How to Find Your Septic System and Drain Field
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- Today we give you some tips for finding your septic system and drain field. It is good to know where your drain field is located when planning fencing, gardens, or buildings on your property.
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I always look forward to your video's.. That is really cool you can see the lines. I am so happy for you that it is connected to the school house. Now all your dreams can come true. Can't wait to see you fixing it up. I know it won't happen right away...but you know what.....I'm patiently waiting....When ever your ready, I'll be watching.
Great information! Glad that you were able to find information on your homestead and learned that the septic is set up for both the house and mobile home! Such a blessing!
Good observation on the drain field! Y'all have a Blessed Day!
We just wanted to let y'all know that we tagged y'all in a 5 question video. We were tagged by 2 other channels. Our video will post on Saturday 3-10-18. Thanks and have a Blessed Day!
I'm so excited for you guys. That's a huge time & experience. On to the next big project!!!
Nice news! All things work together....... Thanks for sharing
Hi, That's great news for you and will save money in the future.
Your videos are fantastic
Thanks for bringing us along on your journey!!
Glad u didn't swell up from the poison ivy.
I did get a couple of small spots but am doing okay :)
Good detective work finding your septic system. Be glad you have the newer style that has the drain bed, our original system had a tile running to a county ditch. When the tile plugged or collapsed, we found out it couldn’t be repaired(didn’t meet new standards) and we had to put in a complete new system. Have really enjoyed watching you fixing up the new property. Phil
Phil, I was very relieved to see that it was the newer style and done right. Hopefully it lasts many more years to come.
Awesome! Y'all are getting it all figured out. I am excited to see what Y'all do with that ol' schoolhouse. I am a littly enviouse. #Vlarmer *~Nate*
Your yard should be a good metal detecting spot. Nice.
You could consider having a sand mound installed in a new location if you have the room,. This would replace the leach field this way you could use that area to plant at some point. I bought a home off grid on 14 acres and inspector told me the leach field is in the backyard. Thought it was odd because this was built in 1992 and and at that time they were doing sand mounds and no longer using drain fields on new homes. So when I moved in I found a huge sand mound over 300 + feet in my woods it had 6 white pipes sticking out of it. So looks like I have a sand mound and looks in great shape no dampness or over saturated spots. Good Luck on your homestead and thanks for sharing this info.
The school house has what looks like some excellent timber. I would recommend testing the plaster walls for asbestos!
Thank you for the information. I am glad they found your records.
Thank you this helped. I am now in contact with the city and they’re going to give me that information.
Take two pieces of copper wire bent to 90*....Hold them loosely in both hands protruding straight forward....walk across the area and when they cross, you will find any kind of pipe, whether it be pvc, metal or clay....works every time....
Those wire work to find cespool cover too!
Interesting that somebody before you had the same idea in making the school house a home. Great that y'all don't have to install a septic system.
Thank you so much! We just bought a place and need to know as well. Will try all these tips
I feel strongly that Doug should do all videos in a hazmat suit from now on.
That was so interesting that someone else had the dream of fixing up the old schoolhouse! Good idea not to plant on the leach field, I read that to avoid bacterial contamination you need to be 10 feet away from the edge of the field.
Super helpful thanks guys!
Very useful information guys. Thanks for posting.
3:55. The snow accentuated the terrain well. Or the leach trenches are warmer from effluent and bio activity
Great information. Thanks!
Unless you live in an area like us - permits aren’t required ;( it’s the good and bad of living free :( we can only guess or wait for something to go wrong - then I’m sure we will find it! We have a patch /mound in our back yard that the grass doesn’t grow well and I’m guessing that’s it - it can also sound hollow - great information!
This helped tremendously! Thanks a lot guys :)
Yes the county has a wealth of info. My county gets sketchy prior to 1965. If all else fails you could also call the local septic pumping companies. They all keep their own maps and records in my area. One other thought is to witch it. Two rods with 90 degree bends in them facing away from each other will cross upon standing over water. Nice video.
Thanks, we've never tried witching, but would like to try that sometime. It has always intrigued me :)
You can use a metal rod, 1/4 or 5/16 ground to a point with a "tee" handle on the opposite end to probe the ground in case the clean out cover can't be found or is buried. Dave
Interesting about the septic system. Thanks for sharing
Great video and glad that you found the old drawing and plans of the septic system. You both have to be so excited to have endless possibilities for your new home in that school house. What a beautiful building! What would you think of setting up a tent in the old school house and have a campout one night with the kiddos (indoors of course)?
Soo happy to know it has the septic! That sounds fun, I have been wanting a tent for years and I am hoping to get one this summer, maybe we will do that :)
You can totally see those lines!
Did you guys bring the tiny greenhouse? You could use that land to put (movable) container gardens. I would not garden right into that soil for the reason that *if* you have to work on the drain field you end up having to bulldoze your garden... containers could be moved. The land behind the schoolhouse is large and flat, but might get too much shade from the schoolhouse? The drainfield area could be fenced and put your small livestock there, such as chickens free ranging or sheep, even a donkey.
Your septic would be based on the needs of a schoolhouse, so I would imagine it'll far exceed the needs of a family of 4.
We didn't bring the greenhouse. I'm looking at putting the garden behind the schoolhouse and am looking forward to seeing how the sun hits it. There are always others places to put it too. We'll see how it looks this summer
Thanks very helpful!
Great video. I wish you both success.
We use good old sour milk instead of rid x. Works great and no chemicals.
The long straight line is the feeder line for each finger in the field, the fingers are the dark spots but i'm sure you figured that out by now. (we called them fingers 45 years ago when i worked it the sewage business, im sure names have changed by now.)
How wonderful the mobile home is tied in. Perhaps when you move it you could build an outdoor kitchen or workshop in it's place? (Me and my silly ideas)
Blessings ~
We were thinking kind of the same thing :D
Great video and we hope the best for you two!
Thank you! My first septic system and same garden dilemma but question for anyone. Just knowing where the pipes are at, does that tell you how far out it drains away from there. I know maybe because of the bumps in the yard where the pipes are hit how far out and and is it always downhill even underground? Maybe 10 feet away, I don’t know but couldn’t seepage go in any direction if it’s not flowing right underground? Honest real questions. Thank you again! Lmk if you need a video for setting a mouse trap safely. Lol
Good information
Great video, very useful.
How have your heating bills been for the mobile home? I'm glad you're enjoying it. Although, the possibilities with the schoolhouse are great!
So far we have only gotten a partial bill. Still waiting for the next full bill. Soo many possibilities! The school house will be amazing when it's done. :)
Just got the new bill. It was only $60! Soo amazing. And that's for the heating and the gas cook stove.
I'm going to use my metal detector to find my septic tank lid.Unfortunately now the EPA is forcing about 100 residences to hook into the new sanitary sewer line at a massive cost to each of us homeowners here in Akron ,Ohio.Even the people with perfectly good septic has to tie in to their system.
That's frustrating. I really hate when you are forced to hook to a public utility and then forced to pay a bill to use it. It just doesn't make sense.
They are going to tack on 15k to property tax for 20 yrs.The cost of a contractor to hook up to the new run lines has to be paid immediately and then high utility bill on top of that.And there was absolutely nothing wrong with my system.I love your videos and your wonderful family.
Daniel, isn't that a crock of crap, making you pay that huge bill. When we moved here, they said, in ten years we were going to have to do that too. So far we have been here 18 years and we still haven't heard about the city sewage coming in yet. i hope they never decide to do it. we are out in the boonies and all of us have septic tanks. What if some poor elderly person is forced to do that and they don't have the money. That is simply ludacris. A thousand dollars tacked on to someones taxes is a lot of money. I know I struggle to pay my taxes every year. My husband just had a stroke and he is not working. Most elderly people don't get that much money to live on. I simply feel for you and the rest of your neighbors. Maybe all of you could hold a meeting with the township and try to extend it longer to be paid back. They have to understand taxes alone is a ton of money then to tack on another bill.
They are trying to get us too do the same. At our cost . No warranty’s.
Daniel Beard really? How old is the septic system? Have you heard of a grandfather law?
great news!!
Good information Guys, thanks:)
The snow really made that leach field stick out like a sore thumb. Now all I need to do is wait for it to snow...kidding, i'm on city plumbing, lol. I'm sure that thrilled you all knowing the septic tank has a checked box next to it. Take care and see you next time!
You can contact building permit department for these drawings. The permit will show who installed it, who inspected etc. The drawings may not be extremely accurate but it's a good place to start. If the house is not too old the installer may still be in business and you can contact them.
There are some older places with NO prints or notes at the health department. I am one of those. So looking for ways to find the leach field.
Not always. My county has no record of my septic and field. Trying to find new ways to find the field
Thanks. Helpful.
Thank you!
Very useful nformation.
I would have thought that you hot ahold of the drainage board to find where the tile ran.
I have a question. (I’m hoping someone will have an answer) how do we locate the distribution box?
Are you able to live in the mobile home now without a septic and well system or are there systems in place now?
The mobile home always had both a well and septic that were in full working order.
It's there because your leaching pipes are put together to looks like a giant pitchfork.
My home was built before permits and records were kept.
Oh no, I’m thinking mine was too, 1860…. But, this has been the most informative 7 minutes I’ve spent today! I like how they didn’t waste time..
Good morning
I wonder if a thermal camera could be helpful
Could you or would you put raised beds over the leach field?
Raised beds are fine over the leach field. We're not going to put anything over our leach field though so that if it ever needs to be dug up we don't have to move anything first.
I've read that it is not wise because the weight from the beds a d frequently walking over the pipes can cause problems or even break them. Not to mention if you ever have to have them dug up... you've got a job on your hands.
10-20 ft. of clearance is recommended for even raised beds.
However, placing wildflowers, native grasses, clover or other "cover crop" types can be placed over the field as long as you aren't consuming it. It's just for show or top soil improvement.
Most likely asked and answered already but, Does the school house, as a structure have any county, state or local historical value.? If so financial assistance may be available.
In talking to the county, they didn't have much to say about it. It seems to be mostly forgotten. In a way that is good because we want to renovate it our way and not be restricted to certain historical standards.
You've got a point there, thought of it after I posted. Have owned the same house for 47 years, have never quit working on it.
Just my 2 cents. When buying a house on a septic tank. Just figure you should at least pump the field immediately.
I didn't. Between ignorance and not wanting to spend a little bit of money. Now I can possibly be in fairly big trouble a little over a year in.
Don't be me. If you have to put it in the closing costs it needs to get done or pony up for paying for an inspection.
@FF Film Crew This is excellent. Thanks for the pro tips. I have zero experience with septic but I'm in negotiations for a property that has one. It's been sitting vacant for at least 8 years, so there's no telling the condition of the drain field. At least I know the tank itself is good; It's holding the right amount of water. So when I finally sign the contract for deed, now I'll know to bombard it with enzymes initially, then treat monthly, and set funds aside to have it pumped in the spring.
I'm trying to learn now how to assess the drain field without digging the whole thing up.
Thanks again. This is super helpful.
@@lisakukla459 I watched a video by an expert who said a septic field that's been sitting for a long time will be in great shape. What did you find when you moved in?
@@lindadonovan4969 Sadly, I didn't move in. The seller tried to do a bait and switch and instead of a contract for deed, which is a purchase, he thought he could change it to a rent to own deal without my noticing. I'm not pouring all that money and labor into a property where I'm just a tenant with a landlord who will make up a reason to evict me so he can sell it again with my improvements for a higher price tag. Nooo way!
@@lisakukla459 You dodged a bullet. My husband and I bought a property over 100 years old with its own septic and well. It had been sitting for several years because the owner went to an elder home. Mind you we payed out of pocket for two inspections, which both came back good. It's been five years of expensive sheer hell. Everything has broken and now we are currently in the middle of trying to figure out why the septic keeps filling up in just months when it's a 1000 square foot holding tank. We did some work, had the septic company here and the plumbers. It's been months of thinking we finally found the septic issue only for another one to start. The house and property randomly starts smelling of septic gas as well. Just fed up. I would gladly go back to city plumbing, but now we've replaced almost everything on this property and can't afford to move, and I refuse to go back to crap landlords and renting.
Guys remember- RID-X- once a month to the septic tank to keep it functioning properly!
products like RidX are not recommended. Clemson.edu has good information on maintaining a functional drainfield. Keep the grass mowed!
My county health department in butler county kentucky. Don' t have a clue. Any other ideas?
Try to see if your county has a website they will have a link and contact information
Does the school house have any leaks Or do you know you have to repair it already?
I'm not sure what kind of leaks you are asking about but the roof is solid and not leaking. The foundation does need a little work and water seeps in, but that is common for older basements. It's in pretty good condition and has been well cared for.
Yes I was talking about the roof. Glad to here it is good.
This video is how I found you and I still don't know where my septic tank is.
Hopefully you end up finding it :) We know where our tank is on our current property, but the leach field is still a mystery.
;-)
This is more speculation than factual. I don't want to guess where the leachfield is. I want to know for certain.
Are You kidding??? Plant your garden in the Leach Field! Those Crops will grow like a Weed!!! But they'll taste like Sh.t!!!ahahahah!!!!lol!!! Just sayin!