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 Mobile ViewSEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR ADDITIVES / TREATMENTS for SEPTIC SYSTEMS AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS in the HOME - EPA BOOKS, RECOMMENDED SEPTIC BOOKSTORE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS CHECK VALVES CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR D BOX TROUBLESHOOTING DEFINITIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM TERMS DIFFICULT SEPTIC SITES DISTRIBUTION-BOX INSPECTION, SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC COMPONENTS? DRYWELL DESIGN & USES FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS LEACHFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? ODORS, PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC AUTHORITIES SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEPTIC BOOK, ONLINE SEPTIC BOOKSTORE SEPTIC BIOMATS SEPTIC CARE INSTRUCTIONS SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES SEPTIC CODES & REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC D-BOX INSPECTION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION DRAINFIELD PIPE LOCATION, PRECISE EXCAVATE to LOCATE DRAINFIELD REASONS to FIND THE DRAINFIELD RECORDS to LOCATE the DRAINFIELD SURPRISING DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS UNLIKELY DRAINFIELD LOCATIONS VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the DRAINFIELD VISUAL CLUES LOCATE the SEPTIC TANK SEPTIC DRAINFIELD RESTORERS? SEPTIC DRAWINGS SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC INSPECTION BOOK SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC SYSTEMS, HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE DISPOSAL vs TREATMENT DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC FAILURE CAUSES SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SOIL CONDITIONS SEPTIC D-BOX INSPECTION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE CAUSES SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FAILURE SPOTS SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION TYPES & LEVELS SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION WORK SHEETS SEPTIC SYSTEMS, PLANTS OVER SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SOIL CONDITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL, ONLINE SEPTIC SYSTEMS, HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES SEPTIC TANK COVERS SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC TESTS: DYE & LOADING TESTS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS SEPTIC BOOKS REFERENCES CODES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SOAKAWAY BED FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS, SEPTIC VIDEO GUIDES: Septic Videos WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS WASTEWATER TREATMENT BASICS WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS More Information  InspectAPedia ® Home & Site MapInspectAPedia Blog - News Updates AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMPS BOOKSTORE ELECTRICAL ENERGY SAVINGS ENVIRONMENT EXTERIORS HEATING HOME INSPECTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY INSULATION INTERIORS MOLD INSPECT/TEST/CLEANUP NOISE ODORS PLUMBING ROOFING SEPTIC SYSTEMS SOLAR ENERGY STRUCTURE VENTILATION WATER SUPPLY ACCURACY & PRIVACY POLICIES EXPERT DIRECTORY CONTACT |
How to obtain records and revew documents to find the septic tank, drainfield, or soakaway bed InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.This article and our accompanying septic system location videos explains how to find the leach field or drainfield portion of a septic system. We include sketches and photos that help you learn what to look for, and we describe several methods useful for finding buried drainfield components. (Septic drain fields are also called soil absorption systems or seepage beds.) Also see How to Find the Septic Tank. More videos on septic system location & maintenance are at SEPTIC VIDEOS. 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. Technical reviewers and content suggestions are welcome and are credited at "References." This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. How to Use Septic System Records to Find the Drainfield - Whom to Ask - How to Find the Septic Leach Fields - Part 3
Since haphazard excavation by hand is an enormous labor and haphazard excavation by backhoe can unnecessarily destroy both a septic system and homesite, making a sketch of just where a septic tank, distribution box, and drainfield trenches or pits are located is an important document to prepare and keep with a property. Older properties: If the property is an older one but you are a new owner, you might find that the previous owner left a drawing or sketch of the location of septic system components. Ask the owner to leave any sketches with you; if they don't have a sketch but have an idea where septic components are, walk the property with them and make your own sketch. Often we find a rough sketch of septic system component locations, at least that of the septic tank, drawn right on a basement or crawl space foundation wall or floor joist overhead where the building sewer line exits the foundation wall. A previous service person or contractor knew that that was a reliable place to leave a drawing since anyone looking for the system in the future was likely to start by finding where the sewer line left the building. Septic Drawings may be inaccurate: A septic system drawing is a big help, though it may be inaccurate. Even if septic system and drainfield layout drawings were filed, the "as built" drain field may not quite be the same as the plan filed since obstructions can be discovered during drain field installation. If the excavator hit unexpected bedrock, boulders, or water, may have adjusted the final location of various components to work better at the site. The sketch at left uses a simple but accurate measurement triangle to locate the center of the septic tank. The sketch at left shows that giving accurate location of septic components needs simply the identification of key components and distances. It does not have to be beautiful, to scale, nor expensive. How to Measure the Distance From the House to the Septic Tank gives details of making a septic location sketch. Don't count on the local health department or building department to have drawings that accurately place the fields. As we explained above, the "as built" may not be the same septic plan as the "as approved". One municipality we encountered had deliberately destroyed 50 years of septic and other building plan documents because they were tired of being pestered by homeowners wanting that information and then complaining when it proved inaccurate. Try calling local septic system installation contractors in your area to ask if they have done work on the property. Speak with contractors listed under Excavation, Plumbing, and Septic System Service since the excavator who has installed or worked on the property of your concern might be listed under one but not all of those categories. Neighbors may also know who has worked on septic system installations or repairs in the area. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about septic tank and drainfield records, sketchs, and diagrams showing component location - using recorded information to find the septic system Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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