Septic system drawing FAQs:

This article series offers some sketches explaining septic system components and installations. These septic system illustrations help readers understand, identify, and possibly even locate buried onsite wastewater disposal and septic tank equipment at properties.

Septic System Illustrations, Sketches, Design Layout Drawings & Examples

These questions and answers about finding or making drawings, plans or sketches for septic system designs and installation were posted originally at SEPTIC DRAWINGS - so you might want to check that out.

More technical depth is at SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS.

On 2018-12-19 by (mod) check for damaged sewer piping due to construction

Nick it makes sense to check first for a broken septic line that could have occurred if you sank a post during construction or if you drove heavy equipment over the drainfield.

On 2018-12-19 by Addy Nick

We are having a strange problem. We live in FL. We have lived in our house for 15 years. We had our septic take emptied a little over a year ago. In May we had a problem with one of our toilets, the toilet was stopped up in the weirdest toilet plugged.

We just couldn’t get it unstopped, We have a 3 bathroom house. Finally got it unstopped, looking back I have wondered if I broke the darn thing. So a few months later we were having problems toilet not flushing and gurgling noises when someone was in the shower.

Bathroom number two had water on the floor by toilet. I thought we had a clog in drain or main vent obstruction.

We had two plumbers come out and they said it was our Septic tank, outside house ground was soggy. They said our septic tank is in good shape but we need a new drain field, it will cost around 10 K, we are trying to get a price to go on city sewer.

What I am wondering could the problem be in April May I built a treee house for our girls and I’m wondering if it the weight could have broken something over the leach field?

The only problem we are having is with toilet number 1 which is close to the main drain going out to septic tank, other toilets work fine. We do still have gurgling in toilets when showering. Any ideas??

On 2018-11-14 by (mod) - Plans to build a house on top of the septic tank

Edwin

Watch out: What you propose sounds to me like a bad idea as well as one that violates building and sanitary codes in most jurisdictions.

Just consider the hazard of methane gas explosions blowing up the house, and the sanitary hazards of trying to pump a septic tank through a house floor, and the risk of fatality if a home-made septic tank collapses and someone falls in.

On 2018-11-14 by edwin

i want to build a septic tank for my self condain house in top of septic tank brc is needed before congereting slab

On 2018-05-04 by (mod) -

Willis

At SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE

you will find typical drain field layout, trench specifications and distances.

But for an existing system built by an unknown installer to unknown specs, I cannot say where your trenches are located, nor do I think the answer would address your concern of building a home on the property.

Instead you need to keep the home entirely off of the drainfield AND you need to keep the contractor from driving equipment over the drainfield as otherwise it's likely to be damaged or destroyed. The same advice applies to the septic tank and existing sewer piping.

On 2018-05-03 by Willis

I have a conventional septic system that is 75' x 40'. How far apart is the perforated pipe on the field line is?

I want to build a 2 bed room 2 bath house on my property on Lake Sam Raymond and I will be the only one living there except for occasional visits with friends and family.

On 2017-11-29 by (mod) -

Jake,

In reviewing our literature, standards, codes for septic tank installation I have not found any source that describes a through-top connection of the sewer line into the tank.

I suspect that's in part because of normal septic tank design that relies on baffles to control the flow of solids and wastewater into the tank, to control agitation inside the tank's treatment area, and to prevent the floating scum layer from blocking the tank inlet or outlet.

More about connecting to the septic tank is at SEPTIC TANK TEES https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Tees.php

On 2017-11-29 by jake

can you pipe from house to top of tank

On 2017-09-11 by (mod) -

Sid,

I'll be glad to try to help but I don't know what question you're asking.

I can offer, in general, that a soakaway pit cannot treat sewage effluent effectively - below about 1/2 metre of soil depth there's not enough oxygen to support aerobic bacteria that are needed. (Only anaerobic bacteria will remain active). So the distance between such as seepage pit and ANY water source (well, stream, lake, seashore) is important.

On 2017-09-10 by Sid

I have soakaway pit that has combined grey and black water in it . In the country where biodegradable things do not exist yet?

The house is being built for while. Any advance of what I should do. Thank you . My mail is sidoak29@yahoo.com

On 2017-06-30 by Neil p

We are having a septic tank put in and there is a water line going past it under ground a 3/4 inch black hose going across the street in a business district which is leaking ..any idea what it's used for ? It's pouring out water? Can't find where it goes ??

On 2017-05-15 by (mod) -

C.

That does not sound right to me - but I can't be as smart as the on-site expert.

Generally a septic tank tee has the job of preventing the flow of solids into the drainfield - an event that will destroy the absorption fields or soakbeds. Cutting off the tees will send solids out into the filelds, and at the inlet risks blocking the sewer line and causing a sewage backup into the house.

Use the on-page search box at the top or bottom of this page to find our article on SEPTIC TANK TEES to read details.

let me know what your septic guy says about that information and we'll take it from there.

On 2017-05-15 by C. Rogers

I recently had to have a new distribution box installed and, as part of the county code, a new lid. When the repair tech removed the lid, he also cut off the tee's at each end of the tank, claiming they were not necessary. I have had no significant problems since the repair but I do occasionally get a 'sewer gas' smell from a shower drain.

I'm wondering if the removal of the tee's in any way might be the cause of the odor back-up into the house. What function do the tee's perform and why where they there if they're not needed?

On 2017-02-28 by (mod) -

David, information about sewage ejector pumps is at

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Grinder_Pumps.php

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Pumps.php

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Pump_Inspection.php

On 2017-02-28 by David Cerami

Can anyone assist me with information about a sewage pump up to a septic system located at a higher elevation from a new structure being built adjacent down a 29 foot hill?
Dave@HTRenovations.com

On 2017-01-12 by (mod) -

Davy

Please see https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Clearance_Distances.php where we give all septic tank clearances including to buildings.

On 2017-01-12 by davw morey

I am looking to build an extention and was wondering how far a sceptic tank needs to be from the house

On 2016-08-01 by (mod) -

Anon at the ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS above you'll find articles on septic tank and field layout, design, sizing.

There is no simple "right" answer to your question as the leachfield area or soakbed area needed depends on the soil properties such as the percolation rate; it may also be specified in local regulations.

by searching InspectApedia.com

for SEPTIC FIELD SIZE you'll find a live article link

to SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE but you'll still see that soil testing is needed.

On 2016-08-01 by Anonymous

How many feet of lateral lines for a 3 bedroom house

...

Continue reading  at SEPTIC DRAWINGS - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• SEPTIC BOOKSTORE
• SEPTIC CODES & REFERENCES
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL - Online
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES - home
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS - home
• SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND for details about finding the septic tank or chamber or drywell or seepage pit.
• SEPTIC TANK TEES - how to make piping connections to the septic tank
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION - home
• HOW to FIND the SEPTIC TANK. More videos on septic system location & maintenance are at SEPTIC VIDEOS

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC DRAWINGS FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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Citations & References

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