Septic Tank Problems

Posts Tagged ‘Tank’

Question Asked by : How to reduce water in septic tank?
My “High water” alarm went off today on our septic system and after reading about it, I think we need to reduce the water in the tank. How do we do this?

Best answer:

Answer by tHENEW_MAN
suck it out with a straw

Answer by Jeffrey
Call the honey wagon to suck it out.

Answer by wvparanormal
If the alarm went off, it means the pump failed to come on. You need a service tech to check it out for you, since obviously you don’t know enough about it to tackle the job. Make sure the breaker to the pump is not tripped. I don’t think that’s the case though as it’s probably the same breaker powering the alarm.

Answer by MillerPlantenet
Reduce the amount of Water you are using on your Spouts and Washing Machine. For septic system and plumbing maintenance use the all-natural http://www.MillerPlante.net Advanced Formula Septic-Helper 2000 and Enza Drain Line Cleaner. It has the 8 natural bacteria and enzymes that digest the waste in the tank AND out in the drain field. To reduce your Phosphate and Nitrate levels to Zero coming from your Laundry, use their new All-Natural Enza Wash-Balls. According to the EPA, Chemicals used in the home are the #1 problem polluting water supplies and water wells.

In 2011, the EPA (TMDL), Mandates that States clean up their water supplies. It mandates new inspections on all septic systems, water wells and with funding, local waterways. A failed inspection would include a slow drain in your leach field, low septic tank bacteria levels or elevated Nitrate levels in your Water Well or local Water Supplies; could require replacement of your entire system for $ 10K to $ 80K+ or connect to the city sewer system for $ 5K to $ 40K. The EPA admits that the new inspections are failing 12% of systems each year and 82% of those older than 1977.

1000+ Septic, Well & Water News Stories:

http://www.Twitter.com/MillerPlanteInc

Search our Facebook News by State:

http://www.Facebook.com/Miller.Plante

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Question Asked by Alice H: What to use to get rid of a septic tank order ?
Our bathroon has a awfull septic tank order and want to know what to use to get rid of that order?

Best answer:

Answer by Drain Man
You may want to check to make sure their isn’t a vent pipe or drain pipe broken some where. Once you have done this depending on what you find you might need to have your septic tank pumped. The company that usually does this will add a fresh smelling chemical that will help promote bacteria growth. Remember to use septic safe products. Hope this helps.

Answer by high lonesome
Check your vent pipes for obstructions.Make sure all the traps have water in them.If not vented properly water can be sucked out of traps.Be sure your toilet is sealed good.If your tank is right outside your bathroom window make sure the clean out cap is on good and tight,good luck

Answer by Arlene
Maybe its time to have the tank pumped out,When the tank starts to smell thats the first thing you should do.It will also help you to find out if theres a serious problem with the tank.

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Question Asked by D: My neighbor built a large shop on his septic tank and drain field without permits, should I be worried?
We are downgrade of my neighbors house, he built the very large shop right on the property line and on top of the Septic tank and drain field all without any permits!!! Is there anything I need to be worried about for my property??? Any help would be Great Thanks!!!!
He Did leave the septic tank cover available to clean out but its right up against the building

Best answer:

Answer by ONAN DJA
He will he the one with problems when the tank needs to be cleaned out I don’t think you will be affected with this clowns stupidity.

Answer by gas man
call the city inspector,see if he got a permit,sounds illegal to me

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Question Asked by davidfranklin522: How much does it cost to have a septic tank pumped in Metro Atlanta area?
I am having to pump my septic tank before we close on our home, even though our alarm isn’t going off. I don’t even know if this needs to be done, but they are requesting it, since the inspector told them to get it done. If anyone knows how much it generally costs in the Atlanta area (we are west ATL) and who you would recommend. Thank you

Best answer:

Answer by Don
I have found that this is a competitive business, and they all do it the same way. You can safely make this purchase on price alone. You can save a little money if you’ll dig up the entrance, or at least have it marked for them. Other than that, make some phone calls, and go with the lowest price. This tends to be a business of ma and pa operators, and sometimes you’ll get one that’s hungry for the work. The only way you’ll know is to call around and get prices, then compare.

Answer by luka
about 250 dollars.

Answer by daffyduct2006
I spent $ 295 for a 1000 gallon tank last summer. I’m in southern New Jersey. The inspector needs it pumped otherwise he can’t inspect it.

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Question Asked by randn2000: Is it a house tenant’s responsibility to pump the septic tank?
We have leased a house for 2 1/2 years and recently the landlord suggested we get the septic tank pumped (on our own dime). I don’t want to be unreasonable, but that seems more like the home-owner’s responsibility; what is your opinion? Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by josh
its the owners of the house job to get anything fixed on there dime ask anybody

Answer by Spam
If there is no problem with it I don’t see the need for you to pump it.
If you have not been careful and have put things down that would make it overflow then yes you should pay for the pumping

Answer by fifieldrichard
that depends on how your contract is made out, if you are responsible for all up keep in yard and utility’s yes, but if just for utility’s no.

Answer by Jim W
I think it’s the property owners responsibility, Ask an attorney for their opinion, if the owner does not want to do it and you do have it done and billed to the owner, be prepared for problems, a rent increase or lease termination. Maybe you could have it done with a lease freeze for 2 more years and a cap on any future lease raises. for the next 5 years.

Answer by Karen L
Unless it was written into your rental agreement that you’re responsible for it, it’s the landlord’s responsibility. If no written agreement was made, the landlord should pay. You might check with whatever authority deals with landlord/tenant stuff where you live in case there’s a rule about it.

Answer by Rick J
I am a landlord. I would never expect my tenant to do this. Your landlord is responsible for it. It probably don’t even need to be pumped. People get them pumped way more than needed. I would ignore him or tell him to pack sand.

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Question Asked by TJ M: How can I hide a septic tank lid / riser?
I heard there are fake rocks that are light and easy to move that are made to cover septic tank lids and risers. Does anyone know of a website where I can buy these or anything comparable, i.e. birdhouses, wells, etc? Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by Don R
Have you thought about removing the cap, sawing the pipe flush with the ground then replacing the cap? Much easier to mow around and will not be noticable unless you stand over it.

Answer by i love my garden
save money – just hide it with a few potted plants such as succulents.

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Question Asked by K G: Can you have a leach field without a septic tank?
I have been told that we have a leach field but not a septic tank. Is this possible? We live in a very rural area on 20 acres.

Best answer:

Answer by skahhh
While this is possible, I highly doubt it unless it is such a large system it does not get plugged and there is much fluid running through it. A septic tank’s job is to process biologically, the solids, their particulates breaking down each other into a thin effluent that will run into the leach bed with urine and water and leach into the soil. If you don’t have a septic tank the brown trout would probably eventually plug up the leach piping.

Some have large tanks that leach under them…old type…. newer systems vent to the air outside, that I know of.

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Question Asked by : How much to hook up a Mobile home to an existing septic tank?
Is it possible to place a mobile home on the same property as my father-in-law, and hook up to the same septic tank and well? If so, How much would it cost to do so?

Best answer:

Answer by joea
yes it is possible, however certain circumstances will dictate the cost. many factors play a role, including individual contractors. parts, labor, permits etc… best get 3 estimates for this. best of luck

Answer by Organized Chaos
It is not possible to share a septic system. It would need an its own individual septic system, and the cost varies but in my area right now it is atleast $ 5000 (to purchase the tank, have it delivered and installed, have the drain field dug and the pipes put in, etc.)

It may be possible to share a well, it depends on the ordinances in your area. Sharing a well would not be ideal, though- both homes would likely have issues with pressure, quantity, etc.

Answer by Karen L
Septic systems are designed to handle the size of house they’re installed for. If one was designed for a 2 bedroom house, you can’t hook up another 2 bedrooms to it. At least, it’s probably physically possible but you won’t get a permit to do it.

Answer by MaximumAsst
Sarah, yeah, I think it is possible. Your best bet is to get free estimates from local plumbing contractors. Here’s a great link to a handyman site that offers free very resourceful information to assist you in your project, and, ultimately, select a local plumbing contractor in an effort to get the best deal for you:

INFO ON LOCAL PLUMBING CONTRACTORS (WHO WORK ON SEPTICS):

http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_Free_Estimates_Plumbing.htm

I’m sure you’ll find the information there, specifically the tips, useful as it relates to being treated fairly by contractors and exploring the consumer-wise approach of getting free written estimates to find the best contractor in your area.

.
Source(s):
The Internet. Just whatever is available online and what I have on my mind, including the inclusion of relevant sites, like the one cited that came about from my efforts, which is intended to be useful. Helping people get the relevant info they want is great.

Answer by saaanen
No.

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Question Asked by KLD: Does a septic tank really need to be cleaned out?
If I don’t flush toilet paper and don’t use the garbage disposal or put food or grease down the drain, why do I have to worry about cleaning a septic tank?

Best answer:

Answer by Tasha
because your #2 still needs to go. you don’t want that overflowing into your yard. stinky!

Answer by eskie lover
If you don’t it will back up into the house, flood your bathtub, all of your sinks and toilets to over flowing and you will have one horrific mess of sewage all over your home. When the septic tank gets full, it is the water you put into the system that will back up carrying with it anything already in the tank.

Answer by mebs
It still fills up because of the waste that does go into a septic tank. If you don’t clean it out, it will overflow, leak into your yard, and cause a very smelly, wet, swampy area.

Answer by chopsaw
Actually you should not………it should be doing it’s job all by it’s little lonesome………….but of course there are inspectors if you are going to sell…….that just insist……..best of luck

Answer by lnrosy2000
After awhile the septic can become full. It’s not so much that it is cleaning it out, but it does need to be emptied. We have a septic here and went almost 15 years without having it pumped out and we were fine. Though, most places recommend having it done every few years. What’s important is that you know where the opening to the tank is. We have ours where we can get to it. Occasionally I have to uncover the opening, there’s very little smell and take a long stick to unplug it there. That usually only happens if our son dumps a lot of toilet paper down the toilet. We have had it back up outside on our porch, but have never had it back up into the house anywhere. Oh, the way I usually know to go check the opening is when the toilet is plugged up and a plunger won’t take care of it. Sorry to be so graphic, but septic tanks really are easy to care for. The other thing you can do is to actually buy stuff to feed it so that it’s working properly to destroy the stuff that goes down in there.

Answer by starshadow7@sbcglobal.net
Yes, unfortunately they do need cleaned. Here is a site that has all you ever wanted or needed to know about youe septic system:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/0740.html

Answer by Thor
I too go 10 to 15 years before having it pumped. If it is breaking things down well it doesn’t build up much. And the people pumping it say it was needed all that much.

I flush a treatment down the toilet to recharge the bacteria every few months. They say you shouldn’t have a disposer on a septic system, good you don’t use it. I do flush toilet paper, I only recently heard in some countries they ask that you don’t.

Bleach will kill the bacteria and result in needing more pumping. I very rarely use it in the wash but caught my housekeeper putting chlorine tablets in the toilet tanks. I put an end to that.

Good Luck.

Answer by itzmeturtle
You dont want the house to smell like crap!! Its not worth the trouble of not cleanin it

Answer by This Old House
The purpose of cleaning a septic tank is to remove accumulated solids, not liquids. So if you put any sort of solids into the system you’ll eventually have to remove them. How often you do this depends on 1) the volume of solids that go into the tank, and 2) how big the tank is. The general recommendation for pumping is every 3 years, but if you use the tank a lot you might have to pump it sooner, and if you use it only a little you can wait longer.

Here’s more on the topic from This Old House plumber Richard Trethewey:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,1031580,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes

Answer by Jen H
toilet paper can be flushed and is good for the tank, but you do need to keep enzymes in your tank that is what eats the stuff and converts it to go into the septic field. No you do not need to clean the tank if you maintain it properly. Keeping enzymes in it by pouring rid ex or an enzyme of that nature in it will ensure that you won’t need to clean it out. However if you are in a zone where the ground water is high, then yes you might have to clean it out just because there is more water in the area than the septic field can handle.

Answer by oldehippy99
The whole purpose of a septic tank is to provide a habitat for the bacteria that digest the organic material you flush into the tank. If only organic material goes in, the tank will work well indefinitely. In practice, a certain amount of sand, dirt and slow-to-decompose bits of bone and hair get flushed down your drains. Eventually these can build up to the point that insufficient space is left in the tank to give the bacteria the time they need to fully break down the solids.

Then the solids can build up quickly and plug your septic field or bell & siphon. Depending on how many people contribute to your waste and how careful you are about restricting input, you can go from 5 to 15 years between cleanouts. By the way, toilet paper is organic and shouldn’t cause a problem. Stick to white though since some of the dyes or inks may give your bacteria indigestion. Heed the advice of some of your other advisers about keeping chlorine out of the system.

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Question Asked by feqaf w: what is the cheap way to treat my septic tank?
I used many septic tank treatment from home depot,but they do not work,do I really need to hire a professional guy to do it?

Best answer:

Answer by momof3
more then likely, unless you want your back yard stinking like crap, go sewers

Answer by Ralleia
What precisely is wrong with your septic? Could you describe its symptoms?

Answer by zen522
If your having problems, expect the system to be tagged for replacement.
Almost every system that I have seen that has problems gets tagged.

Answer by John H
Septic tanks are not items that should be ignored. If you have been using a septic treatment for a while and have not had any success, logic will tell you not to use it any more.

These tanks should be pumped out every so often. The time frame depends on number of bathrooms, people in the house, and several other factors. (A septic service person can tell you how often.) So the first thing I would do is get it pumped. If do have problems and don’t address them, then your leech field can be affected, and the cost to you will be more that you want to spend.

Answer by cowboydoc
After you have the tank pumped, let mother nature take care of it. In all my years I have put nothing into the tanks and, I know of a large septic company here that recommends nothing.
My tanks went, one for twenty years and, one for twenty five years. We had five kids, no problems.

Answer by freakboynv2000
you can put brewer’s yeast down the toilet. the bacteria help break down the waste.

Answer by AL in Bama
Freak boy has the answer for prevention. I have heard this also, and claims to substantiate it. You probably need to get it pumped out. Then put a package of yeast down the drain once a month.
With all the treatments you’ve already tried, you definitely need to get it pumped.

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Question Asked by butcher1241: How often should septic tank be pumped out?
I have a 1250 gallon septic tank. I have a 4 person household (wife plus 8 and 5 year old). How often should my tank be pumped?Every 2 years or 3 years?

Best answer:

Answer by Ladder Captain-29
they say every 3 to 5 years—have you tired Rid-X it helps with digesting the bad stuff in the tank

Answer by hill bill y
if its working right 10 years or more

Answer by mam
The man who installed my (3 bedroom/5 people) septic tank and leech field advised me to pump it every two years. He also said if I put a package of Yeast (found in grocery stores) down my toilet every year this will help eat up the bacteria. Also, not to use my garbage disposal (but I do for light food particles on plates) and not put tampax down the toilet.

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Question Asked by hearty: How do I gauage the flow rate of sewage from house to septic tank?
The septic tank has been installed for about 10 years. I am having trouble with it and one cause could be that the ‘house to tank’ pipe has a deficient gradient and therefore has insufficient force in the flow.

Best answer:

Answer by smokey
the only thing you can do is have the grade changed, EXPENSIVE.

Answer by Hydroace
The likelihood that a section of the pipe from the house to the septic tank has settled is extremely small. Typically the pipe will be placed in undisturbed ground. To have a section of the pipe sag suggests that it crosses a trench with loose fill in it, and the fill settled over time. It’s far more likely that you have roots invading the line or that you have a clogged vent.
Before spending money for testing / replacing, I’d suggest you check out the plumbing vents. A drain operates by gravity, and water in a drain pipe can’t move very fast if there’s a clogged vent for the drain. For example, put a straw into a glass of water and pull it out. I’m stating the obvious when I say it drains quickly – the water inside the straw is gone the instant the straw leaves the water in the glass! Now put the straw back in the water and put your finger over the end of the straw as you pull the straw out. Notice any difference?
The same holds true for any plumbing fixture. Plumbing code (speaking from the US here) requires all fixtures to be vented through the roof, so air can get to the back side of the draining water and let it move freely. If your vent is plugged (leaves, bird nest, etc) – your fixtures will drain slowly. Use a snake or hose to verify the vent is open. This requires that you go on the roof to check it out – but do so cautiously.
Next simplest solution is to evaluate whether roots blocking your line are likely or not. If you have trees in the area, consider using a foaming root killer like Roebic FRK-12. Beyond these solutions, the cost is going to go up significantly – hope you’re able to dodge that bullet.

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Question Asked by : In Alabama, how does the process of getting a septic tank work?
I was just wondering what the rules are for living in a home and getting a septic tank installed. Can you live in the home without having the septic tank? Can power even be hooked up to the home without having the tank?

Best answer:

Answer by Richy
Yes.

Answer by skeeter
your first step should be a trip to your county health department and get information from them about procedures for septic installation. a perk test will need to be done to see if the property has adequate drainage. then if the property passes the perk, an engineer will come out and survey and mark out the required field layout. from there it goes to an excavator that is licensed to install the system and they perform the installation. a city inspector will then give the final approval of the system.

Answer by br549
Call your local Health Department. They will guide you through the permitting process.

Tanks must be permitted and installed by a licensed contractor. You can still have electric installed, but if found living in a house with no septic system, you can be fined and or evicted.

Back in the “good old days” my grandparents in Alabama just dug a hole! When it got full, they dug another. Can’t do that anymore.

Answer by buffalobilljohnston
locally the laws will vary: ask your local building inspector for free or hire a master plumber or architect in your town is the best way to get a local answer regarding zoning and building codes on your particular property, for example if there is a sewer system in your street you may be required to connect to it instead of a septic tank. during allowed construction permit periods you may need to hire a portapotty johnny-on-the-spot company service while you are building a house to handle your sewage. although it may be possible to find a county where there are no sanitary codes in effect, it is unwise to create an untreated sewage pollution of your groundwater, yard, and garden due partly to the e-coli bacteria contamination you may create for your neighbor and yourself.

Answer by sensible_man
Septic tanks are usually under the authority of your County. You need permits and a perk test done before installing the tank. Most States use the number of bedrooms in the house to determine how big the tank must be. When i lived in Florida and had a new mobile home moved onto my lot, I had to have the tanks and well installed before I could get an Occupancy permit, which allowed me to live in the house. The electric was not turned on until i had the permit.

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Question Asked by Disciple Derek: How big of a septic tank and drainage field should I have…?
How big of a septic tank and drainage field should I have for a three-story house of about 4500 sq. ft.?
Yes, I know. I’ve looked through the city ordinances and can’t find anything about sizes.

I want to know what size tank and field would suffice for the size of the house.

Best answer:

Answer by betv2003
You need an answer from a contractor or plumber. Sorry I’m not one.

Answer by Kirk
Unfortunately you will have to contact someone that deals with the building code in your area. Most locations have different by-laws regarding size, depth, and materials of your septic system.

Answer by pickmefirstplz
how many bathrooms? have to know for water flow talk to the zoning people at town hall or the town engineer

Answer by Joan H
In our county and most that I know of, in Ohio, the health department dictates that. You have to get a permit to install a septic system and they tell you what kind and how big.

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Question Asked by Tahini Classic: What is the cost of having a septic tank emptied?
We have just made an old outhouse usable again, but its septic tank needs to be emptied first. Is that expensive? Can anyone give me a ballpark figure, stating which currency?
Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by Beetle
about 150.00

Answer by Richard D
it depends how big it is its about 150 bucks us dollars

Answer by pandafan7
It depends how far away you are from the town in which human waste is disposed of in (usually a large city). If you live far away from this city you will be charged gas for the truck. So a normal $ 125-150 charge could be greatly increased with high gas prices. It cost us about $ 275 to have our pumped. This is in U.S. dollars.

Answer by boy boy
you should never have to empty a ceptic tank ! ever ..you do empty cess pits but a ceptic tank works on bacteria breaking down the solids and the top crust of the tank should never be broken ….the tank may look full but that’s how they are …try it for a while and see if it stays at same level …if there is a problem its normally the outlet discharge pipes that need attention ..not the ceptic tanks …there should be two Chambers in a ceptic tank system ..

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Question Asked by luv_the_red_head: What kind of rock should I use to lay my septic tank leach lines on?
I am laying additional leach line for my septic tank. What type of rock should I put under the line so that the water will flow right? What type of rock is best for this? We have sand. Lots and lots of sand.

Best answer:

Answer by B K
I would consult your local or state health department for installation guidelines to make sure that you have the proper materials, length, width and depth of trench. I know that any upgrades of septic systems in many areas may require a permit and inspection as well. It would be better to do it right the first time rather than have them come and make you do it over and pay a fine. I know around here they have no sense of humor when it comes to things like that. If you are all right with what you are doing, state health department web-sites usually have the guidelines and or statutes posted there. Good luck!

Answer by high_techredneck
Sand will work but any washed round rock like pea gravel will work better. Dirt works best around here. Keep the leach line LEVEL so it will leach and not run through the line at a fast rate. Don’t consult your local or state health department unless you want to pay for a licensed installer….They will be watching you like a hawk.

Answer by Bare B
Igneous

Answer by Marla T
You should use washed river rock 3/4″ to about 2 1/2″ or clean crushed rock. Typically adding leach lines usually requires a permit. Installing without a permit could complicate your life someday when you sell your house. But that probably depends on where you live. Instead of rock, there are also chambers like Infiltrator that could be installed instead of rock and pipe.

Good luck!

Answer by Tatnic
crushed rock, 1″ minus. You want about 8″ under the pipe…and the bottom of the pipe needs to be at least 12″ above the SEASONAL water table, which means the water table during the wettest time of the year, not late summer.

Answer by Billy M
1″ Clean rock, But you probably should not be doing it your self, this is a job for a pro. If you do it your self and get caught, you could be forced into replacing the whole system. There for doubling your cost.

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Question Asked by W.J. Garrett: How do we unclog our floor drain to our septic tank ourselves?
Our floor drain to the septic system has backed up. We had the septic tank cleaned out today and the water has not gone down. We are looking for an alternative to paying $ 500 to have the lines cleaned out by a professional if possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Best answer:

Answer by ijcoffin
Rent a roto-rooter, so you can do it your self.

Answer by BigGuy
You might want to try a 20 ft rodder to clean from the floor drain to the septic tank. It sounds like it could be clogged going to the septic tank.

Answer by D2
you could rent a machine and do it your self,but other than that i don’t know of to many ways to clear them without have a pro come out,we have a pro size auger and a jetter and they cost,we spent 7grand on the jetter alone so that’s alot for someone to pay just to use ever once in a while

Answer by yupperdoo
Couple thoughts..depending on accessibility..sometimes a garden hose can be utilized as a”snake”,however unless the hose end is removed,it can get caught in the pipe

By the same token there is a small inexpensive device,that screws onto the end of a hose,is then inserted into the drain opening.When water is turned on,it swells up like a balloon,allowing the water to pressurize the drain to 30-45lbs of pressure(whatever your water system produces),blasting the blockage thru.Can’t recall the tradename of this device,but they can be found in plumbing section of hardware and home centers..Note# They are sized by drain diameter so you will need to know size of drainpipe,Good luck

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Question Asked by mdjgirl7: is it possible to add to a septic tank?
I am adding an addition to my home which will have a bathroom and a small kitchen. I have a septic tank that is at the same end of the house the addition is going on. Will it be possible to add the bathroom and the kitchen to the same septic tank? I have 2 bathrooms and another kitchen on it already.

Best answer:

Answer by plumber
yes,just don’t build over it,don’t use chlorine bleach and use rid-x regular

Answer by sensible_man
When sizing septic systems for a house, the number of bedrooms is considered. In Florida, 4 bedrooms required a 1200 gallon tank, while 3 bedrooms was 1000 gallon. In actuality, are there more people in the house than before? This will mean more water usage and the possibility of overworking the tank. Otherwise, you should be fine.

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Question Asked by respectful: What cleaning products are safe for my septic tank?
I don’t like to use harsh or environmentally bad products, especially since they kill the enzymes in my septic tank. Does anyone have a list of safe products?

Best answer:

Answer by Liz
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Ammonia

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Question Asked by : How deep is a septic tank? We are trying to locate ours?
We just bought a house that is an older house, and we’re having plumbing problems, our septic tank needs to be pump but can’t locate it. How deep should we dig? Our wash out is about 5 feet from the house, the neighbor says their septic tank is right under their wash out. Any suggestions?

Best answer:

Answer by jakeb
It can be located with a sharp steel rod, much easier than digging. Depth is not likley to more than a few feet.

Answer by Frank K
All that I have encounter are less than 12″ to the top. Many of them use rebar to make a handle for the lid; therefore if you have access to a metal detector it should be easy to find.

Answer by Tuono Cane
Usually 6-8 feet underground, so that they don’t get dug up too easy.

For example if you plant a tree, till up the yard put in a fence etc…

12 inches like frank said is a crock they are deeper than that for the reasons I listed.

The clean out is not necessarily right on top of the tank your septic tank is further than 5 feet out probably at least 30 feet out or more, if it wasn’t your leech field would be your basement (not good).

I have one and so do some other relatives in the family.

Answer by saaanen
Just call the company you choose. They’ll find it with their metal detector in a minute

Answer by Tedruski
Go to a home center or hardware store and ask if they sell a “Ground Probe”. This is a metal rod about 4′ long with a point on it – and a T handle at the top.
First if you live in cold weather climate you may be able to see the spot in the yard that look different than other ground as it won’t freeze as fast/hard above the septic tank. Snow melts on top of the tank first.
If you don’t just take this ground probe out in the area you think the tank might be located in and push it down into the ground. Most septic tanks are no more than 2′ down to the lid. The pipe coming out of your house is solid 4″ and runs into the tank at about 12″-18″ below the top of the tank. The depth of the tank is determined by what kind of leech field and the depth of it that is required for your type of soil.
A full septic tank usually means it will be soggy above and around the tank. The tank is probably not more than 20′ from the house. Probe until you hit the tank – then find the 4 corners of the tank.
Remember to ask the septic pumping company how much it is per load to pump out and haul away. Sometimes if the surrounding ground is saturated that excess water will keep running back into the tank from the leech field. Kind of a backwards process. So don’t be upset if they pump out the tank and if fills back up to full in a couple of days. This only happens when the leech field gets clogged up some. This back flushing actually helps. So it make take 3-4 loads depending on the size of your tank. Some dishonest pumpers will only fill the truck up 1/2 full and tell you they need to do 2 trips when they could have got it all in one load. Get some referrals on good honest companies, and be there or have someone there to monitor how the pumping is going as you are having it done.
Your outgoing sewer line probably comes out under your floor at a bathroom. So stand outside in line with your bathroom or other plumbing area and probe the ground to see if you can hit that 4″ pipe. If you find it – just follow it out be probing more as you move out from the house. Mark the top of the ground with marking paint or other means to show you what direction/angle the pipe is running. Follow it till you hit the septic tank.

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