I'm thinking about putting in a parking pad on the side of my house, but it would sit over the septic line that connects to the town. Should I be concerned about damaging the underground pipe? Is this a legitimate worry?
2 Answers
Sounds like you might be dealing with a municipal sewer line instead of a septic line. I’ve seen these types of pipes run under driveways and sidewalks without issues. Just make sure to locate where your line exits your house. If you're planning on just using gravel for the parking pad and keeping it non-permanent, that should be fine. Just avoid anything heavy like a concrete slab, as that could create problems down the line.
It really depends on how deep the pipe is from the ground level where you want to park. If it's a septic line, it's usually just a couple of feet down and made of plastic, which shouldn’t handle heavy weight well. If it's a sewer line, though, it might hold up better, especially if it's buried deeper. Generally, you’d be fine with something like a passenger car on top, but without knowing specifics, I can’t give a definite answer. It's best to check the depth first!