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How to Find The Sewer Line Exit Point - step by step guide to find the septic tank
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• Start your search for the septic tank by finding the point where the main waste line leaves the building
• How to locate the septic tank at a property, a detailed, step by step procedure to find the septic tank, distribution box, and leach field

Here we continue the procedure for finding a septic tank by locating point at which the main sewer line leaves the building. Septic tank location guide: this document provides suggestions and procedures for finding a septic tank. When the septic tank needs to be pumped, a regular maintenance task, the cost of that service will be less if the property owner found the septic tank location and perhaps even uncovered the septic tank pumping access cover. Other reasons to find the septic tank include inspecting and testing septic systems when buying a home or for safety, to assure that the septic tank cover is in good condition.

This article tells us how to locate a septic tank when it's placement is not already known or when the location of the septic tank is not visually obvious. Videos showing how to find the septic system, septic tank, & septic drainfield are at SEPTIC VIDEOS. Also see Drainfield Location - how to find the leach fields.

Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Reviewers and content suggestions are welcome and are credited at "References." This document is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

FIND MAIN WASTE LINE EXIT - How to Find the Septic Tank by First Looking Inside the Building

If there are no obvious clues outside that clearly mark the location of a septic tank, we can find some critical clues about septic tank location by looking inside the building. Here they are: Find the main waste line exit point: Look in the lowest level of the building such as basement or crawl space to see where the Main waste line exits the building. The line from house to tank begins outside the house wall at this same point. Main Drain Single Exit Point: Usually, inside the building the waste drain lines run to a single exit point at the building wall or in the building lowest level floor or crawl space. In the photo above you can see the main sewer line leaving the building low on the wall near the basement corner. In the photo at the top of this page we have located a sewer line where it leaves the basement wall. Just outside we would expect to find this same sewer pipe. From that point the buried main drain line connects the building to its septic tank.

Particularly for sites where there are not obvious outside clues, this is where to begin your search for the septic tank - inside the building, following its drain lines.

Outside Septic Waste Line Vents: At some buildings you may see a 4" to 6" diameter vertical pipe rising from the soil near the house wall, often with a mushroom-shaped cap on top, or you may see such a pipe protruding horizontally through the building foundation wall and extending for a few inches, covered by a cap or by a perforated cover. Sewer line vents are often vents installed on the main waste line.

Finding one of these sewer line vents in a building wall or protruding from the soil outside is another way to spot where the main waste line is exiting the building.

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HOW TO FIND A SEPTIC TANK
WHO KNOWS SEPTIC LOCATION?
FIND MAIN WASTE LINE EXIT
DISTANCE TO TANK
POSSIBLE SEPTIC TANK LOCATIONS
  VISUAL CLUES LOCATE TANK
  WHERE TO LOOK
  SEPTIC TANK DEPTH
SEPTIC TANK LOCATING EQUIPMENT
SEPTIC TANK COVERS
DOCUMENT TANK LOCATION

• Thanks to Donica Ben who points out the danger of digging into buried electrical wires (11/11/07) as we discuss further at Septic & Cesspool Safety Procedures
  

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
• Clogged Drain Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system or the Building drain system?
  Septic Tank Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners
• Tank Condition - How to Inspect Septic Tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure
• Drainfield Layout: septic drainfield or leaching bed shape and placement considerations
• Drainfield Location: how to find the septic drain field or leaching bed
• Drainfield Inspection Procedure Septic Leach Fields - how to inspect and diagnose septic drainfield failures
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
• Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Table of Required Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.

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