4 Possible Causes Of Drain Field Failure In Your Home

A functional septic system is vital in waste treatment and disposal. This system comprises a septic tank, control box, and drain field. A drain field is a shallow excavation under unsaturated soil that eliminates contaminants from liquid waste. However, if you overlook your system's maintenance, you may experience drain field failure. This may result in environmental contamination, necessitating costly replacements. Because of that, it is advisable to invest in regular drain field maintenance. Take a look at the reasons your drain field can fail.

Adverse Weather Conditions

Inclement weather, such as heavy rainfall and snow, can cause leach field failure. During such weather, the soak-away needs to filter an increased amount of water. In addition, too much water flooding in the drain field may saturate it, reducing its absorption rate. Installing gutters in your house is an excellent way to divert roof runoff to the leach field. Moreover, you should install the leach field in terrain with proper drainage to prevent flooding.

Overgrown Tree Roots

Tree roots can cause premature failure of the drain field. This occurs when the tree roots extend and encroach on the drain field. As a result, they can block the drainage pipes, causing slow drains and backflows in your home. Additionally, roots can infiltrate and break distribution pipes, incapacitating the leach field. The blockages cause the leaking of wastewater onto the ground, forming puddles. Thus, it is best to enlist the help of a professional plumber when installing a septic tank. If the area has roots, the plumber will install physical root barriers and apply treatments to suppress their growth.

Impact from Vehicles

You will likely experience leach field failure if you drive a vehicle or heavy equipment over the absorption system. Usually, heavy traffic leads to soil compression, breaking the pipes underneath. In addition, excess weight on the leach field may distort the soil's permeability, causing an overload. Therefore, you should refrain from driving or hauling heavy equipment on the drain field to preserve its structural integrity.

Biological Overloading

Improper garbage disposal methods, such as flushing non-biodegradable items down your drains, could lead to biological overloading. Furthermore, biological overloading may occur when you pour oils, chemicals, and greases into your drainage system. These materials hinder the bacteria from breaking down waste effectively, causing drain field failure. Thus, you should adopt proper garbage disposal methods to extend the drain field's service life.

If you service your septic system routinely, the drain field will function optimally. Therefore, you should schedule maintenance checks regularly with a professional plumbing service contractor to ensure the drain field remains in excellent condition all year round. 

For more info, contact a local company like Continental Plumbers LLC.



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