Septic tank and leach field

[riptides]

Health dept records are often useless. Sometimes not even on the correct side of the house. Look for the well, hopefully they put the septic on the opposite house side from that.

Hey...I had one person show up with my neighbors plot. It got argumenative to the point where I walked and let my wife educate him.

 

[ponytug]

@Sigarms I think that the way to go is to run a sonde down your pipe from the house, find the current septic tank, and then repeat from there to find the field. The sonde transmits an RF signal that can be located above ground to a high degree of accuracy by skilled operators and good equipment.

I would not go digging for it.

A good plumber or utility locator will have the equipment to do it, and hopefully the trained staff to run it. It isn't trivial, and the equipment is pricey.

I would not waste any time trying to locate the old field if it is not in operation. If the old tank wasn't filled, I would at least try to find that to fill it.

Generally speaking, you don't want anything moving across septic tanks or septic fields except foot traffic and small lawn mowers.

All the best,

Peter

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Sigarms,
Some very good replies here ! Through the use of the proper equipment in the right hands, you should have no problem with tank location !

When I was building a small deck on the back side of the house, I didnt make it a permanent fixture because the water line from our well goes underneath it. To this day I have not had to dig up that line but if we ever do, at least I wont have to destroy anything.

Best of Luck with your project !

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

The septic pumper I used about 3 years ago had a tranmitter they flushed down the toilet. Reciever picked up the signal to locate the tank. All completed in minutes.
I used a steel fish tape and an electrical circuit tracer to find the distribution box location in the drainfield.

 

[tfuller]

Apparently the flushable locators are available to be rented not sure if you would be able to find one local.
Flushable Septic Tank Locator | Septic Tank Locating Equipment

 

[nyone]

Since it's been a couple of years and didnt say you ever got the tank pumped...just wait a few more years and you get to put in another leach field where ever you want.

On a serious note theres lots of septic and plumbing companies who can find all those things for you. While your at it get the tank pumped and field checked.

 

[dstig1]

2 questions

1 - What services are out there to find underground water pipes, septic tank, and is it possible to determine exactly where the leach fields are?
2 - Once (and if) we determine exact location of everything we're looking for, what kind of maximum weight should not be exceeded if heavy equipment is out back?

Plenty of good answers on the first question, but nothing on the second. My excavator and plumber told me not to drive anything over the drain field heavier than a riding mower. We also have a mound system with tons of sand heaped up, so that may play into it, but it is one data point for you. Where ours is, I never drive anything at all over it. I just avoid it as it is pretty much in the woods.

 

[mrmikey]

My excavator and plumber told me not to drive anything over the drain field heavier than a riding mower.

That's all I ever move over mine and not even that if the ground is wet.
My next door neighbours have had delivered a couple of cords of wood each year dropped on the perimeter of their field. They move it into their back yard using a wheel barrow travelling over their field.
I told them the first time I saw them do it and I was ignored, I've done my part.

 

[paulsharvey]

Most septic contractors have 'flushable sone' they can flush, and locate with a locator. It shouldn't be deep, so some time with a probe rod might be the best bet.

 

[paulsharvey]

THAT'S the type of company I'm referring to. Looking online, somewhat confusing but will put more time into it.

I don't want to put cement over something that may need to be accessed down the road. Dealing with a wood deck was interesting enough dealing with a pipe connection leak when the connection was directly under the deck (basement first deck, on ground).

I figure in for a penny, in for a dollar and now is the time to lay everything out correctly, particularly if we might sell 5-10 years from now.

What you are talking about is a SUE company. Sub-Surface Utility Engineering; Bloodhound, T2 Utilities, DRMP, ect. You will Not like the prices you get, if they have time to answer you; probably $1200 to show up.

GPR-Ground Penetating Radar, is a tool, good tool, but still just a tool. It isn't magic, and I have dug many empty holes looking for utilities I picked up with one. Ground water, differing soils, type of material, ect all can have an effect on whether you see the parabola on one of them. A flushable sone is cheap. disposable, and I think most septic guys will have them available, with the required matching locator.

 

[Sigarms]

We also have a mound system with tons of sand heaped up, so that may play into it, but it is one data point for you. Where ours is, I never drive anything at all over it. I just avoid it as it is pretty much in the woods.

Talking with the previous owner and looking at the rudimentary drawing that the health department has on file, I've been riding on my second active leach field with the Kubota F mower on the hill for the last 12 years or so.

 

[paulsharvey]

Talking with the previous owner and looking at the rudimentary drawing that the health department has on file, I've been riding on my second active leach field with the Kubota F mower on the hill for the last 12 years or so.

Depending on pipe arch vs perf pipe with sock and depth, really affect how much compaction or crushing force make it down to the pipe. I dont intentionally drive over mine, and actively avoid it with truck, and generally avoid it with tractor, but I'm not obsessed with avoiding it all all costs.

 

[Sigarms]

Depending on pipe arch vs perf pipe with sock and depth, really affect how much compaction or crushing force make it down to the pipe. I dont intentionally drive over mine, and actively avoid it with truck, and generally avoid it with tractor, but I'm not obsessed with avoiding it all all costs.

With the layout as it looks, I'd never go over it with a truck as it's behind the fence line away from the house into the back field. I have however mowed it regularly for at least the last decade with no issues and I believe the mower is like 1300 lbs without the deck.

I have a septic company coming tomorrow and they said they should be able to find it multiple ways if the easiest method doesn't work. Like I said, already have a good idea where it's at now, just need to confirm. If the deck guy wants to lay cement for the base for the basement level, could be a possible issue into the future.

 

[nyone]

That's all I ever move over mine and not even that if the ground is wet.
My next door neighbours have had delivered a couple of cords of wood each year dropped on the perimeter of their field. They move it into their back yard using a wheel barrow travelling over their field.
I told them the first time I saw them do it and I was ignored, I've done my part.

Your not going to damage a leachfield by driving a wheelbarrow load of firewood over it. Even if its leach chambers it's not going to hurt anything.

 

[Sigarms]

Tank located. Going to have it dug up due to it's depth and have a riser attached to it, and then pumped.

Per the layout the county had per the last "fix" in 1998, it's wrong. Even the guy that came out said it will be interesting exactly what's there when they dig it up.

I'll be here when they dig it up and take pics, and mark everything for reference.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My drain field was very obvious when we just had a dry spell. The tank riser is behind some flowers.

 

[mrmikey]

Your not going to damage a leachfield by driving a wheelbarrow load of firewood over it.

I meant the dropping of the wood on the perimeter actually, not the wheelbarrow , I didn't word it the way I should have. Saying that, I still wouldn't do the wheelbarrow, my theory is why tempt fate when it's not necessary.