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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEPTIC INFO ARTICLES
Drainfield Location
  Why Look For the Drainfield?
  Using Septic System Records
  Where to Look
  Areas Not Likely
  Locate Piping Precisely
  Excavating to find Drainfield
  Surprising Leachfield Locations
HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION
SEPTIC TREATMENTS

SEPTIC VIDEOS
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How to Locate the Septic Drainfield
SepticAPedia ^©

How to find the septic drainfield or leach field - why we need to know

Videos here show how to find septic system components

How to use records of septic locations, whom to ask, Where to look and where not to expect to find septic system components

What visual clues tip off probable location of septic components, Tools to locate septic components precisely, How & when to dig to find septic system components, How to spot unusual or unexpected septic drainfield locations

Our site 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 inspect-ny.com/appointment.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.

The septic system video#2 at right describes walking a homesite by a lake in order to reason that the drainfield must be not only uphill from the lake but in this case uphill from the septic tank too. A septic pumping system will be needed. 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 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

A Guide to Finding the Septic System Drainfield

This article and our guide to finding the septic drainfield or leach field continues in the steps outlined below - the next section is Why Look For the Drainfield?.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION
  Why Look For the Drainfield?
  Using Septic System Records
  Where to Look
  Areas Not Likely
  Locate Piping Precisely
  Excavating to find Drainfield
  Surprising Leachfield Locations
  SEPTIC VIDEOS show how to find the drainfield and tank

Detailed Guide for Finding Other Septic System Components

SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
HOW TO FIND A SEPTIC TANK
SEPTIC SEARCH SAFETY
WHO KNOWS SEPTIC LOCATION?
FIND MAIN WASTE LINE EXIT
DISTANCE TO TANK
POSSIBLE SEPTIC TANK LOCATIONS
  VISUAL CLUES LOCATE TANK
  WHERE TO LOOK
  SEPTIC TANK DEPTH
SEPTIC TANK LOCATING EQUIPMENT
SEPTIC TANK COVERS
DOCUMENT TANK LOCATION
DRAINFIELD LOCATION

Septic Systems Bookstore
SEPTIC VIDEOS
More Information

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material.

Daniel Friedman - principal author
Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us

More Information on Septic System Drainfield Location,Diagnosis, Maintenance, & Repair

The Septic System Information Website home page for septic system design, installation, maintenance, repair
Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
Septic Drainfields, Leach beds, Drwells, Absorption Systems
- Absorption Field Design size and specifications for leach fields, absorption beds, gravelless systems, seepage pits
- How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
- Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, groundcover over the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
- Septic System Drainfield Absorption System Biomat Formation - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
- Table of Required Septic Tank, Drainfield, & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc
- SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
- Septic System DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
How to Measure the Distance From the House to the Septic Tank gives details of making a septic location sketch.
Distribution Box design, inspection, testing, and maintenance of the septic system D-box
Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)

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CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigation Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting