5 Things Homeowners Should Know About Their Septic Drain Field

5 Things Homeowners Should Know About Their Septic Drain Field

When your septic tank goes bad, it doesn't happen overnight. According to Metro Septic Pumping, many people first notice a bad odor coming from their toilets which lets them know something isn't right. Compacted soil, trees, and shrubs over your drain field can reduce the size of the field and cause it to fail. The same goes for trees that hang over the drain field. They may be fine now, but if they're damaged during a storm, they can fall on the discharge pipe, and even if you have a ten-foot deep drain field, roots from the tree can still get into it and damage it.

When you buy a home with a septic system, you'll need to know how to take care of it. One of the most important aspects of septic care is the drain field. Here are five things every homeowner should know about their septic drain field.

What Is a Drain Field?

The drain field is the part of a septic system that handles most of the liquified waste after leaving the septic tank. It is essentially a network of perforated pipes placed in trenches in your backyard. Water trickles out into the soil through these pipes and gets filtered as it comes into contact with the soil.

The drain field needs to have space between itself and other structures like driveways, patios, sheds, or decks. If you must build something near your drain field, make sure that at least 3 feet of soil separate the structure from the drain field to avoid any damage.

The size of the drain field. Every system has an area where waste is deposited and broken down by bacteria in anaerobic digestion. The size of this field depends on its capacity — that is, how much waste can it hold? If your septic system is designed for one house, you might have only 1/10 of an acre of field area; if you've got two houses, your field might be double that.

The slope of the farmland where your septic system is located. Placement on a slope will affect how quickly waste flows into the field and how far it migrates away from the home's building site before discharging into the ground.

Do Not Cover the Drain Field

The drain field is where the water from your septic tank drains out into the soil. The field is typically made up of perforated pipes buried in gravel and covered with soil layers. Your drain field should be kept uncovered to continue draining properly. You should not cover the drain field with concrete, asphalt, or other hard surfaces.

Do Not Compact the Soil

The drain field is made up of fragile pipes and layers of gravel. Do NOT drive over it. Driving over it will crush them and damage the system. You should never go over your drain field with a car or heavy truck, as this can cause severe problems in the future. If there's no other way to get around your house, you may need to install another driveway that goes around the perimeter of your property.

There Are Certain Plants To Avoid

You should not plant anything on your septic system or drain field, but you should be careful what you plant near the system. Large trees should not be planted near your septic system because the roots can grow into the pipes and cause damage. Shrubs and grasses can be planted at least 10 feet away from the septic tank and drain field, as long as you follow a few guidelines for specific plants.

The Drain Field Costs More Than the Septic Tank To Replace

Replacing a septic tank is typical $3,000 to $5,000 while replacing a drain field can cost $10,000 or more. Sometimes it is possible to do a septic tank repair rather than replace it, and that's because installing a new drain field requires excavating your yard and laying down gravel, pipes, and soil layers in an open pit.

Drain Field Damage Is a Major Concern For Groundwater

The biggest concern for drain fields is soil compaction. Septic tanks are designed to settle solids at the bottom, but as effluent is discharged into the drain field, suspended solids can clog pores in the soil and reduce its ability to absorb water. This can lead to pooling and oversaturation, making it more difficult for wastewater to infiltrate. If a drain field becomes damaged, it won't be able to discharge wastewater efficiently and can cause septic tank failure.

Water flowing from your pipes may be carrying harmful germs, such as E. coli and Salmonella. The drain field should be pumped every 3-5 years, depending on the level of usage by family members and house size.

Contact Metro Septic Pumping today for a free estimate for when your septic tank pumping is needed. The drain field should be serviced with outstanding service to avoid expensive and environmental damage to the groundwater near your home.