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How to Locate Sewer Lines on Your Property

When you move into a new home, one of the most important questions you can ask the previous owner is where the sewer line is located. However, if you can't or didn't get that information, there are several ways to attempt to locate it yourself.

Start at Your Septic Tank

If your house has a septic tank and you know where it is, it's probably the easiest and most obvious place to start. Your line should run fairly straight from the tank to the basement or crawlspace beneath your home. You may also spot a cleanout access to your septic line sticking up out of the ground or near your basement walls in the area where the septic tank is located. The sewer line is typically one to two feet beneath the surface of your yard, and you can use a small wooden stake to help you find it.

If you don't have a septic tank, your home is likely connected to a municipal sewer. If you have a basement, you can go into it to find the spot where the line exits into your yard. This tells you what side of the house the line is on, which is a start.

Try Water Witching or Dowsing

You can also try an old-fashioned method called water witching or water dowsing. You'll need two metal clothes hangers or straight wires. Bend each one to make a 90-degree angle; the wires should be L shaped. With the shorter lengths of the wires in each hand and the longer ends pointing straight out in front of you, walk around your yard near your septic tank or in the area where you think the line might be. Your wires may cross on their own when you walk over water, which should be a sign that you've found the sewer line, notes Hunker.

Do a Little Digging

This one can get messy, and you have to be very careful when you do it. If you have a shovel, you can dig around and find your sewer line. Use your septic tank as a starting point. You can also use the drain line coming from your basement or crawlspace a starting point if you don't have a septic tank. Using that drain, you can get an idea of where your sewage leaves your home. Start digging in the area. Don't dig too much at once; you don't want to damage any pipes. Remember that your line is probably one to two feet down.

Contact Your City

If none of those DIY projects work, try contacting your local city government. It may have a plot map of your home available that shows the sewer lines drawn on the paperwork, along with the lines for your other utilities. Your local water and sewer department may also have an infrastructure map that shows all the lines in town.

Call a Plumber

If your city can't help you, you may just have to call in a professional. Plumbers usually have equipment ranging from cameras to radar systems that can help determine where your sewer lines are located. This way, you aren't risking doing any damage to your line or your yard by digging and you aren't wasting your time walking all over your property. The plumber may also be able to tell you if there are any issues with your lines or septic tank.

Haller Ducand