How to Tell if Your Home Has a Septic Tank or a Sewer System

Sewage cleaning workers equipment with sewer on a town street on industrial truck

Have you  ever wondered how to tell if your home has a septic tank or a sewer system? If you have, then you’re in luck! In this article, we will go over 10 ways on how to tell the difference between the two.

  1. The first way is to look at your home’s plumbing. If you have a septic tank, then you will likely have a pipe that runs from your home to the tank. If you have a sewer system, then you will most likely have a pipe that runs from your home to the street.
  1. The second way is to check your water bill. If you have a septic tank, then your water bill will likely be higher than if you have a sewer system because you will be using more water.
  1. The third way is to look at your yard. If you have a septic tank, then you will likely see a large tank in your yard. If you have a sewer system, then you will not see any tanks in your yard.
  1. The fourth way is to check your home’s foundation. If you have a septic tank, then you will likely see a hole in your home’s foundation where the tank is located. If you have a sewer system, then you will not see any holes in your home’s foundation.
  1. The fifth way is to smell your wastewater. If you have a septic tank, then the wastewater will smell bad. If you have a sewer system, then the wastewater will not smell bad.
  1. The sixth way is to check your roof. If you have a septic tank, then you will likely see a pipe coming out of your roof. If you have a sewer system, then you will not see any pipes coming out of your roof.
  1. The seventh way is to check your yard for pests. If you have a septic tank, then you will likely have pests in your yard because of the wastewater. If you have a sewer system, then you will not have any pests in your yard.
  1. The eighth way is to check your home’s foundation for stains. If you have a septic tank, then the foundation will likely be stained from the wastewater. If you have a sewer system, then the foundation will not be stained from the wastewater.
  1. The ninth way is to check your pipes for corrosion. If you have a septic tank, then your pipes will likely be corroded from the wastewater. If you have a sewer system, then your pipes will not be corroded from the wastewater.
  1. The tenth way is to talk to your neighbors. If they have a septic tank, then there’s a good chance that you do too. If they have a sewer system, then there’s also a good chance that you do too.

Septic tanks and sewer systems are two different ways that your home can dispose of its wastewater. If you’re not sure which system your home has, then use the 10 tips in this article to help you determine the difference.