Easy Tips to Avoid Problems With a Drain Field
The EPA estimates that about one in five households are hooked up to a septic system in the US. While this accounts for millions of households, it still doesn’t make septic systems common enough that most people understand how to use and maintain one. Septic systems must be treated and cared for differently than a home hooked up to a local sewer system. Too often, homeowners misuse the system and end up paying the price. This is especially true regarding the drain field that returns effluent to the surrounding environment. Here is a short but helpful guide to preserving the integrity of the drain field of a septic system.
Maintenance and Repair
Septic tanks and drain fields must handle all the waste that goes down the drain or is flushed down the toilet in a home. This means they need periodic maintenance to ensure they work properly and last as long as needed. Partnering with a professional septic service for routine maintenance is a great way to keep the drain field operating effectively. Professional services will likely recommend periodic tank pumping and jetting of the lateral lines as proper maintenance.
It may be necessary for professionals to repair components of the septic system in the drain field. Some of the signs that repairs are necessary can include:
- Wet, soggy spots in the lawn
- Lush growth of nearby plants
- Uneven greening of grass over the lateral lines
- Sewer smells
Keep Dangers Away
A septic tank’s leach field is a special construction requiring special treatment to ensure it continues working properly for decades. The leach field consists of several perforated lateral lines, allowing effluent to flow into the surrounding soil. If anything is allowed to compromise the ability of effluent to drain away, it can compromise the integrity of the entire system. With this in mind, homeowners should make every effort to ensure that no one drives or parks over the leach field, as this can cause the lines to collapse. Additionally, care should be taken to plant trees and shrubs far away from the lateral lines, as their roots can invade the pipes and block effluent flow.
Watch What Enters the Septic System
Even when it comes to municipal city sewers, care should be taken regarding what goes into the sewer. The consequences can be far-reaching when anything other than waste and toilet tissue becomes septic tanks or sewers. To ensure the septic tank stays healthy and the drain field maintains its integrity:
- Never pour grease or fat down the drain
- Limit the amount of food waste put in the sink
- Scrape dishes into the trash
- Only flush waste and toilet paper
- Avoid soaps and cleaners with microplastics
- Limit the use of bleach, as this can kill off the beneficial microbes in the septic tank
About Capital City Septic Services
Capital City Septic Services is Tallahassee, FL's local septic system installation and repair authority. It is a family-owned home service provider that offers polite, professional, and personalized solutions for septic tanks, grease trap pumping, and drain field repairs. Call Capital City Septic Services today for quality drain field installation and repairs in Tallahassee, FL.
