Keeping a functioning drain field is essential to ensuring your septic system is working correctly. If the drain field is no longer able to filter effluent from the septic tank, the entire system can be compromised. There are two main signs that there may be a problem with your drain field: poor draining of the effluent and sewer backups. If you have these issues, you need to begin to troubleshoot what is causing the problem.
Common Drain Field Issues
There are a few different reasons that a drain field is not draining or is backing up. Before you call a septic professional, try checking a few septic functions to narrow down the problems. Some areas to check include:
- Damage to drain spouts. If a vehicle or other heavy equipment has drove over the drain field, your pipes may have been crushed. Check for damage to the pipes.
- Full tank. Has your tank been pumped recently? A full tank can overflow into the drain field.
- Tree roots. Have trees or shrubs grown larger near the field? Roots can grow into your pipes, causing a clog.
- Clogged drain pipes. If non-biodegradable materials have been allowed down the drain, these items can clog the small holes in your drain field pipes.
Some ongoing issues that can cause drain field problems include overuse of garbage disposal, too much grease allowed down the drains and under-sized septic tanks. Although you can troubleshoot these issues on your own, you will want to call in a septic professional to fix the problem. They can repair the immediate problem and give you advice on how to overcome ongoing drain field problems.
Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221
