Believe it or not, locating your septic tank isn’t always easy—especially if you’re a homebuyer of a property that perhaps hasn’t been well maintained. Not to worry, though! Put down that metal detector, Sherlock, and follow these three simple steps to uncover your mysterious septic system.
Check Property Records
Assuming you’ve already scoured around your property for any visual indication of the septic (i.e. large mound, bald spot on your lawn, or a giveaway septic lid), then it’s time to start digging! Figurately, that is. Most NH town offices have records of all building permits, including the installation of septic systems. We’d first recommend getting in contact with your county or town clerk’s office to see if they have any documents outlining your septic tank’s location.
You may also have received a diagram of your septic as part of the home inspection when you purchased the property. Be sure to scan through all those documents carefully before heading over to option 2.
Follow the Pipes
If the dog ate your inspection paperwork and you can’t find any other records cluing you to the spot, then we recommend following the trail of sewer pipes as a next resort. Typically, the septic and drain fields are installed parallel to the sewer line that extends from your home to the yard. So, all you should need to do is take a quick trip down to the basement or crawl space and locate a 4-inch sewer pipe that runs out of the house.
The direction that the pipe is pointing toward your yard is the perfect indicator. Once you’re back outside, face the direction the pipe was running and step about 10 to 25 feet away from your house; that’s the average distance most septic tanks are located. This should give you a general idea of where it likely will be.
Ask Your New Neighbors
The last two suggestions didn’t pan out. Well, what better way to break the ice and get to know your neighbors than by engaging them in the riveting topic of septic tank locations? Seriously though, if you feel comfortable talking to them, then they actually may be able to help here.
Interestingly enough, houses in neighborhoods and developments are typically built in a similar fashion. So, if your neighbor knows where their septic tank is located, then there is a pretty decent chance yours is in a very similar spot as well.
Here’s the good news: Worst case, if none of these tips work, or you just want to skip them altogether, you can simply ask the professionals for help. Feel free to reach out to us and we can help with your septic investigation and maintenance needs.