InspectAPedia ^®

A Guide To Septic Tank Covers
InspectAPedia^®  -    

• A guide to septic tank covers, finding, types, and septic tank cover safety
• Assuring the septic tank cover is safe
• Where to look for the septic tanks, septic tank covers, or septic tank cleanout lids

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 2010 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.

SEPTIC TANK COVERS - Once the Septic Tank has Been Located How Deep is The Septic Tank Cover & Is the Cover Safe?

Septic Tank Cover Depth

Tank Cover Depth: How deep will the septic tank cover be? The top of the septic tank is often about one foot below the surface. But this depth varies alot.

However the septic cover can be several feet deeper. If you note the depth at which the waste line leaves the building foundation wall, say perhaps 3 ft. below the top of soil (grade level) then if the site were dead flat and if the tank were

Found 12 feet from the foundation wall, at a typical waste line slope of 1/8" to 1/4" per linear foot of run, the septic tank's entry port for the waste line would have to be roughly 3 ft. 3" below grade level.

Obviously if the site is not flat these septic tank cover depth estimate numbers change.

Septic Tank Cover Safety

Be absolutely certain that the covers and cleanout access covers over the septic tank are secure and durable so that it will be impossible for someone to fall into the tank (which is often fatal), and so that a child could not remove the cover.

If your septic tank is in an area where vehicles may drive over it, special heavy-duty rated covers are available. Discuss this option with your septic tank contractor.

If there is the slightest doubt about the condition of the septic tank cover (such as seeing subsidence over the tank location) you should rope off the area and prevent anyone from walking over it, again because falling into a septic tank is likely to be fatal.

More Reading:
Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners

Use links just below or 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.

HOW TO FIND A SEPTIC TANK
SEPTIC SEARCH SAFETY
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

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

• InspectAPedia.com^® - Daniel Friedman
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or 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.

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.
• ...

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.

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting