Your drain field is an integral part of your home's septic
system. Microbes in the septic tank begin the breaking down of waste materials
in the sewage, but the process can only be completed via the natural processes
of the water cycle in the drain field.
Issues
Awareness of the issues that can affect your septic drain
field can help you spot problems early when you can still repair the issues.
Wet Areas
A drain field should be relatively dry with no standing
water or marshy areas. Although you should drive on your drain field, it is
safe to walk on it and perform a periodic inspection. Wait until a dry day so
there is no standing rainwater, then walk the field and look for wet areas. If
you find a wet area, call in a septic service to address the problem before it
affects the rest of the field.
Surface Sewage
Sewage on the surface of the drain field is a major red flag
that the field is already beginning to fail. You may actually see the sewage a
black slimy coating on the grass or soil, but it's more likely that you will
smell it. Sometimes the problem is just a slight imbalance in your septic tank,
which your septic service can address.
Slow Drains
Slow drains in your home could be systematic of a drain
field issue. If there is a clog in the line that isn't allowing the tank to
drain properly into the field, or if the field is failing and sewage is backing
up, it will eventually end up coming into your home's drains or bubbling out of
the toilet.
Your septic technician can check the system for clogs and
the field for issues so they can make the proper repair.
Overflowing Tank
Is your tank filling faster than it should? Then your tank
is overflowing and that overflow can lead to disaster. Often the cause is an
increase in water usage, which may happen if your tank is undersized for your
household. The microbial system in the tank can't process the effluent fast
enough, so it can't enter the drain field as it should.
A larger tank or steps to reduce water usage in the home can
sometimes fix this problem.
Solutions
You can repair some drain field problems and prevent future
issues. Other problems will require a drain field replacement.
Clear the Tank
Sometimes something as simple as pumping your septic tank
can help with drain field problems. If the tank is full, then the microbes
can't break down the effluent quickly enough. Much of that effluent will stay
in the tank, but some of it will leach prematurely into your drain field -
where processing time will slow since the effluent wasn't quite ready for the
field.
Schedule a tank pumping to solve this issue before permanent
damage occurs to the septic system.
Install Secondary Treatment
Secondary wastewater treatment systems can help you avoid
upgrading to a larger septic system while also relieving some of the pressure
on your drain field. Systems like the Nibbler utilize air pumps and a mixing
system to help break down sewage in the tank to levels that are less likely to
damage the drain field. The resulting effluent still goes through the drain
field, but it is less likely to throw off the delicate microbial balance.
Renovation or Replacement
A septic service may be able to renovate a drain field if
the damage isn't too severe. This may entail removing deep-rooted plants that
have invaded the field and rerouting runoff from that previously emptied into
your field.
If renovation isn't possible, then you need to have a
replacement drain field installed. Your old field will be left to rest and
recover so that it can serve as a backup in the event the new field eventually
fails.
Contact
The Nibbler Company to learn more about options for drain field and septic
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