Springtime Septic System Maintenance

April 2nd, 2018 Posted in Drain Field
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After the cold months of winter have passed, there are many chores to consider around your home. You have a lawn to maintain, gardens to plant and cleanup from the winter storms. Another item to add to your to-do list for spring is septic system maintenance. You want to ensure your system did not sustain any damage from freezing, excess water or other issues throughout the winter. Here is a checklist of septic maintenance to do this springtime. 

  • Inspect your drain field. Drain fields can be damaged if too much water accumulated or if freezing temperatures cracked drainage pipes. Do an inspection of your drain field. Look for any signs of bio mat or standing water that is not absorbing into the ground; a bad odor is also a sign of issues.
  • Check your maintenance log. When was the last time your septic system was serviced and the tank pumped? After a busy winter of holiday gatherings and much time spent indoors, it may be time to have your system pumped and serviced.
  • Look for signs of trouble. Beyond the drain field, you can look for possible signs of sewer line problems in your yard and home. Soggy areas in your lawn where sewer lines run underneath could be a sign of a broken pipe that is leaking. Slow drains in the home could be alerting you to a clog. If there are any of these signs, schedule a camera inspection of your sewer lines to investigate the problem.

Your septic system should be designed to withstand the cold or wet months of winter, but there still can be problems that occur. Take the time this spring to inspect and service your septic system to avoid having your summer interrupted by a septic failure.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Drain Field Design 101

June 11th, 2017 Posted in Drain Field
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If you are building a drain field for your gravity septic system, there are many different elements to consider. While regulations vary in different states and counties, most have specific rules you must follow. You will need a professional septic company to design your septic system, including your drain field. In most cases, the plans for your system will need to be submitted to the local health or building department for approval. Knowing what elements will need to be included can help you understand what issues may delay the building of your drain field.

Soil

One of the key elements of your drain field will be the depth and type of soil. A perk test will need to be done to ensure the soil is not too dense. Clay-based soils can be troublesome. How quickly waste water can permeate the soil is crucial to building a functioning drain field.

Size

Your drain field will need to be large enough to handle the size of home you have. This is usually based on the number of bedrooms in the home with a minimum size in some states or counties.

Location

There are specific rules on where you can place your drain field. This can include distance from the foundation of the home, wells, bodies of water, property lines and other considerations.

If you are buying property, the septic design and perk test should be done before your purchase. Knowing where the best place to put your drain field can be factored into where to build your home. Since drain fields and septic systems have specific requirements, it is easier to build a home around a septic system than the other way around. Having a septic designer and installer will help ensure your project goes smoothly, from start to finish.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

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Drain Field Installation Basics

August 9th, 2016 Posted in Drain Field
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If you are installing a new septic system, you will also need to install a drain field. The septic tank and plumbing are just the first half of your entire septic system; the drain field is the critical second half. Having a drain field that is properly sized, in the right location and with the right environment is all important to ensure that it will function for many years to come. Here are a few basic tips that you should know about installing your new drain field.

  • Size matters. You must have a large enough drain field to handle the amount of waste water coming from your septic tank. Your septic professional will discuss this with you – however, you will need to dedicate a sizable portion of your property to this area. If it is too small, it will not leech into the soil fast enough and can cause a backup.
  • Landscaping. You will want to keep trees and large shrubs away from your drain field. These larger plants can have extensive roots that can grow into the field, clogging the system. It is best to only have grass covering the drain field and no large plants nearby.
  • Protect the area. You should have your drain field in an area where it won’t accidently be drove over or covered by any material. A good drain field should be difficult to spot; it should just look like part of your lawn. However, if someone drives over it or pours a material on top of it, you may need to replace it.

Hiring a qualified professional to install your drain field is the most important tip. A quality drain field that is correctly installed can perform for decades without any issues. Find a septic professional that is experienced in drain field installation to perform the job.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

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Building a Successful Drain Field

March 13th, 2016 Posted in Drain Field
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Creating a solid, durable drain field depends on many factors. Many homes and businesses have had drain fields that last for decades, yet other drain fields fail in just a few years. How long your septic drain field will last is dependent on how and where it is built as well as how it is maintained. To make your drain field last, you need to start by building one correctly from the very beginning.

Drain Field Building Requirements

A drain field needs certain conditions to be viable and withstand decades of use.  First and foremost, location is critical; the wrong conditions will ensure that it will fail. A professional septic service that is experienced in installing quality drain fields that offer longevity will test for certain requirements before beginning installation, including:

  • Top soil and gravel. For any drain field to work successfully, the right types of soil and gravel must be used to cover the field.
  • High water clearance. Drain fields must be placed in an area that has high water clearance and is safe from flooding.
  • Size. The drain field must be large enough to handle the runoff from the tank, taking into consideration the soil percolation rate.

If installed correctly, a quality drain field can last for decades without any back up issues or septic failures. Of course, maintenance and proper use of the septic system is critical in maintaining a healthy, viable drain field. Before you begin, make sure to secure an experienced septic service professional with a solid reputation for quality workmanship. Getting your drain field installed right from the beginning is the key to building a successful drain field that will last for many years to come.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Septic Drain Fields 101

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Drain Field
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Besides the septic tank, the drain field is the other major component of a gravity-based septic system. The drain field is the leeching area where effluent released from the tank is filtered. Often, when a septic system fails, it’s due to a problem with the drain field. For this reason, it’s important to understand what’s needed to maintain and care for your drain field.

Construction of a Drain Field

The purpose of the drain field is to distribute effluent from the septic tank into the ground, allowing it to be filtered or leeched before it enters the ground water below. To do this, the field must be placed in an area that absorbs water quickly. A perc test is used to ensure that the ground is right for a drain field, plus the field needs to be located away from wells and other bodies of water.

The effluent travels from the septic tank to a distribution box near the drain field, which distributes the effluent to the various pipes leading out into the drain field. Trenches in the field contain perforated piping, which is covered with gravel and a barrier before soil is added on top.  Wastewater is then released through these pipes. It’s important the trenches aren’t overused, creating too much effluent and rising close to the surface instead of filtering down into the ground.

Drain fields generally require little maintenance if installed correctly by a septic professional, but it’s essential to protect this area from any vehicle or even foot traffic. If the grass becomes greener above the drain field than in other areas of your lawn, if  you notice any odors or see pooling water, call your septic professional immediately to have your system inspected.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

 

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Protecting Your Septic Drain Field

November 19th, 2014 Posted in Drain Field
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One of the most important components of many septic systems is the leach or drain field .For a septic system to work correctly, wastewater released from the septic tank must be quickly absorbed into the soil within a drainfield, which naturally cleans the water as it travels through the soil. If the process is interrupted in any way, it can cause the drainfield and, by extension, the entire septic system to fail. For this reason alone, it’s of vital importance that homeowners take particular care of their drainfield area.

Tips For Maintaining Your Drain Field

If you have a septic system with a drain field, you need to be aware of what’s happening in and near the area. There are several factors which can affect your drain field, causing it to flood, back up or become unbalanced. However, if properly maintained and protected, a drain field can last for 20-30 years. Some ways to protect your drain field include:

  • Do not drive or walk on the area. Your drain or leach field needs to be left undisturbed. The pipes connecting it to the septic tank are located right beneath the surface. Restricting this area, keeping vehicles and even those on foot away from the somewhat delicate pipes is an important part of protecting your drainfield.
  • Divert excess rainwater. Too much water can destroy your drainfield. Divert water from house gutters and other run-off away from the drain field area so your septic system doesn’t become overwhelmed.
  • Keep tree roots away from the area. Tree roots are naturally attracted to the moist soil of a drainfield, and are also one of the most common culprits when it comes to septic damage. Don’t plant trees or large bushes near your drainfield or septic system to keep roots from penetrating your septic pipes.

As a homeowner, you should always be keeping an eye on your drainfield. Be aware of any excess water, effluent accumulating on the surface and foul odors, all of which are signs of drain field problems that should be addressed by your septic professional.

Posted on behalf of:
Hunter’s Septic Service
Nesbit, MS
(662) 429-1686

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Drain Field Installation and Repair

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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Drain fields are a critical part of every septic system.  It is here that fluids from the septic tank are discharged into a pipe system where they leech out into the soil.  While it may look that drain fields are all the same, this is not the case, as each drain field is designed based upon the sewage load of the home, which is based primarily on the number of potential occupants of the home and not the number of bathrooms.

Also factored into the design are the soil composition, existing and proposed grades, as well as the number and length of the pipes servicing the drain field.  Drain fields are not permitted to have any thing other than grass on them.  Trees and plants can have their roots find their way into the drainage pipes, blocking their ability to allow the fluids to flow in the pipe and leech into the soils.

While drain fields can last for many years, it may become necessary at some point to install a new drain field as the drainage pipes fill up over time.  Often repairs are necessary as well, especially if heavy equipment has driven over the drain field and crushed a drainage pipe.  One of the signs of a drain field issues is a “wet” area in the drain field when it has been dry.

A qualified septic contractor will be able to evaluate your drain field and make the most cost effective recommendation to either replace or repair the drain field, in order to restore the septic system to proper working order.  The proposed work will be permitted, inspected, professionally done and most importantly economically.

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