Many homeowners wish to see the septic tank of a home that they want to buy before they close on the purchase. However, some homes may not have detailed records that you can rely on to locate the septic tank. This may compel you to walk around the property to find the tank. This article discusses three issues that you should keep in mind as you search for that elusive septic tank.

Beware of Old Septic Systems

Falling into a septic tank is potentially fatal. Be careful when searching for a septic tank. Watch out for any signs of subsidence on the property. Keep a safe distance from any rusty septic tank covers or flimsy wooden covers that you come across. Probe carefully so that you are not electrocuted when you hit an underground power line. Stay close to a companion so that you can help one another quickly in case of any emergency (such as one of you sustaining a sprain when walking on loose debris in the drain field).

Look Out for Multiple Main Drains

The property may have several septic systems. This can occur if plumbing fixtures are located at extreme ends of the building. The builder may have found it easier to construct more than one main drain or tank to avoid running drains over long distances. Main drains are normally larger than other drains (such as a kitchen sink drain). Follow these main drains and confirm whether they all lead to the same septic tank. You can dig small trenches along the drain line to confirm the direction where it is taking the wastewater.

Look Out for Multiple Drywells

Some homes have small septic tanks. Such homes may have a separate drywell to which water from sinks and washers is directed. Follow the procedure of locating multiple septic tanks above in order to identify all the drywells on the property.

Ask for septic system maintenance records so that you confirm that all the features that you saw during the physical inspection above were attended to according to the local codes of that area. Hire a septic inspector to conduct a detailed inspection in case you suspect that some aspects of the system were neglected during previous maintenance activities. For example, you may have found an extra septic tank that is not reflected in the septic system maintenance records. Such a a forgotten tank can collapse and burden you with a high remediation cost.

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