The leach field of your septic tank is an important part of your system and is the drainage portion where the fluids seep into the surrounding soil. For your septic system to run properly it needs a fully functioning drainfield site and cannot have any obstructions or problems in the slope of the site's soil. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you identify problems and have your drainfield repaired properly.
Watch For Drainfield Problems
There are several signs you can keep an eye out for with your drainfield portion of your septic system, which will be hard to miss as long as you know what to look for. One of the first obvious signs of drainfield problems is your home's drains draining slowly and your toilet being sluggish and clogging easily. This begins to occur because your tank has become too full of liquids because the drainfield is backing up or over-saturating the surrounding soil. When the soil gets too full of water from your septic tank, there is nowhere else for the additional fluids to go, so they backup into your home.
Also, look for a foul odor in your backyard or where your drainfield is located. This happens also because the drainfield has become overflowed with liquid waste, and the odor and bacteria from the sewage permeates the soil and air.
Your leach field is installed only to last for a couple of decades or more, depending on its installation, type of materials, amount of waste flowing through its pipes, and the surrounding environment. When you see signs of it failing, contact a septic professional to evaluate its condition and complete the needed repairs.
Hire Professional Repairs
There are several reasons your drainfield has failed and needs to be repaired. One of the drain lines may be broken or collapsed from too much weight over the drain site, requiring a replacement of the line. The soil on your drainfield site may be to blame for the damage because it may be compacted onto the pipe from installation or the soil is not the best for drainage, either too sandy or too loamy.
When either of these issues causes your drainfield lines to fail or break, you will want to arrange for a replacement to repair the system. Your septic professional can determine which drainfield line or lines are damaged or if the soil is to blame. They will replace the damaged areas and add new soil around the lines to aid in full drainage.
Call a professional if you're in need of septic tank drainfield repair.