Septic Tank

Miller257

I'm buying my first house, putting in an offer tonight. Decent house for the price, big yard. Then one problem is that it doesn't have a garage, so i'm looking into building one in the near future if i get it. It has a septic tank, which has been abandoned or will be soon at the town is running sewer. Whats the best way to find out where the septic tank is, how can i abandon it, build over it? Will I have to dig it up?


thanks

adam

1mancrew

I only ran into this once and it was years ago, also it was in a county that only requires septic permits/inspections. I was building a large addition and the septic tank was in the way. We set a new tank farther back behind the old one. I had to have the old tank pumped and the excavator busted up the top and then I had to fill with gravel compacting in layers. The new footer ran right over the old tank so I added extra rebar in the footing. I was by there last year and it still looks okay. I really don't know what is legal though but the Health Dept for this county passed it. You should probally check with the with the local health dept and building dept to see what you will need to do before you purchase the home. You can always add a clause to your offer pending results.

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KillerToiletSpider

The grass is always greener over the septic tank.

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bwalley

Different states have different laws regarding septic tanks.

Since you don't list where you livem how can you expect to get a correct answer?

It seems as though a lot of people want information, yet they don't list their location.

Would you order a pizza and not tell the guy information, like where to deliver it to?

Miller257

Well I apologize and didn't mean to waste you time, as you can tell by my post count, I am new to this site and did not realize when I entered my location, it would not show up underneath my user name. I apologize for the error, and it will be corrected immediately to prevent any further future conflicts. Even if i did list where I was from, if the codes vary from county to county, as 1mancrew stated, could you even give me a definite answer? I wasnt even looking for a definat answer, just something to go by, of coarse i'd check with local codes before i did something like that, not the input from forums members around the country.

Also, when I order pizza, they have my phone number on record so they know where to deliver. :-)

anyways

I will check with the local codes, thanks for your input 1mancrew

Kgmz

I will tell you how things are around here. Then you need to figure out how it is done where you are.

First if someone is selling a home the septic system has to be inspected by the local health department, and is also usually checked and pumped out by a septic pumper. That is the law now and the sale will not close until released by the health department. So if this were the case where you are you would know where the septic is.

The local health department issues permits, etc. for all septic systems here. And they have records of as-builts for septic systems which show where everything is.

To abandon a tank here you need get a permit and get as licensed pumper to pump out and clean the tank. He will do the paperwork for the health department and then you can do as described earlier and have someone knock the top of the tank out and then fill and compact, or have it totally removed.

So find out who has jurisdiction for septic systems where you are, its usually the health department, enviromental health.

Now if it is a really old system where there are no records here is what I have done before. Run a snake down the cleanout towards the septic tank. Then I have a underground wire finder that has a sending unit you attach to the wire or snake in this case, and then walk along with the receiver and follow it along.

SLSTech

Try to find the main line - where it runs out & then go out about 5' & use either a metal detector / piece of rebar to shove in the ground

In most area's it is at least 5' away from any structure, & your not allowed to build over or near it.

FYI Killer - grass is always greener where the leeching field is, not the tank

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KillerToiletSpider

My response was in jest relating to the a title of a book written by Erma Bombeck.

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A flush is better than a full house.

Eric K

Take two pieces of copper wire and bend them in the shape of a L. Hold with the shorter side of the "L" in your hands loosely. Hold your hands up by your chest. Walk around the yard where you suspect the tank. When you get above the tank the copper lines should swing toward one another and cross. When I bought my house an old timer taught me that trick. Right where he said the lines crossed the strongest, he dug with his backhoe and hit the center of the tank. Good Luck.

protechplumbing

Some times, but definitely NOT always. In fact, I would say that is the exception and not the rule.

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protechplumbing

The best way to locate a septic tank is with a flushable sonde and a navitrack. Call a plumber with said equipment. You can also rent a K-60 sewer machine and run the cable out the main sewer line and "sound out" the main. Once you know where the main is you can trace it back to the tank. Do not put to much cable in or you will get it tied in a knot if more than 5ft goes into the tank. A drum machine does not work well because it spines at to slow a rpm to make enough noise.

I recommend going the sonde/navitrack route.

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SLSTech

We need a sorry key - ok back to my regularly scheduled part of the forum

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Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Infrared Thermography Scans