This septic system inspection article explains where to look for and how to locate septic system components for any purpose such as inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting or repair, or as part of the Septic Loading and Dye Test procedure for testing the function of septic systems.

Our page top photo shows a recently-created pile of rocky soil pushed against trees and over the "septic tank" location at a rural property. This act of burying the septic tank right before the inspection raised an immediate concern about just what was installed at the property.

LOOK FOR SEPTIC COMPONENTS

Where, When, How Look for Septic System Components as Part of a Septic System Inspection & Test Procedure

The failed soil absorption system (drainfield) for this system was promptly found simply by climbing over this rock-pile and looking over the edge of the hill. More photos of this troubled septic system and places to look for septic system components are described below.

How to Find the Septic Tank

• Possible Septic Tank Locations: what are the likely locations for a septic tank?
  
  See SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND for details of how to find the septic tank.
  
  See SEPTIC TANK LOCATION SKETCH for examples of how people may have made a record of where to find the septic tank at a property.


• Shared septic systems What are all of the possible locations for a tank on the property? Perhaps there is essentially none, or room for a tank but no absorption system. Do not assume that all septic components are even on the property.
  
  Some older properties were built with shared septic systems, or individual tanks and a shared leach field. Later owners may never have been told that their leach field was on a neighbor's property, and vice versa.
  
  See SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION for detailed procedures for finding the septic drainfield or leaching bed (also called soakaway field) at a property.

See these articles for one or more methods that will locate the septic tank, cesspool, drywell, seepage pit:

• SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND
  • WHO KNOWS SEPTIC LOCATION?
  • FIND MAIN WASTE LINE EXIT
  • DISTANCE TO SEPTIC TANK
  • POSSIBLE SEPTIC TANK LOCATIONS
  • VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the SEPTIC TANK
  • SEPTIC TANK DEPTH
  • SEPTIC TANK LOCATING EQUIPMENT
  • SEPTIC TANK LOCATION SKETCH

How to Find the Septic D_box - Distribution Box

• See SEPTIC D-BOX INSTALL, LOCATE, REPAIR where we describe how to find the drop box, D-box or distribution box and how to inspect and repair it depending on what you see there.

How to Find the Septic Drainfields or Leaching Beds or Soakaway Pits

See these articles for details on fiding the septic drainfield by one or more of these methods:

• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION - separate article
  • DRAINFIELD PIPE LOCATION, PRECISE - separate article
  • EXCAVATE to LOCATE DRAINFIELD - separate article
  • REASONS to FIND THE DRAINFIELD - separate article
  • RECORDS to LOCATE the DRAINFIELD - separate article
  • SURPRISING DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS - separate article
  • UNLIKELY DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS - separate article
  • VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the DRAINFIELD - separate article
  • VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the SEPTIC TANK - separate article
  • SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE & SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE - separate articles
  
  
• Space for septic fields? Is there even room for a conventional tank and drainfield at this property? If the property is too small it is unlikely to have a septic tank and drainfield but it might be using a cesspool. Beware: a "grand fathered" cesspool or other non-conforming septic system at a property may not be permitted to continue in use in that form when septic repair is needed.


• Are there site encumbrances likely to make installation or replacement of the septic system difficult or costly, such as nearby streams or lakes, storm drains, trees, rocky or steep site conditions (see our septic failure case examples), or limited distances from a well or property boundary?
  
  Remember to check nearby streams and lakes during and after the dye test. Are there pipes extending from the property into a nearby stream, possibly discharging septage?
  
  The site shown in this photo was all that was available to place a septic system. Rocky and steep, a conventional system could not work properly (though special steep slope septic system designs are available.
  
  This system appeared to be in failure before we started our test - we saw water, probably septic effluent running over a rock just below the reported (new) septic tank.
  
  Our dye confirmed that it was from the septic system. Here is the same rock ledge with increased effluent flow as soon as we started our septic test.
  
  Sewage from this system had been discharging to the surface from an overflow pipe or from the bottom of a tiny, home made seepage pit which itself was sitting on solid rock, sending septic effluent running downhill to Wappingers Creek and from there to the Hudson River for decades.
  
  We were informed by the agent that the system was in perfect working order but that the owners, simply to improve the "curb appeal" of the property, had just installed a new septic tank.
  
  Unfortunately what was needed was an entire steep slope system to handle the effluent.
  
  The seller's money was not well spent.

These pages are part of our SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE for testing septic system function. Technical review by industry experts has been performed and is ongoing - reviewers are listed atReferences or Citations . Comments and suggestions for content are welcome.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2020-04-05 - by (mod) - Can’t seem to locate my distribution box for my septic system.

Aaron

I'll be glad to help.

Let's start over at SEPTIC D-BOX INSTALL, LOCATE, REPAIR

where I discuss finding the distribution box.

Take a look at those suggestions, then follow up with me with questions or an update.

On 2020-04-05 by Aaron

Can’t seem to locate my distribution box for my septic system. Anyone have any ideas please share as my yard now looks like a massive quarry in that I’ve been digging to try and find my D- box with no success.

On 2019-09-28 by (mod) - Minimum distance home to septic

Joe I'll be glad to help but need a more specific question: what? house distance to Septic tank, piping, D-box or drainfields?

Better yet just click over to our detailed septic system clearance numbers found by using the Search box just above to find CLEARANCE DISTANCES, SEPTIC SYSTEM at https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Clearance_Distances.php

On 2019-09-28 1 by Joe

Minimum distance home to septic

On 2017-04-17 - by (mod) - dig up and check D box for clogs.

Steve

Digging at the D-box is a nice step because it's easy and diagnostic compared with digging up individual drainfield lines.

If you can open the D-box you might see that (if you're lucky) one line is backing up into the box and thence to the septic tank and you might temporarily block that line off.

But if multiple lines are backing up at the Dbox the drainfield is flooded, either from clogging failure or because surface runoff that should have been kept away is flooding the field.

I would inspect the rest of the drainfield area for signs of effluent break-out;

You could also have a plumber run a camera down the drainfield lines to see if they've collapsed or broken; if not we're back to my diagnosis above and sadly it's new drainfield time.

On 2017-04-17 by Steve

My septic backed up in to my yard at the clean out cap, It was suggested that I dig up and check D box for clogs.

I was digging and exposed about a 12" x 12" section of D box and water started coming up from that area and covered box, the water hasn't gone down yet. Any suggestions?

On 2015-06-24 - by (mod) - regulation of distance of septic sprinklers to our shared property line?

Leah

Good question, and one for your local building department. Most jurisdictions require a setback of various septic components from property lines but the exact distance varies by juridiction and by component type.

On 2015-06-23 by Leah

New neighbors are moving sprinklers close to our shared property line. What is the regulation of distance of septic sprinklers to our shared property line?

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

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BURIED OIL TANKS, FINDING
• CLEARANCE DISTANCES, SEPTIC SYSTEM
• SEPTIC COMPONENT LOCATIONS
• SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION
• SEPTIC DRAWINGS
• SEPTIC TANK DEPTH
• SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND
• SEPTIC VIDEOS
• SEPTIC to POOL DISTANCE
• WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES
• WELL CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE
• WELL DEPTH, HOW TO MEASURE
• WELL LOCATION, HOW TO FIND

 

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC COMPONENT LOCATIONS 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

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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