So I have a half acre of property and somewhere on it is my septic tank.

The tank was installed in 1941 and uses iron pipe.

I've gone around with a rod poking the ground to try and find where it is, but there are too many rocks all over the place giving me false readings.

Some people suggested trying to use a metal detector, others said that would never work.


Any ideas that don't involve flushing an explosive?

Apparently I'm not the only one:

http://www.writersg.com/short/fabiano/essay2.html

But he found his pretty easily by driving a pole down into the dirt, guess he didn't have as many rocks on the property :P

And I found this article:

http://www.inspect-ny.com/septic/septankfind.htm (How to locate your septic tank) and it has this charming disclaimer:

"Beware of old, collapsing septic systems: falling into a cesspool or septic tank is likely to be fatal. Watch out for evidence of subsidence or sinking soil, rusted-through steel septic tank covers, home-made wooden or flimsy tank covers, or home made cesspools and drywells which risk collapse."

What a horrible way to die.

Aww, i was hoping you were talking about of of these, especially when you mentioned 1941 (and it has an iron pipe as well!)

http://www.armyrecognition.com/europe/Belgique/exhibition/Tanks_in_Town_2005/pictures/Sherman_tanks_in_Town_2005_04.JPG.JPG

Follow the pipes coming out of the distribution box?

Find the cover for the septic man to suck your poop out, those are usually right on top.

Aww, i was hoping you were talking about of of these, especially when you mentioned 1941 (and it has an iron pipe as well!)

http://www.armyrecognition.com/europe/Belgique/exhibition/Tanks_in_Town_2005/pictures/Sherman_tanks_in_Town_2005_04.JPG.JPG

SWEET! How do you know thats NOT what I was talking about?

Find the cover for the septic man to suck your poop out, those are usually right on top.

Gee, thanks . . . I would never have guessed :P

I'm always here to help.

USUALLY, the cover is covered with plywood or metal, a few inches below the surface.

You could try a metal detector, but I'd say stick with a ground rod plunging into the ground. There's got to be an area, you think it is, try that area first. :)

I know it's gotta be around 3 feet underground. Pele says the metal detector won't work at that depth.

I'm guessing you just have a tank....no mound or drain field? If so don't they come and pump it once in a while?

Does it need to be replaced? All new systems around here have holding tanks that are a short distance from the house and then feed out to a drain field or mound....pretty pricey to have to replace

I don't think it' would need to be replaced . . . unless I don't empty it in time :P

Hopefully you haven't been eating YZFs 'Mans Bread' or that things going to be full.....

Run the water until it over flows.

And what is this I hear about people getting warned and banned from TFL for talking?

Run the water until it over flows.

And what is this I hear about people getting warned and banned from TFL for talking?

Err, thats not how septic tanks work :P

uh, yes it is.......sorry

A Septic tank is just what it says it is....a big tank in the ground with holes or a long pipe with holes in it. Your waste goes in there and the solids sinks while the water seeps back into the ground. If you poo enough then you'll have to have the tank emptied. If you have a large enough capacity tank, the solid can be broken down and returned to the ground while the water flows through

Ever hear the statement "The grass is always greener over the septic tank"? Wonder how that one got started?? It wasn't made up, it was a simple observation.

Back to my original statement, run the water until the water fills up the tank and then the water will start bubbling up somewhere in that acreage you have. It won't be a geyser...but more along the lines of a mud puddle forming for no reason.

At least you would have an idea of where to look.

Yeah, except I could dump as much water as I want in the tank and I'd only find the runoff field, not the tank itself. I already know where the field is.

Grass CAN be greener over the septic, but it can also be deader, or totally the same.

My yard is VERY splotchy, so I can't use that as an indicator :P

So try the metal detector. It ain't gonna fill up in one day.

If that fails, then flush the bomb. Flushing the explosives is a triple win.

1.) Finds tank
2.) Uncovers tank
3.) Empties tank

And as a bonus:
4.) It's fun.

Where's the downside?

If you're having trouble with those pesky, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regulations, the internet is a plethora of recipes to try.

A virtual cornucopia of incindary ordinances.



If you're really so against explosives, I suppose one could try tasting the dirt.
I'd volunteer my dog, but she's kinda dumb.

Lets try the dog. It's cheaper then flushing a bomb.

So you know where the run off field is??

Get a backhoe and start tearing up the lawn.

Iodine and X-ray.

http://www.jwwells.com/rod.gif

Divining Rods
For centuries, the principles of Animal Magnetism have been used by peasants to detect water using a forked stick. J. W. Wells & Co. have improved and expanded on this principle to bring you customized locatory implements for every need. We offer water-seeking rods to farmers, petroleum-seeking devices to oilmen, land-mine detectors to the military, and even top-quality lambchop locators for the exacting gourmand.

http://www.inspect-ny.com/septic/septankfind.htm

Had to lol at the "no-explosives" request. We have a tank, too. I have wondered how to locate it if we need to. Good luck. Hope you don't have any "issues" with it's move ....

Ground penetrating RADAR

-Eat Thai food.

-Poop.

-Look for flames in yard.

Can you lend me a good metal detector? I dont have the bling :P

Yeah, Mark, have your company do a demo of their latest equipment.

So you know where the run off field is??

Yep, I do. :) Kinda.

Gasoline!

There's a chance that you could use a locater on it.

Also when they built the house there could possibly be a record of it on the deed. Call up the city

or just call a septic tank service and they can locate it for you
Not only that, how many services are in your area??

Just call them up nonchalantly and tell them you need it cleaned. Then be aloof when they show up.

I'll bet you 1 dozen Do-Nuts (assorted, not just plain glazed) that they go straight to the hole......not the do-nut hole... but the septic tank hole.

You just need to learn how to handle a rod better

You just need to learn how to handle a rod better

Penis.

Not only that, how many services are in your area??

Just call them up nonchalantly and tell them you need it cleaned. Then be aloof when they show up.

Yeah, that costs extra. A lot extra. And they charge for finding it, then they charge for digging it up. I'd rather avoid the extra fees :)

I think I found where it is though, but I gotta dig the 3x3 hole, and if thats not it I'll cry.


Also when they built the house there could possibly be a record of it on the deed. Call up the city

They have no record of it.

I found it! I've struck sewage!

U-reeka?

Eureka is both the name of my wife's mom, and Theo's dog.

Don't ask.

Urea-ka.

lol, I don't think he got my little play on words...

Probably not.

I found it! I've struck sewage!

How'd you find it?

How'd you find it?

He probably called our resident sewage expert to TFL.....YZF.

He probably called our resident sewage expert to TFL.....YZF.

No personal attacks in STB.

No personal attacks in STB.

That wasn't a personal attack, it was a joke....we all know that YZF works as some ground water engineer....or what ever, its just funnier to say that its shitter water.

What the hell man. :eyecrazy:

How'd you find it?

I was searching for a while with the "Drive a metal wire five feet into the ground" and I was getting nowhere. Then I just got tired of it and said "God! Please show me where this tank is!" and I just rammed the shovel into the ground and it hit the tank :P

I was searching for a while with the "Drive a metal wire five feet into the ground" and I was getting nowhere. Then I just got tired of it and said "God! Please show me where this tank is!" and I just rammed the shovel into the ground and it hit the tank :P

seriously?

Look for a dent or slight rise in the yard. When they dig the hole the tank can either sink into the ground slightly causing a slight dent in the ground and a collection of water. If it does not move downward then there should be some slight indications of a raise in the ground.

Look for a dent or slight rise in the yard. When they dig the hole the tank can either sink into the ground slightly causing a slight dent in the ground and a collection of water. If it does not move downward then there should be some slight indications of a raise in the ground.

My yard is made entirely out of dents and rises. :P

seriously?

Seriously.

Divining rod, my grandpa used that method for 30 years to find gas lines. He drilled gas and oil and water wells. He used a Y shaped branch. I've done it too. it's pretty easy. Strange, but easy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divining_rod

Are you kidding me?!

Are you kidding me?!

Well know that you've found the tank, use the rods and see if they'll show anything when you cross it.

Are you kidding me?!

No seriously it works. To practice do it somewhere that you know something is.

I've seen people use dowsing rods before, it is fucking weird but it works.