| Author |
Finding the Septic Tank
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| Hello,
How do you find the tank if there is no pipe to be found leading
to/from it?
Is there something like a ground sonar?
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| Bob Morrison 2006-06-14, 5:21 pm |
| In a previous post Harry wrote...
> How do you find the tank if there is no pipe to be found leading
> to/from it?
> Is there something like a ground sonar?
>
Most septic pumpers have a small "pellet" they flush down the toilet.
They then use a "locator" to find the device. It sometimes takes several
flushes to get it into the tank.
--
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com
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| beerguzzler50@yahoo.com 2006-06-14, 5:21 pm |
| I bought a metal detector and found it close to the house. The lid
usually has a big piece of rebar as the handle. I got a couple of
false readings, but after digging a few shallow holes I found it. You
can also use a rod to find the tank...generally they are less than 1
foot underground. If a recent tank, the surface of the tank should be
like 10' x 10'...so once you hit the tank you can figure out the exact
layout with a couple more poke of a rod pounded in.
Harry wrote:
> Hello,
>
> How do you find the tank if there is no pipe to be found leading
> to/from it?
> Is there something like a ground sonar?
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| SteveF 2006-06-14, 6:21 pm |
|
"Harry" <paminifarm3@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:1150311858.851832.215620@r2g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hello,
>
> How do you find the tank if there is no pipe to be found leading
> to/from it?
> Is there something like a ground sonar?
>
I had to have a plumbing company come out. They ran their TV camera down
the line until it went into the opening for the septic tank, then they used
their metal detector to find the camera head.
Steve.
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| Harry wrote:
> Hello,
>
> How do you find the tank if there is no pipe to be found leading
> to/from it?
> Is there something like a ground sonar?
>
Another good technique is to go to the lumberyard and buy a big spud
bar. A digging bar with anything on one end and a mushroom head on the
other end. The mushroom head is usually 2-3" or so in diameter and
normally used for tamping.
Go outside to a location (usually about 10' out from the foundation near
your general fixture concentration in the house but not always) where
you think the tank may be. Start thumping as hard as you can on the
ground with the tamper end of the bar. Walk in a line 10' away from the
house for the length of the house thumping as hard as you can on the
grass every few feet. Do this in a grid pattern. When you are over the
tank, you will feel and hear a hollow sound in the ground. You will
normally feel this in your feet/legs too.
This usually works for tanks down to 3' or so. Other than that its one
of the other options, metal detector, pellet, etc..
Mark
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| Al Bundy 2006-06-16, 9:42 am |
| "Harry" <paminifarm3@netscape.net> wrote in news:1150311858.851832.215620
@r2g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
> Hello,
>
> How do you find the tank if there is no pipe to be found leading
> to/from it?
> Is there something like a ground sonar?
>
Do you live where there is any kind of snow in winter? Should be a place
where the snow always melts first 10'+ from the foundation.
Anyway, you must have an idea which side of the house it's on.
Greener/thicker grass there. Go out 12' from foundation (end of 10 ft
pipe from house plus a couple of ft). Poke a metal rod down a couple of
feet every foot or so until you hit the tank. Hopefully you not in hard
clay.
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| "Harry" <paminifarm3@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:1150311858.851832.215620@r2g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hello,
>
> How do you find the tank if there is no pipe to be found leading
> to/from it?
> Is there something like a ground sonar?
>
It is usually in a line directly between the house and leech field or
aeration field. There should be a cleanout access just outside of the
house, start there. If the tank is old and cracking and outlet restricted,
the foliage directly above it may be greener than the rest or the area. If
the septic is either aerator or above ground leech field, should have an
alarm panel directly above it whose sensor is originating from the 3rd stage
of the septic tank. This alarm indicates the pump is not working as the
water level is too high. If conventional gravity outlet type, there is no
alarm, no 3rd stage tank.
--
Jonny
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| longshot 2006-06-16, 9:42 am |
| I had a neighbor have a guy come out & find it for him.. they flushed a
sensor & went outside with a Geiger counter looking thingy that went right
to it... whole thing took a just a few minutes. I have no idea what it cost
him..
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