I need a break from Mopower, so I will tackle this one. All new systems uses either Schedule 40 PVC Sewer pipe, Cast Iron Soil Hub Pipe, Cast Iron Soil No-Hub Pipe, or XH Cast Iron Soil No-Hub Pipe. All of these are very durable. To determine how low in the ground they are, go into the basement and measure down from the sill to the top of the pipe. I am assuming that you have a basement. If not, then we will address that in another post when I learn that fact. Then go outside and measure down from the sill to the top of the soil. Subtract the smaller figure from the larger figure and that is how far down the pipe is in the ground where it leaves the house. Write this figure down. Is your yard flat or sloped? If flat it will make the calculations easier. We will deal with flat first. Measure to the clean out of the septic tank and record this distance. Then approximate the diameter of the septic tank and divide this by two and subtract this figure from the diameter of the tank. This will give you the point where the pipe enters the tank. Mark this point with a stick or rock. Then measure the distance from the wall of the house to the stick in inches and divide this figure by four. Then add this figure to the figure that you determined the pipe to be below the surface where it left the house. The division by four indicates the drop of 1/4" per foot. Generally speaking the line is below the frost level, so compaction should not be a problem. In MA, the first 10' is generally installed as cast iron and then transitions to PVC. Your local jurisdiction may be different..
