Bought a house with five acres about two months ago. The septic disclosure literally only disclosed that there was a septic tank on the property. Didn't think much of it as I could see the two lids in the yard.

Had the tanks pumped out this week and went around testing toilets and making sure they were all running to these tanks. Turns out, the master and guest bathroom(original part of the house) don't feed into these tanks. A mother in law suite and half bath do which were both additions at some point. Septic guy and myself inspected the yard around the house pretty good and found no trace of any other tanks, but we know there has to be another one due to flushing the master toilet and not seeing water drain into the open tank.

How the heck am I supposed to find a lost septic tank?? Obviously I need to locate it and I doubt it's been pumped in several years. The septic out here is a little odd to start with and I had a guy come out to design for a new system and there's no records with the county. It's a Conventional system and I would like to keep it that way.

Previous owners were two 22 year old sisters who hadn't changed their air filters in probably 3 years. Maintenance was not their thing apparently.

Owners before that have passed to my knowledge.

You just may have a great idea there! Looks like the "Tile Sticker" is waterproof and the size of a nickel. Only $20 too. May still lube it up good so it makes its way all the way through. Any reason not to do this?

And no...no pictures.

But would you?

septic inspection company should be able to do a dye test to see if the water is really not going to the septic you know about.

WhoopRAB said:

---

I don't know anything about these gizmos, but I wonder if you could wrap up a small tile tracker in water tight baggie. Shoot it down the toilet or clean out and track it with their app? https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/

The septics I have seen are within 20-30 ft of a exterior wall and typically not in the front of the house. I would use a steel probe and poke holes in a 10' x 10' grid around the house.

Any pictures of the sisters?

---

This!

Although the home I'm in now has the septic tanks located about 75 feet or so away from the house.

Check with your county offices. Here in Gillespie County all septic systems must be inspected and registered with the county, including a map showing the location of the tank and leach lines.

Are you sure there's another tank as opposed to a broken line?

Also, google earth has a history view. Maybe you can go back in time and see a patch of grass that stands out.

You need someone to witch for it. It doesn't work for me but my uncle can carry around a couple of coat hangers and find buried water and electrical lines.

Have you tried checking the other side of the house near the closest bathroom or kitchen sink? My sister's house has 2 systems one on opposite sides of the house.

Found the one that was buried by poking a rod in the ground near the bathroom toilet and followed it from there to the tank several feet away from the house.

What does this mean? Am I suspect?

WhoopRAB said:

---

It just means that you probably know what you are talking about. Since septic lines are installed in trenches and you have trench in your user name. Username checks out Is a common parlance on TexAgs. More often on Politics & Outdoors boards..

2 autocorrect errors edited

---

So, because I have "Trench" in my user name, I know what I'm talking about on septic systems? I have an Ag Tag. That should speak for itself. Just to clarify, my user name, Trench55, was my call sign in Vietnam. It has nothing to do with septic systems.

Does no one abide by the rules?

Trench55 said:

---

WhoopRAB said:

---

It just means that you probably know what you are talking about. Since septic lines are installed in trenches and you have trench in your user name. Username checks out Is a common parlance on TexAgs. More often on Politics & Outdoors boards..

2 autocorrect errors edited

---

So, because I have "Trench" in my user name, I know what I'm talking about on septic systems? I have an Ag Tag. That should speak for itself. Just to clarify, my user name, Trench55, was my call sign in Vietnam. It has nothing to do with septic systems.

---

It's a texags thing to point out when usernames and posts line up. He wasn't trying to offend, just trying to be funny.

Thanks for your service.

In Brazos County, septic system plans have to be filed with the health department. Worth checking the local county offices to see if that's true where your are.

You might be able to find a camera drain with a locating sonde on it for rent depending where you are. Probably cost you $150-200 for a full day rental, cheaper if just for half day.

Some places require you have a plumbing license to rent such a tool. I just today spoke with Sunbelt Rentals in Longview, and they don't require the license aspect.

Basically you would lift a toilet, run the sonde/head down the sewer line and then use a line locator to find the sonde as you push it down the line.

https://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/Drain-Camera/CGPF-ECAM-ACE/index.html

Honestly haven't tried anything yet since this thread. I did buy the Tile tracker, but haven't got around to flushing it. Baby due any day now and remodeling our kitchen, so been fairly swamped.

WhoopRAB said:

---

I don't know anything about these gizmos, but I wonder if you could wrap up a small tile tracker in water tight baggie. Shoot it down the toilet or clean out and track it with their app? https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/

The septics I have seen are within 20-30 ft of a exterior wall and typically not in the front of the house. I would use a steel probe and poke holes in a 10' x 10' grid around the house.

Any pictures of the sisters?

---

My tanks are in my front yard, about 10 feet from my front door.

WhoopRAB said:

---

I don't know anything about these gizmos, but I wonder if you could wrap up a small tile tracker in water tight baggie. Shoot it down the toilet or clean out and track it with their app? https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/

The septics I have seen are within 20-30 ft of a exterior wall and typically not in the front of the house. I would use a steel probe and poke holes in a 10' x 10' grid around the house.

Any pictures of the sisters?

---

Just in case the OP missed what really matters about this thread...

Tile runs on Bluetooth, it doesn't go through water well at all, if it floats you have a shot.

I have used old fashioned witching sticks (also known as dowsing rods) to find all sorts of buried lines and tanks with really good accuracy. Shows you can get them on Amazon Prime for $15 or so a set. And then you can put that Tile on your keys, instead of down in your septic. It will get there eventually, when your kid (congrats!) flushes them down the toilet.

Dad offered the witching sticks. That'll be my last resort. I thought about putting it in a little ziplock with some air and then flushing so it'll float for at least a little bit.

Just had our first baby girl today, so I'll be occupied for the next 18 years!