There are a few ways that Guardia Septic Services uses to help locate your septic tank:
Ground Probe
The first way we usually locate your septic tank is with a handheld ground probe. This took, which looks like a bit “T”, is inserted into the soil in the areas where the tank is most likely to be. About 80-90% of the time, we can locate the tank in this way.
When the tank cannot be found that way, we employ technology: Sewer Camera, Flushable Trackers, and Ground Penetrating Radar.
Sewer Camera
Sewer Cameras are long, hose-like tools with a camera and a 512 MHz signal at the tip. This hose is usually sent in through the clean-out cap (if one has been installed) or by removing the toilet in the house. Once the camera reaches the tank, we use a sonde locator to locate the camera tip, revealing the tank’s location.
Flushable Transmitter
Flushable Transmitters are flushable sonde transmitters that are flushed down the toilet. We give the transmitter time to reach the tank (usually 2-3 minutes), and then, using the sonde locator, we can locate the tank.
Ground-Penetrating Radar
Ground-Penetrating Radars are used when the tank is buried much deeper than the probe can reach or is located farther from the home than the camera can reach. This tool sends signals into the ground to locate the tank’s position.
If those options do not work, we can call the city and try to obtain the original permit with the drawings showing where the installer installed the tank.