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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
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LARGER IMAGE: sketch of drain field and D-boxes or drop box locations.

How to Find the Precise Location of Septic Drainfield Piping
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  • How to find the septic drainfield or leach field
  • A Guide to Tools & Methods to locate septic components precisely
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. 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.

Guide to Finding Septic Drainfields - Part 6

How to Use Special Equipment to Locate Unknown Drainfield Piping Location Precisely

At the end of the day, if you must locate an exact leach field trench and if there are absolutely no visual clues, then

  1. Start at the septic tank: find the tank outlet use a plumbing snake either to:

  2. Measure distance to the next obstruction (likely to be the D-Box - see our Distribution Box article) which places it along a known arc of distance from the point where the snake was inserted

  3. Use an electronic snake system (call a plumber) which puts an electronic signal in the plumbing snake and which permits an above ground tracing of the precise path the snake has taken underground

  4. After locating the D-box (if there is one), open it to see how many individual leach lines leave the box, and uses the same process as above to find them.

  5. PHOTO of a back hoe being used to dig up and locate septic system components during a sewer line repair.Test holes to confirm exact drainfield line locations and drainfield line condition are discussed at Excavating to find Drainfield

This is the most heavy-handed "tool" to locate septic components, but is often what's really needed. We discuss using excavation methods to find and repair septic systems in the next section of this article, at Excavating to find 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

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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

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04/13/2008 - 12/24/2006 www.inspect-ny.com/septic/Septic_Drainfield_Location6.htm © Copyright 2008-1995 Daniel Friedman - all rights reserved