned with that damaged package, but they took it, and now I know to be extremely cautious when purchasing products that are significantly larger than typical.
  4. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID.
  5. Dimensions: 4 feet in length Purchase that has been verified We bought a house three years ago, and the septic tank was not located according to the plans.
  6. Yes, I did not have to excavate half the yard, and the probing rod proved to be easy to handle, and the tank was located and emptied in a very short period of I’m confident that I’ll be able to find another application for this rod.
  7. On March 16, 2020, a review was conducted in Canada.

The construction is of high quality; it is strong and penetrates the ground well.

If it assists me in locating the treasure, I will have to figure out a method to award it six stars, hehe.

5.0 stars out of 5 for this product It is capable of probing the earth!

Dimensions: 4 feet in length Purchase that has been verified I mean, it does exactly what it is meant to do!

5.0 stars out of 5 for this product I couldn’t have asked for anything more; everything was just as stated, was reasonably priced, and arrived on schedule.

Size: 4 FeetPurchase that has been verified There is nothing more I could ask for; everything was as advertised, good value, and arrived in a decent amount of time, albeit they need to work on packing that can withstand a pointed steel rod!

How To Find Septic Tank Location: A Guide for Property Owners

The majority of individuals prefer to relax on their back patio or porch and take in the scenery rather than worrying about where their septic tank could be. When you know exactly where your septic tank is, it will be much easier to schedule routine sewer line cleanouts and repair appointments. Continue reading to find out more about how to locate your septic tank.

Follow the Main Sewer Line

If you’re like most people, you like relaxing on your back patio or porch and taking in the scenery rather than worrying about where your septic tank could be. When you know exactly where your septic tank is, it will be much easier to schedule routine sewer line cleanouts and repairs. Learn more about how to locate your septic tank by continuing reading this article. 1.

Inspect Your Property

Imperfections in the terrain might sometimes provide clues as to where your septic tank is located. Septic tanks are often placed in such a way that you can scarcely know they are there. However, dips in the soil or tiny hills in the landscape may suggest the presence of a septic tank hidden beneath the ground. You may use your soil probe to find your septic tank if these dips or hills are located between five and twenty-five feet distant from your property line. Because most septic tanks are located between six inches and four feet underground, make sure you probe the soil to a sufficient depth before installing the tank.

While you are inspecting your property, keep a look out for the septic lid that may be missing.

These are often found at or slightly below ground level, depending on the situation.

  • Paved surfaces
  • Unique landscaping
  • Your water well, if you have one
  • And other features.

If you are still having trouble locating your septic system, you might inquire of your neighbors about the location of their septic tank on their land. Finding out how far away their septic systems are will help you figure out where yours might be hidden in your yard or garden.

Check the Property Records

Are you unsure about how to obtain this? Simply contact your county’s health department for further information. Check with your local health agency to see if they have a property survey map and a septic tank map that you can borrow. Perhaps you will be shocked to learn that there are a variety of options to obtain information about your property without ever leaving the comfort of your own residence. Building permits, for example, are frequently found in county records, and they may provide schematics with specifications on how far away from a septic tank a home should be, as well as other important information such as the size of the tank.

Most counties, on the other hand, keep records of septic tank installations for every address. For further information on the placement of your septic tank, you can consult your home inspection documents or the deed to the property.

Don’t Try to Fix Septic Tank Issues Yourself

Septic tank problems should be left to the specialists. The Original Plumber can do routine maintenance on your septic tank and examine any problems you may have once you’ve located the tank. It is not recommended to open the septic tank lid since poisonous vapors might cause major health problems. Getting trapped in an open septic tank might result in serious injury or death. While it is beneficial to know where your septic tank is located, it is also beneficial to be aware of the potential health dangers associated with opening the tank.

See also:  How To Pour Copper Sulfate Into Septic Tank? (Best solution)

Schedule Septic Tank Maintenance

The maintenance of your septic tank on a regular basis helps to avoid sewer backups and costly repairs to your sewer system. You should plan to have your septic tank pumped out every three to five years, depending on the size of your tank and the number of people that reside in your home. The Original Plumber offers skilled septic tank and drain field maintenance and repair services at competitive prices. While it is useful to know where the septic tank is located, it is not required. Our team of skilled plumbers is equipped with all of the tools and equipment necessary to locate your tank, even if you have a vast property.

We are open seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

A septic system is a system for the management of wastewater. Simply said, wastewater will exit your home through pipes until it reaches your septic tank, which is located outside your home. Septic tanks are normally located beneath the surface of the earth. Solids and liquids will separate in the septic tank as a result of the separation process. Eventually, the solids will fall to the bottom of the tank and the liquids will run out onto your leach field.

How do I know if I have a septic tank?

Even if there are no obvious signs of a septic tank in your yard – such as uneven landscaping – there are a few techniques to assess whether or not your home is equipped with an onsite sewage system. Checking your property records is the most reliable technique to ensure that you are utilizing the correct system. When you acquired your house, you should have received a copy of the septic system map with the property documents as well. Checking your electricity statement is another way to determine this.

If you’re also using well water, it’s possible that you won’t receive one at all.

What do I do once I locate my septic tank?

Once you’ve discovered where your septic tank is, there are a few things you should do. It is critical to clearly mark the position of your septic tank. With our inspection, pumping, and repair services, you can save time whether you need a sewer line cleanout or a septic tank maintenance job completed quickly. Make a note of the location of your tank so that you can find it again if necessary. It should be heavy enough so that it does not fly away in windy conditions. A creative approach to accomplish this without having an unattractive flag or marking in your yard is to use garden décor or a potted plant.

This way, you’ll have it for future reference and will be able to quickly locate the exact position if necessary.

Then contact The Original Plumber to have your septic system maintained on a regular basis. Preventing worse problems and the need for costly repairs down the line may be accomplished via proper septic system maintenance. All of the heavy lifting has been delegated to our team of professionals.

How to Find a Septic Tank With a Metal Detector

For sewage treatment in the United States, around 48% of households in rural and outlying regions depend on septic tanks or septic systems. Many of these systems have been operating without regular maintenance for many years. It is necessary to locate your septic tank in the event that sewage is backing up into your home or if your main drain line has become obstructed. Throughout this post, we’ll go over the basics of how septic systems function before showing you how to identify your septic tank in six simple stages.

How do septic systems work?

A septic system is made up of two parts: the septic tank and the drain field (or leach field).

Septic Tank

Waste from toilets, sinks, and showers is sent down a main sewage line and into a holding tank known as the septic tank. A septic tank is a large, subterranean container that acts as the initial stage of a home’s sewage treatment system by collecting and treating sewage. Watertight containers such as concrete, steel, plastic, and fiberglass are used to construct the tank. Until the particles and liquids separate into three different layers, sewage is allowed to remain in the septic tank. This picture shows how sewage from the home drains into a two-compartment underground septic tank.

The liquid wastes are subsequently discharged into the drain field.

The bacteria produce a sludge that is “digested” and stays in the tank until it is drained.

This stratum is referred to as effluent in most circles.

Drain Field

Drain fields are composed of layers of gravel and dirt that allow liquid sewage to flow down. It eventually becomes part of the groundwater supply. Aerobic bacteria (bacteria that require oxygen to survive) and other microbes decompose the organic debris that remains.

What happens if a septic tank gets too full?

In the event that your septic tank becomes overflowing, sewage may back up into your home. It is more difficult to breakdown sludge than it is to collect it. If the sludge isn’t cleaned, the solids will build up until they overflow into the drain field, causing the drain to back up. This has the potential to clog pipes and produce a backup. The sludge must be cleared on a regular basis in order to avoid this.

Many households only get their tanks emptied after the system malfunctions. Waiting until that stage can result in repair expenses in the tens of thousands of dollars. Every three to five years, we suggest that you have your septic tank pumped.

6 Steps to Locate a Septic Tank

Water from your toilets, sinks, and showers is collected in a main drain pipe and disposed of properly. This line departs your home and enters your septic tank through the basement or crawl area where it was installed. Find the line in question. Afterwards, walk outside and look for the identical location on the opposite side of the wall. Make a note of this spot since you’ll need it in a moment.

2. Check Permits and Public Records

The majority of county health agencies keep public records of septic system installation permits on their websites. These permits must be accompanied by a schematic or design depicting the proposed location of the septic tank and drainage field systems. They also give a description of the tank’s dimensions and construction material. Having this information can be quite beneficial when trying to locate a submerged tank lid. In some cases, depending on the age of your septic system and the digitization efforts of your county’s health department, you may be able to do a public records search online.

If you live in Colorado, we’ve provided links below that will allow you to check septic records in a few different areas.

  • Colorado’s counties of Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Colorado Septic Records Search
  • Colorado Permits Search
  • El Paso County Records Search
  • Jefferson County Septic Records Search
  • Jefferson County Records Search
  • Mesa County Septic Systems Search
  • Pueblo County Records Search. Colorado Septic Records Search
  • Pueblo County Records Search

3. Determine Septic Tank Material

If you’ve located your septic permit, you’ll find information about the size, shape, and material of your septic tank there as well. But don’t be concerned if your septic data aren’t readily available. We can perform some basic detective work to determine what material your septic system is built of. Let’s start with a look at the materials.

Types of Septic Tank Materials

Construction of septic tanks is mostly done using four types of materials: concrete, steel, fiberglass, and polyethylene plastic. Until the 1880s, the most extensively used septic tank material was concrete, which was then replaced by steel. These tanks have a lifespan of around 40 years and are built to last. They are susceptible to cracking, however, in locations where temperature variations are strong and frequent. Concrete tanks are frequently required by municipalities that have strict requirements on septic system construction.

  • Steel septic tanks begin to corrode within 20 to 25 years of installation in most regions.
  • If a human or animal walks across the weakened tank, it may collapse under the weight of the person or animal.
  • They will not break or corrode, however, in contrast to concrete or steel tanks.
  • PlasticSeptic tanks made of polyethylene have been in use since the 1980s.

They are not susceptible to rusting and are less prone to break when compared to concrete. They are, however, not quite as long-lasting. Because of the weight of the earth above them, or because a vehicle passes over the area where they are buried, plastic tanks are susceptible to collapse.

How Old is Your House?

Next, let’s determine the approximate age of your home. In some cases, all you need to do is take a glance at the house’s façade to get an idea of how old it really is. However, you may examine the tax assessor’s records in your county to get a more precise assessment. Similarly to searching for septic records, your mileage may vary depending on which county’s digitized documents you are searching for. Let’s go over an example search utilizing Boulder County’s Property Search tool so that you can have a better sense of what you should be looking for.

  1. Look up your home address on the internet. When searching for a home, some programs provide separate areas for your address and street name, while others (such as Boulder County) merge the two into a single search box. Look for information on Deeds and/or Sales Records in the public domain. You’ll find a list of transactions here, with dates showing when the property was purchased and sold. Find the transaction that occurred on the earliest possible date. This is most likely the year in which your home was constructed.

This information allows you to make an informed guess regarding the sort of material that your septic tank is built of.

4A. If it’s Concrete or Steel, Use a Metal Detector

After coming to the conclusion that the tank is most likely built of concrete or steel in Step 3, a metal detector may be used to make the work of locating it much simpler. But not just any metal detector will do. It must be the right one. Standard metal detectors have a depth range of 6 – 8″ (15 – 20 cm) below the surface of the ground. As previously stated, the majority of septic tanks are placed 1′ to 3′ (0.3 m to 1 m) underground, putting them outside of the acceptable range. An advanced sort of metal detector known as a Magnetic Locator, which can detect objects as deep as 16′ (4.8 m), is available for purchase.

How to Use a Metal Detector to Search for a Septic Tank

If you have a septic permit record, you may refer to it to figure out how far you need to go to install a septic tank. Start at the point where the drain line meets the home and work your way out to where the septic tank is shown on the diagram. Keep in mind that this graphic depicts the proposed installation area and may not accurately depict the actual ground conditions on the site. We’ll have a look at the illustration below. One inch (2.5 centimeters) is equivalent to fifty feet (50 meters).

By using a ruler to measure the design, we’ve determined that the septic tank should be roughly 13′ (3.96 m) away from the home.

  1. To begin, start at the location you highlighted in Step 1 where the sewage drain line leaves the home. From here, you may switch on the locator and adjust the gain to a high setting. Walking over the search area, sweep the locator from left to right, as if looking for anything. As you go, make a note of the regions with the strongest signal strength. It is most likely that the tank-iron lid’s handles will be located in one of these positions
  2. As soon as you’ve exhausted the search region in one direction, sweep over it perpendicularly and make note of the spots with the strongest signal strength. Continue on to Step 5

4B. If it’s Plastic or Fiberglass, Probe Gently

Septic tanks made of plastic or fiberglass are typically buried one to two feet (0.3 to 0.91 m) below ground level. They feature circular covers made of green or black plastic that are roughly two feet (0.91 m) wide and have a diameter of around two feet (0.91 m). Due to the fact that these tanks are totally made of plastic, a metal detector will not be of use in locating them. In this situation, a soil probe is really useful. An inexpensive soil sampling instrument, soil probes are comprised of a 4′ (1.2 m) metal rod with a pointed tip on one end and are used for soil sample.

Gently poke the earth with a soil probe every 2 to 3 feet, using a light touch (0.61 to 0.91 m).

Make a note of any areas where you encounter resistance and continue exploring around in your search area. The use of a soft touch is essential here, since the metal tip of the probe can cause damage to plastic septic tanks (and sewage lines) if too much force is used.

5. Time to Dig

Following the placement of an amagnetic locator (or the probing of the ground) to record the places with the highest signal strength, you are ready to begin digging. Septic tank lids can be located anywhere from 4″ (10 cm) to 4′ (1.2 m) below the surface of the ground.

6. Mark the Location for Future Maintenance

Having discovered your septic tank, you’ll want to ensure that it can be readily detected and accessed in the event that it has to be repaired or replaced. You may accomplish this by installing a septic tank riser. Sewage Tank Risers are devices that provide for easy access to the septic tank from the ground. They are shafts made of plastic or concrete that link the top of the tank to the surface of the ground below the tank. The tank lid will no longer require you to dig to access it whenever maintenance is required.

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