A Breakdown of Your Septic System’s Drain Field

Millions of home and business owners across the country rely on septic systems for wastewater disposal. While septic systems offer a lot of benefits, they do require some routine care and maintenance to make sure they continue to perform as reliably as possible. One of the most important aspects of septic system care is drain field maintenance. Keep reading to learn some more information about a septic system’s drain field and for maintenance tips and advice.

What is a septic system’s drain field?

Before understanding how to properly care for your septic system, it’s important to learn about what components like the drain field do in the first place.

So, what is a septic system’s drain field? Septic system drain fields are essential to the effective operation of septic systems. When wastewater comes into a septic tank, it is separated into three separate layers: sludge, effluent and scum. The sludge sinks to the bottom, the scum floats to the top and the effluent flows out of the tank and into the drain field. Once the water goes into the drain field, it drains through the soil, where it’s filtered as it seeps down into the ground.

Signs of problems with drain fields

To make sure your drain field continues performing properly, it’s important to keep an eye out for signs your drain field is damaged. Here are a few of the most common indicators of drain field problems:

• Unpleasant odors: One of the most common (and unwelcome) signs of problems with drain fields is the presence of strong, unpleasant odors. Septic systems are designed to keep odors to a minimum, and you shouldn’t be able to detect any strong smells as long as your system is working the way it should. If you notice foul odors around the location of your drain field, contact a septic technician for an inspection to get to the bottom of the problem.
• Excessive water: Another very common sign of trouble is excessive water in the area over the drain field. Drain fields are designed to ensure slow, steady water filtration, so signs of excessive water—including pooling water or spongy grass—often indicate a problem with the drain field.
• Plumbing problems: If you’ve noticed problems with your plumbing system, such as toilet backups and slow sink drainage, there might be something wrong with your drain field. Contact a septic system technician if you’ve noticed plumbing problems so you can determine what’s causing them. An experienced technician can conduct an inspection to provide more information about your septic system’s drain field and offer recommendations for repairs and maintenance to get the system working effectively once again.

Call for septic system drain field services

If you’re looking for more information about your septic system’s drain field, reach out to B.H. Cameron Septic Services LLC for comprehensive septic inspection, maintenance and repair services. Since 2005, we’ve been committed to providing our customers with comprehensive septic services for commercial and residential properties alike. Find out more about the services we have to offer and get started with a quote or consultation by giving us a call today.

Categorised in: Septic System

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