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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Perc Tests

August 16th, 2014 Posted in Drain Field
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Before a septic system can be installed on a property, the soil must be tested to determine the conditions and suitability of land for a sewage disposal system. Perc tests refer to two functions performed for the testing: deep hole tests and percolation testing. Both of these types of testing require digging holes, one deep and one shallow. A board of health sanitarian or civil engineer will “read” the soil types and how well the soil accepts liquid to determine if they are suited for a septic system or not.

The term “Perc Test” comes from the word percolation. Once the shallow hole has been dug, water is poured into the hole to see at what rate the soil will accept liquid or how long it takes the level of water to go down within the hole. This rate is measured by “minutes per inch.” The perc rate will determine how many square feet of leaching area the septic system will need. The perc rate will be taken and then combined with the number of bedrooms to be built within a house. The number of bedrooms can be a sole determining factor on the size of a required septic tank. The number of people within a home determines the size of a septic system because they must all be accounted for in regards to how much waste the system can manage.

A perc test is required before a septic system can be installed onto a piece of property. This is a test to determine the absorption rate of soil for a septic drain field or “leach field.” The results of a percolation test are required to properly design a septic system. While every jurisdiction will have its own laws regarding the exact calculations for the length of line, depth of pit, etc., the testing procedures are the same.

Posted on behalf of Septic Service Pro

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How Are Septic Systems Designed?

March 26th, 2014 Posted in Drain Field
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The design process surrounding residential septic systems is typically driven by the Health Department in the jurisdiction that the property is located, which will have specific design criteria.  The components of the design criteria include the number of bedrooms or bathrooms in the home, the type of soil conditions and the location of the drain field.

The septic load imposed on drain field is determined either by the number of bedrooms or bathrooms, depending upon the jurisdiction.  The bedroom or bathroom count is used to determine the maximum amount of people living in the home at any given time.  Many jurisdictions are finding that the bedroom count is a more accurate predictor of the number of people living in the home and the resulting septic load on the system.

The type of soil found on the property is also a critical design factor.  A septic system works by the fluids flowing into the drain field where they are absorbed.  Soils such as clay do not absorb liquids as well as a sandy soil.  As a result, often drain fields located in clay soils will need to be bigger in order to adequately absorb the fluids.

The location of the drain field is also a critical design factor that must be considered.  Each jurisdiction has required setbacks from the property line, house, driveway, trees and water wells.  Often all of these factors may not only influence the location of the drain field, but also the shape, size and location of the home on the property!

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

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How Laundry Habits Affect a Septic System

March 12th, 2014 Posted in Drain Field
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When you live on a rural property or in an area without public sewer access, a septic system is the alternative. Most homeowners who rely upon a septic system understand the basics of septic care, like paying attention to what is flushed down the toilet or sent down the drains. What many don’t realize, however, is just how much of an impact their laundry habits can have on a septic system.

Laundry and Water Disposal

When you use your washing machine, water from the wash and rinse cycles flow into your septic system. When you wash several consecutive loads of laundry over the course of a single day, you’re effectively sending large volumes of waste water through your septic system. When excessive levels of water are introduced to a septic system, there may not be enough space in the tank for all the waste to settle and break down at the bottom of the tank. This can force solid materials into the drain field, which eventually causes failure and expensive septic system problems.

Practicing Good Laundry and Water Use Habits

Instead of designating one day for all the laundry which has accumulated over the course of a week, try to break your washing habits up over a few days during the week. This will reduce the volume of waste water which ends up in your septic system in one day. During your laundry sessions, try to limit the amount of water flowing into the tank from sources like dishwashers and showers.

If you suspect your drain field (leach field) or septic tank may be under stress as a result of normal water usage, contact a septic professional in your area for a full appraisal and inspection of your system to avoid potentially expensive repairs or replacement.

Posted on behalf of Septic Service Pro

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Taking Care of Your Septic Leach Field

April 12th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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The septic field (also called a drain field or leach field) is a critical part of a septic system.  A properly designed and installed septic field can last for 30 years or more, but if it is abused it will fail much more quickly.  The leach field is a series of perforated pipes buried underground that allow the liquid waste from your home to seep into the ground where it is treated through natural processes.

If the septic field is unable to handle the volume of water flowing from the house, wastewater will begin backing up into the home.  Only a little bit of care is needed to prevent this from happening.  First, have the septic tank pumped regularly.  Septic tank pumping every three to five years is usually enough.  Failing to pump the septic tank will allow solid material to flow into the septic field and clog up the system.

While a septic tank can be pumped, there is not a way to clean out a septic field.  A clogged septic field is simply abandoned and new leach field will have to be installed.  Installing a new leach field is very expensive.

Avoid disposing of paints, grease, solvent and other such materials down the drain.  These materials can flow into the septic field and clog the soil around the leach lines causing them to back up.

In addition, don’t drive or park cars on top of the septic field.  The area was probably cleared when the drain field was installed making it an attractive area for parking vehicles when there is no room in the driveway, but parking cars over the drain field can compact the soil or cause broken pipes.  The same goes for installing an above ground swimming pool, basketball or tennis court, storage shed, patio, or anything else.  Leave the area over the septic field clear.

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How Long Should a Septic Leach Field Last?

April 12th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Whether installing a new septic system or buying a home with an existing septic system, many homeowners are concerned with how long the septic system will last.  Homeowners are concerned about the entire system, but the reality is that it will probably be the leach field that fails and backs up the entire system.

A septic system is a simple concept that does a very complex job.  A septic system consists of a drain line that collects the household waste and allows it to flow into the septic tank.  A septic tank is little more than a large concrete or plastic tank with a few baffles in it.  At the other end of the tank toward the top is a pipe that is connected to a distribution box.  The leach lines are connected to the distribution box.

As mentioned, the septic tank is just a large holding tank where solid material settles out of the wastewater.  Other than cracking or disintegrating over time, there is not much that can go wrong with the septic tank as long as it is regularly pumped.  Regular septic tank pumping will remove the accumulated solid material and allow the septic tank to continue to do its work.

If the septic tank is pumped regularly, only effluent should be getting into the leach field and a properly designed leach field should be able to handle the effluent and last 30 years or more.  Where people get into problems is with poor maintenance, especially waiting too long between septic tank pumping.  If too much solid material accumulates in the septic tank, it will flow into the leach field and clog the lines and the soil beneath the leach lines.  In these conditions, the leach field can fail in just a few years.

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