If you’re like the majority of people, you prefer to relax on your back patio or porch. Knowing where your septic tank is will help you schedule routine sewer line cleanouts and repairs.

Many of the features that make your house run smoothly and enable you to enjoy a pleasant, contemporary life are not usually apparent. Your home’s septic tank is one of these characteristics.

The goal of a septic system is to control and manage the effluent from your house. If you have a septic tank, whatever you flush or send down a drainpipe will end up in the tank.

How do I find my septic tank?” is one of the most common questions we are asked. Septic tanks will eventually overflow and require pumping. Even if you are not the original owner of your tank, you may not know how or where to look for the lid because it is difficult to discover. What is the maximum depth of a septic tank’s cover? Most septic tank components are submerged between four inches and four feet deep in most circumstances.

There are a few ways to find out if your new house in San Mateo has a septic tank, as well as how to locate the tank. To begin, it’s helpful to understand what a septic tank and septic system are and why knowing where yours is a good idea. Continue reading to discover more about how to locate your septic tank.

Get Some Helpful Tools

A few tools might help you find your septic tank.

To locate your septic tank, simply do the following:

  • A shovel
  • Soil probe made of metal

A soil probe is one of the most useful instruments for locating a septic tank. It is a small piece of metal that pierces the earth to swiftly discover anything that may be hidden underneath. Insert the soil probe every two feet, beginning at the point where your sewage line exits your home and continuing straight out. Your septic tank should be located between 5 and 25 feet from your house.

This is also an excellent method for locating your septic tank lid. Septic tank covers are often located at or near ground level and are not always visible with the naked eye. While we strongly advise keeping your cover clean and exposed in case you want emergency septic service, not everyone does.

Use a Septic Tank Map

A septic tank map should be part of your inspection papers if you are a new homeowner trying to find your septic tank. You may use this to assist you to find your tank’s exact position. If you don’t have this map, there are a few additional options.

Examine Your Property

Imperfections in the terrain might sometimes reveal the location of your septic tank. Septic tanks are often placed in such a way that they are scarcely seen. Dips in the soil or little hills, on the other hand, may suggest a hidden septic tank.

If the dips or slopes are within five to twenty-five feet of your property, use your soil probe to find the septic tank. Because most septic tanks are six inches to four feet underground, be sure you probe the soil far enough. You want to hit something hard, such as flat concrete or fiberglass.

Keep an eye out for the septic lid while inspecting your property. You should be able to locate the septic tank lid using your metal soil probe. These are often at or near ground level.

Your septic tank will most likely not be located beneath any of the following:

  • paved surfaces
  • Landscape design that is unique
  • Your water well, assuming you have one

If you’re still having trouble locating your septic system, ask your neighbours where their septic tank is located on their land. Knowing how far away their septic systems are will help you figure out where yours is in your yard.

Keep Track of Your Sewer Main/Sewer Pipes

Following your sewage lines is one of the simplest methods to locate your septic tank. These pipes are typically 4 inches in diameter and are commonly found in your home’s basement or crawlspace. Once you’ve determined where these pipes exit your home, you may trace the pipe through your yard, using your metal soil probe every 2 feet or so, until you reach the tank.

Furthermore, every drain in your home connects to your sewer main, which connects to your septic tank. As a result, following the sewage line will take you directly to your septic tank.

If you have exposed plumbing lines in your basement or crawlspace, one of them is most likely your main sewer line. In many situations, this line will be labeled, but if it isn’t, it’s normally a four-inch-diameter metal line. Check to see where this line exits your house and in which direction it is going, as it usually flows directly to the septic tank.

Examine the Property Records

Not sure how to obtain this? Simply contact your county health department! Check with your local health agency to see if they have a property survey map and a septic tank map.

You may be shocked to learn that there are several methods to obtain information on your property without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Building permits, for example, are frequently included in county documents and may include schematics with specifications on how far away from a septic tank one should be, as well as other useful information such as size, etc.

Unfortunately, this information may or may not be included in the property records of older properties. However, most counties save septic tank installation records for all addresses.

You may also go through your home inspection documentation or the house title to determine the location of your septic tank.

Schedule Septic Tank Maintenance

Sewer backups and costly repairs to your sewer system may be avoided by maintaining your septic tank on a regular basis. You should 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.

Caccia Plumbing offers septic tanks and drains field maintenance and repair services. While knowing where the septic tank is useful, it is not required. Even if you have a vast property, our skilled plumbers have all of the necessary tools and equipment to locate your tank.

We offer high-quality service in San Mateo and the neighbouring areas. We are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. We also provide emergency sewer services if you require them.