How Do I Find My Septic Tank : Sewer lines are critical pieces of plumbing infrastructure that help move water and waste away from your home. While the city takes care of the municipal sewer pipes, it's the homeowner's responsibility to maintain those sewer pipes that fall within his or her property lines.
If there's a low section in the pipe, water and waste can accumulate there and develop a clog over time. It's important to know where your sewer line cleanout access port is so you can quickly remove any obstructions within the sewer pipe and restore flow in the sewer system.
Read: leaching chambers
One of the best ways to find the location of your sewer line cleanout access port is to look at the engineered plot plan for the home. Sewer service lines will be shown on these documents, and can lead you to the cleanout point.
These maps will be essential tools to help professionals avoid the lines when digging is required.
Read: signs of ceiling water damage
If you don't have plot plans or can't identify the cleanout access on the map, start looking in the places where the sewer line cleanout is most likely to be. The cleanout is usually a 4-inch-diameter pipe with a screw cap that has a square knob or indentation on the top.
It's most likely going to be popping up from the ground outside your home between the foundation and the street. The cleanout might also be on the side of the home, closest to the bathroom.
Read: what are the signs that your septic tank is full
Cleanout access ports might also be located in the basement or covered by drywall, but these aren't typical for most homes. If it's within the wall, you'll need to cut out parts of the drywall to look for it, but this can get messy quickly. Make sure to carefully avoid wires and other pipes.
A tiny capped pipe protruding above the ground serves as the sewer clean-out. Unfortunately, finding it is not always straightforward. To make matters even more difficult, many homes have several cleanouts and, in rare circumstances, the clean-out may be placed within the house. The procedures below should make it easier for you to locate the clean-out.
The point where your lateral joins the municipal sewage line is often marked in many towns. Along the curb and sidewalk, look for a stamped or painted letter ‘S.’
If you discover this marker, you may easily picture a straight line running from it to your house, where the lateral could be found. In certain circumstances, you could even get lucky and locate a clean-out near where you’re looking.
Read: mound system septic
In many situations, installing the sewer clean-out near the road is impractical, or the previous owners of the home decided to build several sewer cleanouts. When you have a septic system, sewer cleanouts are usually placed near the house.
The cap is usually found within three feet of the foundation, between the road or septic tank and the point where your home’s sewage line enters the earth through the foundation.
Cleanouts can be found inside or projecting from the exterior walls of certain residences, particularly older ones.
Read: how often should i pump my septic tank
Look for probable places along the vent pipe in basements, crawl spaces, and attics. Indoor sewer clean outs frequently resemble a ‘Y’ or ‘T’ shaped junction with one side sealed. These are important for maintaining your interior pipes, even if they are not necessary.
© Roll20, LLC · Acknowledgements · Terms of Service & Privacy Policy · DMCA · Cookies · Support · Contact Us · Careers · On Social Media:
Roll20® is a Registered Trademark of Roll20, LLC. All rights reserved.