In the not-so-distant past, being able to use the restroom indoors was something of a novelty and practically unheard of for normal people. It was much more common to do your business outdoors. Indoor plumbing has been around for centuries, however, dating all the way back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans with aqueducts and supply and return pipes.
However, it would be many more centuries before we really had an efficient and affordable way to remove waste from our homes.
Around 1860, a Frenchman called Jean-Louis Mouras is credited with inventing the septic tank. He was dead set on inventing a garbage disposal system that didn’t require you to walk outdoors. He basically ran clay pipes from his house to an exterior concrete tank.
When the sewage spilled, it was dumped into a cesspool, which the city then drained. He dug up his tank after ten years and discovered that it was primarily liquid sewage within. After this finding, he started to develop his design, and in 1881, he was granted a patent, and the septic tank was introduced to the United States in 1883.
We’ve come a long way since sewage disposal in the Nineteenth Century. The septic tank keeps our waste out of our homes, allowing us to flush it all away. It is important to know exactly where on your property your septic tank is located, especially if you have a project that requires any sort of digging. If you’re asking how to find your septic tank, we can help.
Where Is Your Septic Tank Located?
Of course, every property is different, but In most cases, your septic tank and drain field are built parallel to the sewer line that runs from your house into the yard. You may be able to identify a 4-inch sewage pipe that leads to your septic system in your home’s basement or crawl space where it exits the house.
Trace the pipe every two feet or so as it travels across the yard. Septic tanks must be at least five feet away from the home; however, most are closer to ten to twenty-five feet.
Look For Signs in Your Yard for Your Septic Tank
Going on a stroll around your property is one of the simplest methods to discover a septic tank. Looking for indicators of a huge underground item in your yard is a simple way to locate a septic tank. A huge divot or hill, which typically arises when the first hole drilled for a septic tank is too large or tiny, respectively, is a likely clue.
You also might see patches of differently colored grass or find that there is an odor in part of your yard. Of course, your septic tank’s exact location still may allude you.
Use Ground-Penetrating Radar to Find Your Septic Tank
The team here at SitRep is often asked how to find septic tanks. You might have tried other methods and still need help. Our GPR system can locate your septic tank quickly and leave you with doubt in the future.
“A ground-penetrating radar is an instrument designed to detect electromagnetic contrasts in the soil and contains a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna which allow it to send and detect electromagnetic waves at given frequencies.” – ScienceDirect.
In other words, without digging through records, disturbing the ground, or messing up your yard, SitRep can help you locate your septic tank and anything else in the ground you need to know about.
Why Do I Need To Know Where My Septic Tank Is?
There are a number of reasons you need to locate your septic tank:
- Maintenance: Septic tanks do need to be serviced from time to time. In order for your plumber to perform maintenance and repairs, you need to know where it is. Your plumber also needs to know what else is in the ground if they end up needing to dig.
- Replacement: If you need a new septic tank, you’re going to need to be able to find the existing one.
- Roads and Patios: Are you planning on putting down some asphalt or concrete in your yard for a road or patio? You do not want to inadvertently cover up your septic system.
- Installing Fencing or Landscaping: Before you allow landscapers to dig in your yard to install landscaping or fencing, you want to make sure they do not hit your tank or septic lines.
- Additions and Buildings: If you have a building project that will require digging in your yard, you need to know what’s in the ground, and you have to be so careful not to hit your septic tank.
There are few things more costly than inadvertently damaging your septic tank. This can be avoided by knowing for sure where it is located. If you need help finding your septic system, the SitRep team can help. Contact us today to schedule a ground-penetrating radar scan of your yard.
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