Warning Signs A Septic System Is Failing

January 28th, 2014 Posted in Drain Field
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Having your septic system fail can be expensive, messy and time consuming. While many septic systems may last for decades, all septic systems eventually will need to be replaced. However, knowing the signs which indicate your septic system is having problems or may be failing can alert you in time to either get it fixed or at least have it replaced before it does more damage to your home and property.

First Signs Of Septic Failure

When there is a problem with your septic system, there are several signs that the system is failing. Whether it is a problem with your drainfield, pump or an overall system failure, there are tell-tale signs that it is time to call a septic professional.

  • Odor. One of the most obvious signs there is a problem with your septic system is a bad odor. This could be near your drainfield, septic tank or in your plumbing within the home.
  • Slow draining. If your drains in the home are slow, it may be a sign that the septic system is not working correctly.
  • Wet spots or standing liquid over drainfield. If there are noticeable wet areas or standing liquid on your drainfield, especially in dry weather, your drainfield may be failing and in need of drain field repairs or replacement.
  • Backups. If you have sewage or contaminated water (usually black with a very unpleasant odor) backing up in your plumbing or septic system, you need to have your septic system looked at immediately.
  • Gurgling. If you hear gurgling sounds in your plumbing system, it may be a symptom of septic failure.

If you have any of these signs, call your septic professional right away to get a diagnosis of the problem. Many issues can be resolved if identified before they get worse; however if the septic system or drainfield needs to be replaced, it is better to know sooner than later.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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How Long Will A Septic Drainfield Last?

January 28th, 2014 Posted in Drain Field
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A septic drainfield is dependent upon many factors to stay viable. While many homes have had drainfields last for decades, many others have their drainfields fail with a few years or even less. The longevity of a septic drainfield will depend on how and where the field is built, and also upon how it is used and maintained. To get the most use out of a drainfield, the first step is to ensure that the drain field installation is done correctly.

Building A Successful Drainfield

A drainfield has certain requirements that, if not met, will jeopardize the septic system as a whole. The location and installation are critical; without the proper conditions, the field is unlikely to support a septic system that is used on a regular basis. Some of the factors that need to be considered when creating a drainfield include:

  • Soil conditions. An area that has seasonal flooding or surface runoffs will be a poor location for a drainfield.
  • High water clearance. The drainfield must be installed over the high water clearance to be viable.
  • Dimensions. The field must be large enough to handle the amount of usage and take into consideration the soil percolation rate.
  • Proper soil, gravel and covering. A drainfield needs the correct combination of gravel, soil and backfill covering to work efficiently.

In the best circumstances, a drainfield may last for up to twenty years. However, many municipalities will insist that when building a drainfield,  a second replacement field area is reserved for when the first one eventually fails. The best way to ensure you have an adequate drainfield for your needs is to have a professional septic company build your field, and educate you on the best way to maintain your field once it’s in place.

Posted on behalf of Mike Smith, A-Flo Free Septic

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All About Drain Fields

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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If you’re like most homeowners, you may have only a cursory understanding of your septic system and how it works. Making a point of learning a bare minimum about the system is one of the best ways to prevent future problems, especially when it comes to your drain field.

The drain field removes contaminants and impurities from the waste water after it flows through your septic system, the last phase of ensuring that waste water is safe to enter the supply of groundwater. The ecosystem of a drain field is a very specific and balanced one, though it’s essentially very simple. Perforated pipes in a series of trenches are surrounded by a porous material like gravel, which is then covered by soil to protect it from surface runoff and outside interference.

Signs of Trouble in Your Drain Field

One of the most common signs of a failed or failing septic system is a swampy, marshy area of the drain field that does not dry up, even in sunny weather. Unusual smells, spots of exceptionally green or healthy grass and visual evidence of organic waste emerging through the drain field are also reliable signs of septic system trouble.

Maintaining Your Drain Field

With proper attention and regular maintenance, most drain fields will still function efficiently twenty-five to thirty years after installation. In addition to making a point of keeping trees, shrubbery and other large plants away from your drainfield, you should also be sure to work closely with a licensed septic system professional for routine inspections and maintenance purposes.

An experienced septic system specialist is trained to spot trouble brewing in your drain field, and to help you prevent common problems by addressing them before they get out of hand. Contact a sewer and septic professional in your area to arrange an inspection for your system, including your drain field, and to discuss routine maintenance in order to keep your system in peak condition.

Posted on behalf of Mike Smith, A-Flo Free Septic

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How Landscaping Decisions Can Affect Your Septic System

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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One of the most appealing aspects of a property can be a well-designed and maintained landscape. Graceful, mature trees can have a positive impact on your home’s curb appeal and resale value. They can also have a negative impact on your septic system, depending on their location.

There’s a lot going on beneath the surface of the soil on your property. Your septic system is managing the waste flow from your home, pipes carry water inside and the roots of all those gorgeous trees and shrubs are expanding. If those roots happen to make their way into your septic system through cracks and joints in the pipes, you may find yourself facing a septic system problem or two.

Slow drainage is often one of the first signs the root system of a tree has found a way into your septic system. If root growth continues unchecked, the chances of pipe breakage and sewage leaks increases. It’s not unheard of for tree roots to contribute heavily to the complete failure of a septic system, which can be very costly and inconvenient.

One surefire way to prevent tree root interference with your septic system is to make a point of learning where your drainfield, tank and pipes are located. The only thing you should plant over the drainfield is a short-rooted grass variety; trees and even shrubbery can put down roots which may later interfere with the septic system.

In the case of existing trees, it’s important to call a licensed septic maintenance professional if you suspect possible root interference. A septic system professional can determine the scope of the problem, and safely remove any offending trees without causing further damage to your system.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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What Does the Drainfield Do?

October 23rd, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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A drainfield is a very important piece of a septic system. A septic tank, the septic drain field and the associated piping, make a complete septic system.

The septic tank will have an inlet and an outlet. The outlet to the drainfield will have a filtering device which prevents solid waste particles from passing on to the drain field.

On average, a drainfield will have a series of pipes buried 18” within the ground on top of a bed of gravel. These drainage pipes sit parallel with each other and are all linked together coming out of the distribution box.

The wastewater from showers, toilets, washing machines and sinks enter the septic tank through pipelines. The liquid wastewater (effluent) is discharged by gravity or pressure to an absorption field (also known as a drainfield or a leachfield). In most gravity systems, the wastewater flows into a distribution box, and from there, effluent distributes equally among the trenches in the drainfield.

The type of soil greatly impacts the effectiveness of the drainfield.  Clay soils may be too tight to allow much wastewater to pass through, and coarse or sandy soil may not provide enough treatment to destroy pathogenic bacteria and viruses from entering a well or surface water supply. This process works best where the soil is somewhat dry, permeable, and contains plenty of oxygen for several feet below the drainfield.

The drainfield is where the final treatment takes place via Mother Nature. As wastewater trickles out of the pipes and through the gravel layer, microorganisms treat the effluent as it passes through the pore spaces. The soil micro-organisms percolate the effluent downward and outward, eventually entering ground or surface water.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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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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Septic Systems Require Water Conservation

July 4th, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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For years now, there has been much public conversation and concern relative to water pollution, and to the importance of protecting this precious natural resource. However, aside from changing faucet screens or showerheads, the average consumer rarely considers the amount of water that is being used in their home. Unfortunately, if we are blessed to live in an area where water is still plentiful, we give it very little thought, if any.

If you are on a septic system, you can help protect the environment and extend the life of your septic system by conserving water.  In a septic system, household waste water and other materials that go down the drain flows to the septic tank where it is separated as to solid and liquid waste.  The liquid flows or is pumped out of the tank into a nearby drain field. However, inherent with having a septic system, homeowners should also monitor and conserve the amount of water that is being used by the household at any given time. Because the septic tank needs time to process and separate the incoming wastewater from all the household drains, it can only handle so much water at one time.

If, for instance, you have a large household and tend to do a lot of laundry at one time, you may want to consult with your local septic professional about increasing the size of your septic tank. Another way to conserve the amount of water that you use at once could be to spread that laundry out over a period of several days during the week. Perhaps you’ll want to replace your existing toilets with those of greater efficiency and install low flow nozzles on all of your faucets. Finally, if you observe a leaky faucet or continuously running toilet, make sure to get those fixed right away as, in these cases, a little leak adds up quickly to a lot of wasted water.

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Be Good to Your Septic Tank to Avoid Problems

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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Taking proper care of your septic system can avoid unnecessary problems and the expense of septic tank or drain field repairs in the future. One easy way that most people tend to overlook is to conserve water. Since a septic tank separates excess liquid from solid waste and sends it to a drain field, it needs time to process so do what you can to prevent running large amounts of water at one time needlessly.

Monitor and repair leaky faucets or running toilets promptly. Spread your loads of laundry out over a few days and be sure to choose the right amount of water for the size of your load, to avoid wasting water. Also, do not install a garbage disposal. If you already have one, do not use it excessively as it can clog the drain field.

It would pay to be mindful of your septic tank and drain field hiding underneath that green grass; you should not park or build anything heavy above your tank and drain field. The excess weight could damage the tank and pipes, as well as compromise the effectiveness of the drain field. Take care not to flush or pour anything down the drain that shouldn’t be there.

One would think that this is a common sense issue but any material that is not biodegradable can clog the tank or drain field. If any problems or concerns develop, be sure to contact your local septic system professional who will be able to ascertain whether or not the tank needs to be pumped or other solutions are required. When you tank is pumped, your local service company will also inspect it to make sure it’s in good working order.

 

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Understanding the Different Types of Drain Fields

January 31st, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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Not all septic systems use the same types of drain fields. The soil composition in the area used for the drain field is one of the major factors in determining the type of drain field used with a septic system. Below is a list of the different types of drain fields that might be installed for a septic system.

Conventional System
The conventional drain field is constructed by digging trenches that fork out from the distribution box. A perforated drainpipe is laid in the trenches and the trenches are filled with gravel. A barrier is placed over the gravel prior to placing the topsoil over the trenches. This keeps the soil from sifting down into the gravel and impeding the water flow. 

Drip or Low Pressure Pipe System
This system uses small, perforated tubing that is located very close to the ground surface. The wastewater flow is controlled with periods of rest so as not to oversaturate the soil. The wastewater is dispersed through feeding the root systems of the grass growing over the drain field and through evaporation. 

Spray System
A spray type drain field is one that actually sprays water out over the ground surface through sprinkler heads. These systems involve a series of treatment tanks that the effluent is processed through before reaching the spray heads. 

Sand Mound System
The mound system is often used when the soil conditions or water table do not allow for a conventional drain field. In this drain field there is a ‘dosing’ tank between the septic tank and the mound system. The dosing tank distributes the wastewater into the sand mound at timed intervals. 

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Considerations for Mound Septic Systems

January 31st, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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Raised sand mound drainage systems are sometimes required when the soil conditions are not adequate for a conventional gravel drain field. The mound system creates a raised area in the landscape of the home. It is natural for homeowners to attempt diminish the visual presence of the mound through landscaping efforts. There are several considerations that should be kept in mind as you plan your landscaping around this type of drainage system.

Trees or shrubs should never be planted on the mound itself. Most trees should be a minimum of 20 feet away and some that have water-seeking roots should be 50 feet or more away from the mound. Wildflowers and grasses are great choices for plant cover for a mound system. Edible plants such as vegetables should not be planted over or near your mound system.

Although you want minimal traffic on a mound system, mowing the grass planted on your mound is not only acceptable but actually beneficial for your mound system. Keeping the grass shorter allows for better evaporation.

The mound area should not be irrigated with a lawn sprinkler system. Low maintenance grasses and plants that can handle dry weather should be chosen. The mound area should also not be fertilized when you fertilize other parts of the lawn.

In summary, you can screen your mound by planting trees or shrubs at a distance, but not too close. You can plant grass or wild flowers as cover for the mound, but make sure it’s a hardy variety that can handle dry periods without extra watering.

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