What is a Distribution Box?

If you have a septic system with a drain field, a crucial element of your system is your distribution box, also call a D-box. This component is between your septic tank and your drain field, functioning as a directional tool to ensure the waste water is distributed evenly in your drain field. It is important to know where it is and what can go wrong if this element of your septic system is no longer working correctly.

Understanding Your D-Box

In most cases, the d-box for a septic system is located several feet away from the septic tank toward the drainfield. It can be made from cement or plastic and is usually 1-3’ in width and length and 2-3’ deep, but it can depend on when it was made and the size of the septic system. Not all distribution ‘boxes’ are square – many of the plastic ones available are round. The d-box will have on inlet hole where the main drain line comes from the septic tank and several outlet holes to pipes leading to the drain field.

When effluent is released from the septic tank, it travels by force of gravity or pump to the distribution box. The effluent goes in and the waste water is released through the several holes to the drain field. This ensures that the water is distributed to several different pipes so one area of the drain field does not get overloaded.

It is important to know where your distribution box is and to ensure it is not disturb. Digging, trenching or driving over the d-box can damage it and cause a leak or disruption in the levels of distribution pipes to the drain field. It should be routinely inspected to ensure it is working correctly by your local septic service when they perform maintenance on your septic system.

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

Springtime Septic System Maintenance

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

Is a Drain or Leach Field Dangerous?

Most people worry about germs and bacteria when it comes to their health. Everyone knows that raw sewage is full of bacteria that can be harmful. If you have a septic system, you may be concerned that your drain or leach field could be dangerous for kids or pets if there is harmful bacteria present. The good news is if you maintain your drain field, there is no need to worry about it causing illness or harm to your family.

A properly maintained drain field should be covered with grass, free from larger shrubs or trees. If your drain field is working as it should, waste water flows into the area and drains quickly down through the soil. There should not be any odor or standing water – if either of these are present, call your septic service company immediately for an inspection.

If water is pooling on top of your drain field, this means the waste water is not filtering down as quickly as it should. In this case, your drain field can be a hazard and you should keep your kids and pets away from the area until it can be repaired. You may have a septic backup or failure, which needs professional care to fix.

To keep your drain or leach field healthy and safe, keep a close eye on it for any problems. Pooling water, odor or changes in the vegetation growing above it are good reasons to call your septic service. Make sure to have regular inspections and service to ensure your entire septic system is kept maintained to prevent backups and other septic problems.

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

Is Your Septic System Ready for Heavy Rain?

Sometimes it is not what goes into your septic system that can cause problems. Mother Nature can also do harm to your system with torrential downpours, hail and deep freezes. While most homeowners with septic systems prepare for the freezing weather during the winter, not everyone considers what those heavy rain storms can do to their drain field and septic system.

Your drain field is only designed to handle so much water at a time. Your distribution box carefully distributes water evenly throughout the field so it can absorb into the drainage soil. Unfortunately, when a heavy rain storm hits, this can push water, and the effluent, back into the septic tank. As the drain field floods, so may your septic tank. If the tank is already fairly full, this excess water can push sewage back up toward your home and cause a sewer backup in your drains.

A sewer backup can be very expensive. Not only will your plumbing be unusable, it can cause water and mold damage in your home. If sewage overflows into your home, this can be a health hazard and needs specialized cleanup to ensure that your home is sanitized for safety. You also may need repairs to your drain field and septic system.

To prevent problems during the spring, summer and fall storms, preventative maintenance is required for your septic system. Before the rainy season hits in your region of the country, have your septic system inspected. If your septic tank is over half full, it may be beneficial to have it pumped as a precaution. Allowing extra room for those flooding waters can prevent the possibility of a sewer backup into your home.

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

Identifying Drain Field Problems

Is your home or business on a septic system with a drain field? A properly working drain field is essential to avoid septic system failures that can cost several thousand dollars to repair or replace. Your drain field can work perfectly for years with no issues, making it easy to become complacent on regular inspections. However, identifying drain field problems early can prevent system failures and save you money. Here are a few signs to look for to catch drain filed issues before they become big problems.

  • Outdoor odors. If your drain field is working right, you shouldn’t have a bad odor around your home. If you catch a hint of sewage smell in the air, it is time to take a closer look at your drain field to determine if that is the source of the odor.
  • Pooling water. Although your drain field is constantly receiving waste water, if it is doing its job, the water should be immediately draining into the soil. Pooling water is one of the first signs that there is a problem within the drain field and you should call your septic professional.
  • Greener grass. Greener grass is not always a good thing. When the grass above your drain field is a deeper green than the rest of the lawn, you may be having a drain field issue. Too much waste material could be fertilizing the grass on your drain field, creating the greener grass but eventually it could lead to septic failure.

At the first sign of a drain field issue, call your local septic repair company. They can do a full inspection and get the source of the problem before it becomes worse.

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

Is Biomat Harming Your Septic Drain Field?

To function correctly, your septic tank and drain field need to maintain a delicate bacterial balance. For your drain field to be able to drain and filter the wastewater coming from the septic tank, the water must be able to freely flow through the soil. When the delicate bacteria balance is interrupted, a biomat can grow over the top of the drain field, leading to septic failure.

What is Biomat?

To put it simply, biomat is an organic substance that grows from the solid waste and bacteria that are allowed to leave your septic tank. This layer of organic material begins to grow from the edges of your drain field, eventually covering the entire field with a thick, organic mass that prevents waste from penetrating through into the soil. As more septic waste comes onto the biomat, it feeds it, causing it to grow. This layer has a foul odor and can often be visible as a slimy, dark film over the drain field.

How Biomat can Harm Your Septic System

Once a biomat has formed, it can begin backing up your septic waste and cause a complete septic failure. If allowed to progress, it can result in needing a new septic system installed, which can be very expensive. To prevent biomat formation in the drain field, you need to focus on caring for your septic tank bacteria balance.

If your septic tank is breaking down solids correctly, the wastewater going into the drain field should be the right bacterial balance. This allows wastewater to drain properly and will not result in a biomat. To keep your septic system and drain field running smoothly, schedule annual maintenance service and inspections for your septic system with your local septic service.

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

Is Your Drain Field Telling You it Is Sick?

Day in and day out, your septic system and drain field are hard at work disposing of waste from your home. You may even forget you have a septic system since everything always seems to keep going on like clockwork. However, you need to pay attention to small signs that should be alerting you that there is a problem. Your drain field needs just the right conditions to work properly or it can malfunction and lead to a major septic failure. Here are some signs your drain field may be sick and needs repair right away.

  • Slow or clogged drains. Does it seem like you keep getting clogged drains or they seem slower than usual? It may not be in your plumbing at all, but instead be a sign that you septic is backing up due to a drain field problem.
  • Toilet issues. An overflowing toilet is usually a sign of a clogged drain as well, but not always. If you continuously have toilet issues, it is a hint that there is an issue with your septic system or drain field.
  • Bad odor. Even though your drain field cleanses waste, it should not smell foul. A bad odor is a bad sign and should warrant a call to a septic professional for an inspection.
  • Green, green grass. Has the grass above your drain field suddenly flourished, turning a brighter green than the rest of your yard? While it may look nice, it is not a healthy sign for your drain field.

If you notice any of these signs, or see excess water pooling above your drain field, call your local septic service. You may have a major issue with your drain field that needs immediate attention to prevent an expensive septic failure.

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

Avoiding Drain Field Backups

One of the most common issues in a septic system is a drain field backup. This generally occurs when a biomat forms on top of the drain field, preventing the right absorption of effluent into the soil. There are many reasons this can happen, most caused by how the dwellers in the home use their septic system. With a few changes within the home, many drain field problems can be easily avoided, saving costly repairs.

Water Use

One of the biggest contributors to failing drain fields is too much water use in the home. This is especially common in homes with a smaller septic tank than is needed for the size or occupancy of the home. Took much water causes the tank to fill too quickly, not allowing for the sludge to form. Solution? Reduce the water use in the home by using water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

Chemicals

Chemicals and ingredients in many household cleaners can damage the bacterial composition of the septic system, helping create the clogging boimat in the drain field. Avoid dumping those cleaners down the drain and use cleaners formulated to be safe for septic systems.

Disposal of Waste

Certain food waste like fats, grease and oils should be kept out of the septic system, along with food particles that are slow to degrade like fruit or vegetable peelings. Also, anything non-biodegradable needs to be thrown away, not flushed down a toilet. This includes feminine hygiene products, cotton balls, baby wipes and other bathroom items.

Another way to avoid drain field backups is to ensure your tank is pumped regularly and your system is inspected for any problems. Make sure to schedule regular maintenance with your local septic company to avoid costly drain field emergencies.

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

Common Drain Field Problems

If your septic system and drain field are working the way they should, you may not even know they are there. There are no foul odors, standing water or sewer backups, just a well-performing system. Unfortunately, when something does go wrong, your drain field will be one of the first places you will begin noticing a problem. If not fixed quickly, you could have an expensive septic failure on your hands.

Causes of Drain Field Problems

You will know there is problem with your drain field if there is standing water, a bad smell or the grass is much too green in that portion of the yard. A backed up sewer line can also be a sign of drain field issues. Unfortunately, it is not as easy to find the cause of the problem and get it fixed as it is to notice that one exists. Some of the common causes include:

  • Poor soil absorption. If the soil has been compromised and is no longer absorbing quickly, your drain field may need repair or replacement. This can be caused by the use of some chemicals that bond with the clay in the soil and limit absorption.
  • Clogged drain field pipes. The pipes that release waste water from the distribution box into the drain field are perforated with small holes. These can get clogged by various items that don’t dissolve, including certain tablets or pills.
  • Thick biomat. A biomat that has become too thick can actually create a barrier that prevents absorption into the soil of your drain field.

Drain field problems can be complicated and should be addressed by a septic professional. As soon as you notice a problem, call in a professional to inspect your drain field and septic system before a small issue ends in a large and expensive repair.

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


Troubleshooting Drain Field Problems

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